Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Chena is almost 8 and just lost her leg on Monday due to a tumor. She came home on Wednesday and is doing amazingly well. (She tried to chase a cat on Thursday morning!) I just want to say how thrilled I was to find this website. After reading other people's stories, it has really helped to put out minds at ease and has answered so many questions for us. Chena has always loved to swim and we were worried that wouldn't be possible after the surgery. We now know that with a bit of time, she'll be back in the pool. I am just about to buy the webmaster dog harness, after reading all the great reviews here. Could someone tell me about how long it will take for Chena to heal before we put it on her? Our whole house is hardwood floors, and while we are now planning to invest in runners for all the stairs I think we would all be more comfortable if we could help her more.
On front leg amputees, we recommend waiting until stitches/staples have been removed. For rear leggers, the harness should be OK anytime if the straps clear the surgery site. But we're not vets, please consult your veterinarian with specific concerns. Here's what we tell everyone who purchases a Ruff Wear Webmaster harness:
We recommend not using the harness until the surgery has completely healed and stitches or staples are removed. We have heard of no specific cases where any harness has hampered healing, but we believe direct pressure from the straps may irritate the wound. Please consult your veterinarian with any concerns.
We suggest using a soft towel slung under the belly if additional support is required in the meantime. A reusable canvas shopping bag slit down the sides also makes a handy temporary sling.
Chena will do great once she gets back in the water, especially with a life jacket like she has. We also reviewed the Ruff Wear Float Coat life vests for dogs in the Tripawds Gear blog .
We're sorry to here about her diagnosis, but look forward to following Chena's progress. Thanks for sharing her story!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
welcome to the family, sorry to hear about the diagnosis, but this is an excellent place for information and comfort. gayle is ten and lost her front right leg, and we got her a harness right after her stitches came out. it really helps with stairs, getting in/out of the suv, etc. our house is tile and hardwood on the level where she stays primarily, so i know the scary sound of a slip and a thump. she's really been able to adjust to the surfaces, and is pretty impervious (is that a word??) to them now. bathroom type rugs (with the rubbery bottoms) are very helpful at spots where they turn, gain speed, etc. keep us in the loop with chena's progress!! charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Hi there,
glad to hear you're doing so well 
- I had my front leg amputated too after a tumour. The first few weeks are the worst - plenty of ups and downs but it does get easier. Re: the hardwood floors - I would not be able to cope on ours so mum put runners and rugs down all through and used carpet tape to stick them down. I know it's not as pretty but without the runners I would slip a lot and she wants to make it as easy as possible for me. As everyone has already said the ruffwear harness
is a great help too. I would think that it will be a good few weeks before you can use the harness - certainly I would expect the staples to have to come out first - I can't remember when I first used mine.
This website is superb - so much help and support - so pleased you decided to join us.
Best wishes,
Maxwell
x
Sorry to hear about Chena and her tumor. But life will be back to normal soon! Of course, there is a new normal with 3-legs! I've had a 3 legged dog since January 1999. She was assumed to be born with a congenital birth defect. Her leg is deformed and doesn't function. It wasn't removed because it has no neurological function. Plus, it's cute!
So, feel free to ask an old timer any questions!
Welcome aboard!
Comet's mom
P.S. I have throw rugs and runners with the rubber backing were there is tile. I found that Walmart had the same color and style in various sizes so that is what I have placed around. It doesn't look so patch-worked since they all match. I just have them laid down symetrically where she walks. It's almost like I have carpeted my tile floor with them.
It's funny since I've had a 3-legged dog for so long, hardwood floors and a winding or circular staircase has always been on my list of things I've never have! Even when I used to look at buying a new house before the economy crashed, the staircase was my #1 priority. A house had to have a proper staircase for Comet to climb. I was going to put down real slate instead of tile since it has traction .
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
I'm so glad to hear Chena is doing well. It is amazing how our pups adapt so quickly to life on three legs. I bet a day won't hardly pass without your girl amazing you. I'm not sure if Chena is a rear leg amputee but if she is you might want to take a look at the Blue Dog Designs Help ‘em Up Harness. I think the Webmaster dog harness is great but if you feel Chena needs more pelvic support you might find the Help 'em Up harness to better serve this need. Just my two cents. Welcome to the tripawd family. 
Fortis' Dad
Hi there...Magic had his front leg removed and stayed in the hosp for four days, coming home on the 5th day...I got a teeny tiny harness from a pet store to help me and they put it right on him...as soon as the ruffwear got here, on it went also, with his vet's approval..I believe it was like maybe two days after him coming home. HOWEVER, his wound was not open to the air, it was bandaged with a wrap so it was protected from rubbing which may have been why the vet said ok. But like other people said...CHECK WITH YOUR VET!!!
I also put non skid throw rugs on the new laminate floors and lino and thanked God that I never got around to replacing the rest of the carpet with laminate like I had been thinking about!!!
Welcome to the family!! Keep us posted...will you be doing chemo??
Welcome to the Tripawds family! Sorry about the cancer diagnosis... but the surgery is giving Chena a chance at a pain-free life... My Jake also loved to swim... We used a sling on him for the first two weeks post-op, and as soon as his staples came out, he started using his harness, and was able to go swimming in the pool! He had a K9 float coat (generous gift from a Tripawds member... Toto's mom) that helped him balance while he was swimming... and helped me get him in and out of the pool.
Good luck with Chena's recovery and keep us posted!!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Thanks to everyone for their encourgement and advise. It's definitely needed, as I think the rest of the family is more upset then Chena is. She seems to have the most trouble getting comfortable when laying down right now. She would rather just lay on the floor then in her bed, which she used to love. I guess it will be trial and error for a while to see what's going to make her happy. We did get some good news yesterday, though. Chena's tumor was a low grade 2, so she doesn't need chemo! We've been holding our breath waiting for the results, and all had ice cream to celebrate!
Fortis was the same way with his bed. He loved his bed. At about the same time each night he would stand at the door to my bedroom and wait for his bed to be put out. After the surgery it seemed he would rather just stay in the living room on a throw rug and blanket that I placed on the tile flooring. It has just been in the past couple of weeks that he's wanted to sleep in the bedroom in his bed again. Man was I happy to finally get off of the floor after almost 3 months.
I'm really happy to hear about the results. Fantastic!
Best wishes,
Fortis' Dad
chenariver said:
Chena's tumor was a low grade 2, so she doesn't need chemo! We've been holding our breath waiting for the results, and all had ice cream to celebrate!
Yeay! Sounds like a great excuse for ice cream! I think we'll have some too!
Celebrate these victories, they are all very big deals. And yeah, it'll be trial and error for sure but you know, dogs just instinctively know the best ways for them to heal. Follow her lead and you'll do just fine.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Trouble never developed her confidence walking on our tiled floors – hallway, entranceway, and kitchen. We have carpet runners down the hallway & entranceway and have runner down two sides of the kitchen hallway through kitchen to her food bowl, and food bowl to back door. She has a Ruff Wear harness, but we only use if for car rides and trips where I'm not sure what surfaces she will be walking on.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
WHAT GREAT NEWS!!! YAY for Chena!!!! YAY for NO CHEMO!! Just YAYS and ice cream all around......
That's fantastic! I mean...oh, you know.
I wonder if they like the floor because of it maybe being cooler or even a fluff bed may feel like they can't get up as easy.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
cometdog said:
I wonder if they like the floor because of it maybe being cooler
Yah, definitely. Two massage rehab people have told us that dogs prefer cool surfaces when they're feeling achy.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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