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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I have two tripawds rescued from our local shelter. The first was in November, leg removed due to nerve damage of unknown source. His name is Lucky and he is around 3 years old and is a lab terrier mix about 30lbs. The second we fostered in June after his amputation resulting from leg shattering after being hit by a car. We became attached to him and adopted him in July. His name is Clover and is a black mouth cur mix weighing currently 35lbs and is now 7 mos old. Both have right rear aputations (pictured in my avatar).
Lucky does very well with his lack of limb. He was obviously used to only using three legs before his amputation and can run and walk very well. Wegivehim glucosamine to help keep his left rear strong.
Clover is having a much more difficult time. Last week we had to take him to the vet because he quit using his left rear leg. We discovered he has hip displasia resulting from the car accident and he has damaged his ACL. He is currently on anti-inflammatory meds for it and he is regaining some movement. The next step is surgery on his hip and knee to repair damage. That is an expensive step but we will do it if necessary. Can anyone give me suggestions to help prevent surgery if possible? I was not sure if giving him wheels will help or anything else I can do for him.
Hi Lucky, Clover and family and welcome to our community 
I cannot give you any advice concerning Clover as my girl is 5 and never had any mobility problems.
But I do want to welcome you, you are such a beautiful person
Your lovely tripawds are so so lucky to have you, I am sure you and them will have a wonderful life, full of laughter, joy and many, many happy moments!
I'm sure others will have good advice to give you so just stay tuned and keep us updated!
Sending you a huge bear hug and cuddles to your beautiful fluffies
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Awwww a 2-Tripawd pack is the best! How cool you adopted both dogs, thank you.
The first question that pops into my head is, has Clover been evaluated by a certified rehab vet or a board-certified orthopedic vet? I would gather up those two opinions so you can get an idea of how each would approach this situation.
We see many Tripawds here whose primary vet says they need a cruciate repair, but many times a long regimen of rehab therapy can stave off surgery. Here are search results about "cruciate" tears in this forum that will shed some light on the situation. This article can help too:
Treating Soft Tissue Injuries in Pets
In the meantime, do check our Tripawds Gear blog and e-book, Loving Life On Three Legs , for lots of tips on how you can keep both of them healthy and injury-free furever 🙂
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
WOW!!! CLOVER AND LUCKY ARE SO LUUUUUUCKY TO HAVE YOU AS THEIR FUREVER HOME!!
Yes, it is doable! One of our beloved members here, MURPHY, had the hip replacement surger just six weeks after his amputation! 'His .om Kathi, will pop on and give you some firsthand insight!
It is possible that rest and anti-inflammatory can definitely with the knee. Acupuncture may help also. I've never .astered the "search" bar ere, but I know there are alternative treatments that have helped heal the knee injury. Possible adequan injections can help with the hip.
Another member here, Daryl, has hip issues and meds and PT have kept it under control.
Just throwing a few things out there. Hopefully surgery can be avoided.
The avatar picture is adorable! Can't wait to see more!!
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!
Thank you guys for the welcome! The vet we use is the most advanced in our area. I am not sure what their orthopedic certifications are but I will find out at our next appointment next week.
We have four dogs total (all four are rescues) and we love them all.
Sending a cloud of pawsitive energy your way
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Coincidentally, my vet just called check Clover's progress since starting the anit-inflamatory meds a week ago. I asked and they are an orthopedic facility, in fact, the only one in a 50 mile radius. He is really wanting Clover to heal on his own and not need surgery. Surgery is his last resort.
Just sending a welcome & good thoughts & prayers your way!
Your dogs are very blessed to have you!!
Jo & Mikey
Mikey, 2/14/16, came to us as a foster the end of June, 2wks after rear left amp. Now, at 6mo, he's doing awesome! Perfect, except for wanting to play with 9yo kitty Pumpkin, who isn't interested. At all.
Love to all! Jo, Mikey and, reluctantly, Pumpkin.
Clover's appointment went well today. They said he is healing on his own fairly well. He has to visit again in two weeks. In the meantime we are to give him Phicox to help support his joints (our other tripawd and our 13yo dog both take it already and I'm sure our mini dachshund will have to eventually). The vet suggested we get Clover some wheels for when we are out and he is doing a lot of walking but that he won't need them at home. He suggested some with a bit of adjustment since he is not full grown yet. We are keeping him on rest for now and when we save up the money we will get him a set.
Thanks for updating us! Considering the circumstances, it sounds like Clover is on the mend just fine! 🙂
Lots of information. on "wheels" around here. Eddie's Wheels is a manufacturer who may be able ro help you. Also, a doggy stroller may help also. Clover can still be outside in a "walk" with the pack, just without having to exert any energy! 🙂
Keep us posted AND we would love pictures of Clover and all yiur pack!
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!
Just catching up on your story as we were out on vacation but I am happy to hear Clover is doing well. Hugs! Keep us posted!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Clover had an appointment on Thursday last week. His knee is healed and he is getting around quite well now. His hip is still popping in and out of joint a bit but the vet said it may heal on its own as well as he is still recovering from being hit by the car. He is now 3 months post amputation. We are still planning to get him some wheels for longer outings but he can manage fine in the house for now.
That sounds very positive. Your love and care are working miracles. What a fabulous pack!
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted 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 Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Great news! Sounds like Clover is healing wonderfully!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Hi there, Clover. Murphy's mom, Kathi, here. We dealt with a hip that kept dislocating after amputation (Murphy was hit by a car, too), but did not have hip dysplasia in the mix. Just shallow hip joints that wouldn't/couldn't keep the hip in place. As Sally said, Murphy had his hip replacement about six weeks after the amputation. He was in the hospital for almost a month before the amp while they tried to save the leg.
Our story is in the Beyond Cancer forum under Total Hip Replacement following Amputation (I think that's the title I put on it). Unfortunately, a lot of my videos were somehow deleted from YouTube, so they are missing from the forum. I have tried to reconstruct the YouTube channel, but it's been slow going due to the fact that I'm having a hard time recovering some of the videos. At any rate, you can check it out on Murphy the Three Legged Dog.
Clover is very lucky to have found a wonderful home with a family who wants to do everything that they can for him.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
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