Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Everyone, I did see another thread with a bit of the same topic but I'm a little bit different as my guy is a big boy so here I go. Axel is a (now) 90lb Rottie (he was about 105 before his front left leg amputation on 9/30 due to osteosarcoma). After a hairy first 2 weeks (dealing with a seroma and he needed a drain) he's all pretty much the same dog he was before the surgery just hell on 3 wheels instead of 4. We are very happy having our boy back to his loving, goofy usual self. Even after 2 weeks of oh god, what did we do we realized that we did make the right decision. He's had one round of chemo so far and is feeling good.
Our current challenge with him is going up to our 2nd floor. They are carpeted and go 6 stairs, a landing and then another 6 stairs. He has made it up twice but he stumbles and panics going up. Once he's up he's fine and he comes down with no issues. Well after the 2 times going up he won't go up anymore. It's awkward for him and the stumbling I know is rough on him. However at night when we are in bed he wants to come up, he won't come up and winds up whining at the bottom of the stairs. My husband is tired and his back hurts from sleeping on the couch. He's a dog that wants to be around us all the time. Advice on getting him up those stairs?
I am wondering if we need to bring a trainer in to help him with this but don't even know where to ask if there are any dog trainers that specialize in amputated dogs? We are in the Boston area and if anyone has any recommendations please let us know!
Thanks all & Happy Halloween!!
Melissa & Axel
Hmmm... are you guys assisting him with a harness like the Ruffwear Webmaster or Flagline ?
Usually front leg amputees have a harder time going down than up. It's still early in recovery but sounds like a fear thing not a stamina issue.
A good trainer will know how to help. We have some ideas in the Tripawds Gear blog too:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
First of all, do glad to hear Axel has is sparkle back and is his goofy fun lpving self.
I know it's upsetting for him (and you) not to be able to reclaim his nighttime sleeping time with you.
Yeah, also curious if you have tried any type of harness support yet for going up? If not, maybe start off with him jist wearing it for a little bit and not have it associated with stairs, but rather something pawsitive. If he likes carrides, or trips for drive thru cheeseburgers, he can swear ot then. One of my dog likes carrides and I use a harness. If I get anywhere near his harness he associates that with fun things and gets wild and crazy happy.
Just to piggyback on what Jerry said, it does sound like a fear and confidence thing. Although my Happy Hannah was a rear legger, she stumbled once on one of her first tries going up...and that was pretty much it. Too fearful after that.
Now, is there anywhere you can go that has a few stairs.....maybe a friends house that he likes with porch stairs, something like that. If you can get him to associate something grest with stairs to the point he doesn't even focus on stairs.,he just sails up them.
One other though. Is there a doggy friend, or hooman friend, he really likes you could bring to the house,. Have the hooman in a Happy and confident state as they all head up the stairs for some chicken or whatever. Not explaining it very well, but you get my point.
And what is your energy like now when you try and get him up the stairs? Happy and confident or frustrated and feeling defeated.? Axel is so bonded to you and your energy becomes his.
Anyway, just throwing all this out in the FWIW And it is still early..
Keep us posted. Again, do glad Axel is back to bring Axel.
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!
Sally you have such great suggestions! I love the idea of having a friend come over. Brilliant!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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