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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Hi this is my first time posting here.....my tripawd, Joy is about 3 years old. We rescued her from the south. She had her rt rear leg amputated due to an old injury that was never treated. She has done very well in the 5 months that we have had her and has been a "Joy" to our family. However last week, she put her front legs up on the side of a shed and did something to her left rear leg. She was yelping and whining for a minute or so and was holding the leg in a curled position. after a few moments she seemed to feel better and was ok until last night when I took her for her first walk since she hurt herself. she saw a cat in the neighborhood and took off (she was on a long lead) when she got to the end of the lead, she skidded and hurt the leg again, apparently. Yelping and again holding it in a curled position. I have been trying to keep her quiet, but she she jumped on the couch and then when getting off of it, she was hurt again. I dosed her with Metacam (antiinflammatory) last night and after the first incident. My vet is not available today, but I will be taking her tomorrow. I am afraid she may have torn something in her knee? she seems ok after the initial whining and yelping, but I know that it is obviously not ok. I am sick to my stomach about this. What can possibly be done for a dog that has injured her remaining rear limb? I was looking at carts last night, and while I realize this is not an option yet...it is something I will do if necessary for her to heal. I will know more once I get her to the vet but I am so very worried for my girl. she has not had the best life before coming to us and i don't want her to suffer any more pain.
Welcome to Tripawds, your future posts won't require moderation. We saw you in the chat room earlier but you didn't say anything. When you go there again, be sure to scroll down to see the box at the bottom where you can "bark."
Ok, breathe. You are not a bad pawrent, I promise. I think every one of us has had to ride the learning curve when it comes to knowing what our Tripawd's limits are. In fact my own people and I had this kind of experience when we thought I blew my knee out from playing Frisbee. Now they know better and in fact have written a book all about life after amputation recovery, called "Loving Life on Three Legs." It's the best place to start to learn how to manage a Tripawds's activity and keep your pup strong so things like this don't happen. Check it out, I promise you'll get a lot out of it.
Meanwhile I'm going to bet that your vet will prescribe R&R for a few weeks. That's all it took to heal my knee (and some acupuncture, which felt great). Try not to think the worst until you know what you're dealing with. Nearly all Tripawds who've been through this experience don't require a cart afterward, especially young dogs.
Again, welcome, we're glad you joined.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh, no! There is nothing scarier than our tripawds to hurt one of their remaining legs. I know as that happened to my Daisy. She is a front leg amp but tore and eventually ruptured the ccl in her back right knee that had to be surgically repaired.
It could be any number of things so don't panic yet (I know, easier said than done LOL). Maybe she has a luxating patella, torn ligament or just a pulled muscle.
Believe it or not there have been members here who had rear amp pups that had to have surgeries on their remaining leg. Murphy had a total hip replacement and then there was Ellie that had a TTA procedure on her only knee. I know there are others but those two came to mind. So there are things that can be done!
Hang in there. We will have fingers and paws crossed for good news at the vet tomorrow. Let us know what you find out.
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
thank you both for your words of encouragement. She's been a tripawd since June of last year but you're right, since we've only had her for a few months, we are still learning her abilities and limitations. Thankfully she is not a super high energy labby girl, so keeping her quiet and calm isn't that hard. I was thinking about acupuncture for her, I've never looked into it, but I'm sure that she might benefit from it. My neighbor also knows a pet PT and she mentioned hydrotherapy. Although Joy doesn't love the water, that could also be an option for strengthening. I think that I will look into that book. I did not do a lot of research into tripawds before we rescued Joy as she became sort of an emergent case when her first adoption failed. (through no fault of hers) I've been following Tripawds on Facebook for some time now, but when this happened, I wanted to get some feedback on the possible consequences. I thank you for your positive words. We lost our first rescue dog in February, at the age of 2 to autoimmune meningitis....so I am trying to put this in perspective. Not life and death. But I am such a worry nut about her....love this dog so very much and just want her to have a happy and pain free life. After what she's been through, she deserves it! I have a vet appointment this afternoon for her...so I will let you know how we make out.
Oh my, a Lab who doesn't like water? Whaaaaa? 
I'm really sorry to hear about your pup that you lost earlier this year. It's odd, I just heard about another young dog passing away from that condition, and she was also very young. What a shock, I'm terribly sorry you went through that.
Most of us didn't research life on three legs either, for many it just happens within weeks when a dog gets diagnosed with cancer or is involved in an accident of some sort. So don't feel badly. As long as you are willing to learn that's what counts!
Keep us posted and let us know what the vet says. In the meantime here's a post about acupuncture and finding qualified rehab vets. Oh and check out Atlas' posts in "treatment and recovery" about his acupuncture experience! Just search for "acupuncture."
Good luck today!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Vet thinks it is a knee sprain. He felt that the knee was quite stable upon palpation so he didn't feel that it was torn. He put her on Rimadyl and leash walking only for a couple of weeks. Keep her calm and quiet. He did not feel that she needed to be crated at this time. She does like to chase my kitties and we have hard wood floors, so she slips and skids across those sometimes trying to "get" the cats. So I have set my kitties up in our basement and finished area downstairs where they can't be a potential injury source. I did place a call to a local veterinary acupuncturist today, but have not heard back from her. She's been pretty good today, staying calm and no painful/yelping episodes. So I am hopefull, that like you said, a couple of weeks of R and R and she'll be just about good as new! Thank you again for your words of encouragement and very helpful links. Very glad I have joined this site....excellent resource.
Hi Joy! Just catchingup on you! You are one ludky girl to have such caring mom! You are a very pretty girl!
Just want to add that most of us with hardwood floors have non-slip scatter rugs all around to prevent any further injury.
Sorry about the loss of your other pup! I kow that ,even though it was a brief life, it was one surrounded by love!
Enjoy your wonderful journey with Joy! She sounds absoutely delightful!
You are doing a wonderful job and are a great advocate for Joy!
Best to you!
Saly and Happy Hannah
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!
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