Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello All,
I manage a boarding facility in El Paso. A woman brought a dog in that has her left hind leg amputated. I don't know a whole lot of back story except the dog was crippled when she found it on the road, and had been for a while. The leg was amputated and the dog never learned how to walk with just one hind leg. The dog is probably about 5-8 years old at best guess. I don't know how long its been since her surgery except there is no scar or anything. She's on Rymadyl. My question is is there anything I can do to help? From what I know, the owner never tried teaching her how to walk and the dog from the beginning has just drug her hind end. The owner says she just drags herself all over and she knows she'll be covered in urine and feces when she picks her up on Monday and that it's ok. We've been walking her with a leash under her belly and she seems so much happier-tail wagging and a light in her eyes that's not there when she's dragging herself, and not covered in any waste. Her remaining hind leg appears very weak but does hold her weight, even though it's shaky. I also want to make sure that I am not doing any harm. I don't think I am, but this isn't my dog and I want to be very careful with her. We've only got her till monday... any tips for an old, slightly over weight tripod? We've had several other tripods at our facility, but none that didn't get around like champs. Thanks in advance!
You are so wonderful for inquiring on behalf of this sweetpea. I've never seen a dog drag her rear end, but it sounds possible that she has a weak hind end or other injuries to her remaining rear leg that are preventing her from using it.
If you poke around here, you'll see that people sometimes use a modified cloth shopping bag to support dogs' torsos and take some weight off while they're walking. That might help her walk more easily while you've still got her.
Longer term, I would encourage the owner to get her in to see a rehab vet. Others will chime in to tell you more about what info you can pass on, but the most important thing to know is that Tripawds will pay for the first visit! It certainly sounds like something is going on and it also sounds like she wants to walk - she's still young and could have so many years ahead of her with better mobility.
Ditto DC Jack. A rehab vet would be a very good idea. You're obviously limited in what you yourself can do, but in the longer term, it sounds as though the dog needs work to strengthen her remaining legs (perhaps on an underwater treadmill) and also to build her core strength. If she's overweight, then losing the extra pounds will also make a tremendous difference.
If there is a reason, beyond lack of condition, why she cannot use her rear leg, then some wheels would be a much better option than having her drag herself around. Again, a rehab vet would be able to advise, and, as DC Jack says, Tripawds will pay for an initial consultation. I'll try and find the link to post in a minute.
Bless you for caring and trying to help her.
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Here's the link for the Rehab Reimbursement Programme
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Thank you for sharing that link Clare!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I will try the modified shopping bag because I think that is something that could work. She was going so fast today when I was walking her it was hard to keep up. Her hind end still lists to the left and her leg is still weak, but dang... it seems almost like it changed over night. It looked almost atrophied when she first came in and today it was looking a lot healthier. I know that is probably wishful thinking. I think I love this dog already. Thank you all for the info and the link. I am going in tomorrow to walk her a little more and give her a bath. The bath will be a nice surprise because the dog is a dirty girl! I will direct the owner to this site. I know it seems silly, but it almost feels like the owner felt so sorry for her and babied her that the dog feels sorry for herself and just doesn't do anything. The dog eats canned chicken and canned cat food. That's probably not a slimming diet. I may talk to her about that, too. I'll stay posted for any more tips and hopefully the owner is pleased and not pissed that i've not been babying her dog. I just couldn't leave her in there looking all sad.
My goodness, you are an angel to that dog! Thank you for taking an interest and doing what you could.
I suspect the owner just doesn't know what to do and will respond well to your kindness and suggestions. We hope to meet her here as the majority of us did not know what to expect after a leg amputation.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
She seemed very kind so I don't see her getting upset with me (*crosses fingers) I hope she's pleasantly surprised and I so wish I could help her dog walk... Wish I had more time with her.
That is wonderful news!
And I agree - we'd love to meet the owner here and see if we can help answer questions. I certainly had no idea what to do when I heard Jack needed an amputation.
You might also want to suggest the owner get something like the Ruff Wear harness by webmaster to help with walking. The handle is on the top of the harness so it can be a godsend to help assist in walking. Bless you for trying to help!
Thank you!! I've got a couple top handle harnesses here I can try! Now I'm excited for tomorrow! Haha! If it works, I'm sure I can find something for her at petsmart or petco. If not, I'll share the link. Big hugs and thanks!!
You are wonderful for taking such an interest!
I hope the owner will check us out, maybe we can help improve her pups's life quality- and hers! A rehab visit would do wonders I would think.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
WOW! This is what the Universe in action looks like! This is just wonderful that you and this little doggy connected!
You are his Christmas Miracle!!
Maybe the owner would be open to letting you help "work" with the pup a couple of hours a week. Don't know what your schedule is, etc., but maybe she could drop him off at the boarding kennel a few hours for a little "playtime" with you! Just tthrowing stuff out there.
And yes, do whatever yiu can to have her come onto the site so we can better support her!
Let us know how it goes!
Santa is going to be very good to you this year!! You've been a very good girl! 🙂
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
So the harness thing didn't work. She didn't dig it at all and just hugged the floor. Maybe the ruff wear one would work better. Mine was big and for my shepherd mix. She's smaller. Not sure if I modified the shopping bag correctly (I just cut the bottom part off) but that was ok. So far, the best is still a wide leash under her belly. It's not my imagination. She's def getting around better. Today she got a bath and I hooked the loop around her belly and hooked it to the wall and she stood there on 3 legs, wagging her tail while she got a bath. First time I'd seen that. Learned that she doesn't want to walk on tile floor either!! A light bulb moment, for sure... duh. She gets picked up tomorrow and I'll show her owner the leash thing, gently suggest adjusting her diet, and point her in this direction for sure! Thank you everyone! I hope she does bring Dolly back because I'd love to see if she can learn to walk.
I wanted to clarify that to modify the shopping bag you would cut down the side seams so you end up with a rectangle piece of fabric with a handle at both ends. When the fabric is placed under the dog then there is a handle on both sides of the body to pull up on.
Yeah that she enjoyed the bath! Tripawds can find tile and wood floors too slippery to walk on so most people place runners. The folk here have many ideas on how to make tripawds more comfortable. Dolly seems to have a zest for life and really appreciates you.
Looking forward to getting to know her.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
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