Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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We just rescued a 4 yr old tripod a month ago - he missing front right leg. We don't know if it was lost or if he was born that way. He was doing great and you couldn't tell he was missing a leg until the other night. He stared slidding when he was walking - like a stretch but doing it all the time. He can stand and still jump on the sofa and he doesn't seem to be in any pain. We asked the rescue and they told us that sometimes he did this sometimes when the weather was bad. The weather was bad yesterday but not today and he is still doing the same slide. We were wondering if anyone else has experienced this moblity issue.
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Thanks for joining us barnabyde. You're a sweetheart for adopting this older Tripawd pup! We would love to hear more about him.
Are your floors slippery? Is he doing this on carpet and tile/wood? If he's just doing this on slippery floors then it definitely sounds like he needs traction assistance. Check out our various options for socks and booties.
Otherwise, if he is slipping on carpet too, he may need physical therapy to help strenthen his core muscles and legs. Check out this video about stretching and physical therapy.
Have you consulted with a rehab therapist?
If he is overweight, this will contribute to the issue too. Helping him maintain a thin physique is one of the best things you can do to keep a Tripawd healthy.
Please give us more information so we can try to help.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks so much for the quick reply .
Alittle more about Barnaby is he has been a tripod for at least 2 of his 4 years - he was at the rescue for 2 years when we adpoted him. We don't know if he lost his leg or if it was from birth - there were no records from the kill shelter where he was rescued.
He is a big dog, part boxer part hound and is about 75lbs. We are controlling his diet and our vet said he is at an OK weight. We have carpet and no slip rugs on the hardwood floors and yes he is doing it on the carpet as well. Funny thing is that we noticed when he is outside and on the snow/concrete he doesn't seem to slip as much. He just started having this issue on Friday - until then he navigated w/o problems on the carpet.
We haven't done any therapy because he is not a new tripod.
Hmmmm.....Honestly, I would see if you can get an orthopedic evaluation on his gait and such. He might have a disc sprain or something. Are you by any chance near a vet teaching hospital? They usually cost less than a specialty center for something like this.
He sounds sweet, and so are you for adopting him!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes! Bless you for rescuing a Barnaby!
I bet he is a love bug! Post a pic!
That's strange sounding issue. Definately get with a ortho or neuro vet if you can.
You've checked the bottom of his pads to see if anything is causing him to slip? Sometimes can be as simple as a something in his pad between his toes.
A little trick to see if his is a neuro issue, is stand him up and turn one foot at a time upside down. (turn the top of foot/toes toward the ground as if he was going to walk on the top of his foot.) If his reflex is fast to make his foot right and normal, then it's not neurological. Do it with each foot. A dog should make his foot right rather fast. If there is a slow reaction to get his foot back in place, it could be neurological.
That's all the tricks I know. But keep us posted!
Good luck!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Welcome to the family. I don't have any experience with dogs and this issue, but sometimes when a cow would get a pinched nerve, alot of times from a difficult birth due to swelling along the back part of the spine, she would have trouble walking, usually with the back legs,and sometimes what would happen is lets say the part you might call the wrist, the joint right above the hoof, just like the joint above a dogs foot, but it looks like they are trying to walk on the tip of the foot, does that sound like anything your experiencing. Soory thats the best I can offer, Spirit GUs and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
I wanted to post an update on Barnaby. We took him to the vet and after a thorough exam she said that he was getting too much exercise...go figure. Because he was in a rescue he wasn't used to having a big yard to run in and he never went on walks she thought that he prob strained his front leg. She told us to rest him for 2 weeks and gave us an antiinflamatory. He is doing better.
Glad to hear he's feeling better, thanks for the update! When Barnaby gets back in the swing of things, just take it easy at first and work on developing his core muscles to help build strength – walking, only develops endurance. More frequent shorter walks are better for tripawds. And, if he sits down on walks or when exercising, take it a s a cue to take a break! Please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
OH thank you for the update!
That sounds very familiar, lots of Tripawds tend to overdo it. It's important for pawrents to watch their activity levels to avoid soreness and possible injury. Great advice! Let us know how he's doing OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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