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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Today is Jackson's 7th day as a tripawd. He's eager to return to his normal routines and we're letting him do what he wants/can. This includes going up/down the stairs (carpeted) for bathroom walks (3x/day) and sleeping on the couch (he needs a little help getting up). On our walks, he insists on some of his favorite routes. It's great! But, as a rear amputee, which I understand is easier for mobility, he's fast! Like, I practically need to jog to keep up. He doesn't "walk" on our walks anymore. They are all a trot pace. He's so fast! Should we reel him in and keep him slower? What speed do other rear amputees move at? Jackson is a young 8 year old, 60lb huskie-boarder collie.
Thanks!
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
Good to hear Jackson is getting along so well. My Cadence is also a rear leg amputee and let me tell you, once she gets going, it's a work out for me. Our walks prior to the amp were pretty mellow and casual. Now once she gets her roll on, there is no stopping her. I could be wrong, but I think it has something to do with momentum. I think we just have to go with it. The only suggestion I can make is, is when Jackson gets tired, make sure you stop and rest. Cadence will just stop mid walk and sit. This is my sign that she needs to take it easy for a few. Keep us posted on your road to recovery.
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.” ― Milan Kundera
Yep, it has everything to do with momentum, especially for front leggers who go even faster. Once a dog is on three legs, all of those "heel" lessons go out the window.
It's easier for them to go faster, but that doesn't mean you can't have controlled leash walking. We find it a challenge to keep up with our Wyatt (a rear leg amp), but regular on-leash walking/training sessions with him have taught him what we want when we ask him to heel. He tries as best as he can, and we meet halfway.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just like Jerry said, it is easier for a Tripawd to go fast than to go slow. All about the momentum thing. I now have to walk faster on our walks with the Tripawds than I do with our quadpawd. For a rear leg Tripawd, Running is easier than a slow walk.
Even little pug Maggie needed to go pretty fast. Luckily for me she had short little legs so I didn't have to jog- but we went at a brisk pace most of the time.
I would be a little cautious letting him do too much until the sutures/staples come out. After that put your jogging shoes on when you go out with him!
Karen and the pugapalooza
I agree with the others: it's all about momentum, and it's actually quite difficult for the rear leg amputees to walk slowly. It puts quite a lot of strain on the hind leg. Now that Sid has a touch of arthritis in his hip, and recently strained a muscle or ligament in that leg too, there are times when I have to jog-trot all the way with him simply to enable him to have a walk. I'm still too slow for him, but it's better than nothing!
He gets a lot less tired if I run and would run all the way if I let him (stopping for sniffs etc of course) but we have to pause now and then for ME to take a breather!
I agree with others. Try jumping on one leg: it will be much easier to go fast then slowly, jump by jump.
We have 3 dogs, and to walk all three at once is a two person job because Dante needs to go much faster than the girls to keep up and he kinda hips back and forth infront of us, and gets tangled if he's beside one of the girls. We tried to get a little more control over him but he just can't do it without going quickly!
Thank you all for your help! As usual! As Jackson recovers, his pace is slowing a little. I think initially he was pretty drugged, so his walks were purely (dazed) momentum. Now that he's more aware of things and as his body heals with stronger muscles, his pace is slightly slower. I think he can control his gait a bit more. Things are still pretty quick (especially that morning walk, but that has more to do with me not wanting to jog at 7am!), but I'm pleased he's gaining strength and balance. I envy the gaits of pro-tripawders, looking forward to the day Jackson's rear limb swings back and forth more rather than such vertical hops. He'll get there, I know! Every day he amazes me. Speaking of which...I have a game of fetch to respond to....
ACL tear in right hind leg 12/5/12 and scheduled ACL repair surgery 12/21/12. Pre-op xrays revealed osteosarcoma. Amputation 12/28/12. Chemo (carboplatin) started Jan 10, 2013 and ended on April 5, for a total of 5 doses. He handled carbo like a champ! No side effects. We started metronomic therapy at his third chemo and have been also doing some holistic treatments. He's a lively, playful 10 year old huskie-boarder collie and a very proud member of the Winter Warriors! Our love. Our funny little guy!
You will absolutely get there Jackson! These humans, they can be so impatient huh? 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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