Hi there and welcome! Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so post away!

Your situation is not uncommon in new Tripawds. First, tell us a bit more about Jezebel and her situation. What breed type and age is she? And why did she lose her leg?

Also, how long are the walks you are taking her on? And how long does she play once she arrives at the dog park? Is there any other behavior that accompanies this, like fear or anxiety? 

Does she show any of these pain signals at other times of the day? My gut instinct tells me that she is in pain. Read on. And remember, dogs are sooooo good at hiding pain. Most of us don't see it until it's quite obvious and by that point, things are really bad. Sounds like you are catching these hints early which is great. 

When a dog doesn't want to do something, it's natural for us to think they are being stubborn, but what they are doing is trying to tell us something in their own non-verbal language. Interpreting their clues is tough and definitely a learning curve when we are talking about a new Tripawd.

In my non-vet experience talking to other Tripawd parents for many years, usually when a dog doesn't want to go on a walk they are telling us they hurt in some way. The walks may be too long and although she's excited to see her friends at the park, getting home may be so painful that she remembers the experience and doesn't want to do it again the next day.

Even if we don't think a walk is long for a Tripawd, odds are it is when pain signals like this pop up. We just aren't used to gauging what "normal" activity looks like for our particular Tripawd. Many of us learn the hard way by walking our dogs too far, too long, during the first few months after amputation. I did it, and most people do too. That's not unusual. The important thing is that you noticed her behavior, and you are asking great questions.

Right now I would definitely scale back the walks to a bare minimum, and get Jezebel into an appointment with a canine rehabilitation therapist. These experts can evaluate her for pain that she is hiding (dogs are so good at it!), help her feel better through exercises, massage and possibly pain medication, and show you the best ways to get her exercised at home without overdoing it. The best part is the Tripawds Foundation may pay for your first rehab visit , so please take advantage of the program.

I hope this helps. Stay tuned for feedback from others and let us know how things are going.

Sally your thoughts about a scary critter are wonderful things to think about. When our Jerry was a pup, he got attacked by a bunch of young cats, and after that he never wanted to walk by the home where they lived. Animals remember these things!

Aww what a beautiful girl. Thank you for sharing the videos and telling us more about her.  No you didn't make a mistake, this girl is a dream and was meant for you.

In watching her walk with the bad elbow, it's clear she was hurting and in pain. And while she may have initially walked better when that leg was taken off, now her body is catching up with the hard work of moving around as a Tripawd. It's a LOT of work, and at just two months post amputation, she needs way more time to get used to the movements. Try hopping around on one leg for 10 meters and you'll get a feel for what it's like for her.

You are already on a great path to improving her mobility with the weight loss program. YAY! Do not sway from it, this is going to help her SO MUCH. One pound of extra weight on a dog is the same as us humans having five pounds of fat on us. That's a lot of weight on any dog's frame but especially a Tripawd. The closer she gets to that goal, the easier it's going to be for her to walk without pain.

I think putting her on the NSAID again is a terrific idea and should help tremendously as well. The fact that the vet doesn't think she has arthritis yet is great. The more weight she drops, the less risk of osteoarthritis at a young age. She will likely get it eventually, but keeping her slim will delay the onset.

And as a Canadian you indeed quality for the Rehab Reimbursement Program. As long as you see a "CCRT" or "CCRP" practitioner you can get reimbursed for that first visit. Please let me know how I can help you find a practitioner. PM me with your street address and I'll find one near you in Vancouver.

If you get a chance, record her movements now as a Tripawd, just so we can see.

Also, yes, do add traction to the floors. Wood floors are so hard for Tripawds to walk on, even if they seem to be able to do it, they are tensing their muscles to walk and that causes a lot of aches and pains over time.

I know you have a lot of vet bills right now but if you get a chance, check out our e-book Loving Life On Three Legs . You'll learn tons of tips about exercise and fitness and how to help her have a great quality of life. You can get $3 USD off using coupon code "trifb3". Alternatively you can check out our Tripawds Gear Blog exercise tips for ideas too. 

I hope this helps!