Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I'm posting here to get some advice about how to find the right rehab therapist for my 4 yearly old mixed breed dog, Milo, who had his left hind leg amputated 10 days ago because of bone cancer.
Milo is now 9 days after surgery and doing great. Milo is lean and athletic with (now 3) long legs. Until he started limping 2 months ago he was the fastest runner in the park and loved to bound up and down hills in the woods and beach with the agility of a mountain goat. If we let him, he'd start running after cats and squirrels and shore birds tomorrow. But we're keenly aware that he needs a comprehensive rehab plan to keep him from injuring himself or causing future problems because of his body mechanics and gait. Right now he propels himself with enthusiasm by hopping his hind limb, stiffly, without seeming to flex his knee.
Options seem to include, swim therapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, massage, land and water treadmills... We're having trouble finding a therapist who is certified, can work with dogs who are anxious around vets, local, and available. The latter seems to be the biggest hurdle. We've gotten Milo on several 2 month plus waiting lists for therapy, and are worried that he's going to develop bad habits and possible injuries while we're waiting. A formerly very active dog who's used to getting 1+ hr of cardio workouts daily and a full day of running with his pack at an outdoor daycare each week, Milo has been under activity restriction for 2 months now. I found a swim center who can take him immediately, and while it seems like a good option to get him low impact cardio, it doesn't help with his gait or the other rehab modalities.
We'd like to find someone who can help more holistically with the whole rehab program. We were super impressed with the folks aat UC Davis who did the surgery, but it is too far away to be practical. We live in the mid-peninsula of the SF Bay area. We'd be very grateful for suggestions and recommendations.
Thank you
Ron
Hi Ron,
Hope you don't mind I moved your post here, but since we are talking about mobility this is a good place for your questions and concerns.
You are doing your best right now to help him. Nine days out is still super early. It's hard not to be impatient, you want him to get back to all that he loves. He will get there! Any bad habits he develops now can be worked on when he does get into rehab. You are in one of the best areas of care for a Tripawd, I'm confident you will find the right therapist.
If the swim center will have a credentialed therapist working with him in the pool, you may want to give it a try while you wait for the other rehab places to get back to you. Keep in mind that swimming builds endurance, not strength, so it doesn't address everything a Tripawd needs to get into shape. It may keep him in a good mental and physical place for now, while you wait for another therapy center. But again, nine days out is not a long time, it's still early and his body is healing.
Try to think of it like this: yes, he is an active boy now and he will get back to that place. But all dogs will age eventually, and not be able to do strenuous activities. This is the time to start exploring more mental interactive brain games than physical ones, so that you are ready for the day long in the future when he really slows down.
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