Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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My young, energetic, Aussie tripawd simply LOVES to swim. Back and forth, in water that is close to shore but over his head. It's hard work. I've thought about a float-coat to make it easier. But on the other hand, he is working harder without it, and I hope that is building strength in his good leg. Question: Should I give him a float coat anyway? Or just swim him "as is?"
More detail: Amputation of right front leg was necessary at 4 months due to a rare bone condition. Recovery was excellent. This dog runs and swims as fast as anyone else. He's young and maybe doesn't yet know his limits. But (unlike him), I've been reading on this site. I'm trying to spare his only "good" front leg from excess impact. So swimming makes sense. We live in Seattle, where beaches and boat ramps are available year-round.
Next steps: I'll buy a float coat of course, just in case we go sailing into deep water where an overboard fall could be serious. But I'd really appreciate advice about how much to use it, versus how much to develop his swimming strength as is.
Hi Jane. I'm in the Tripawds Chat right now if you want to talk. Back in a flash...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm back! What's your pup's name? He sounds like a firecracker! Most Aussies are for sure.
Swimming is a tricky thing. Open water swimming does not build strength, it builds endurance. Yes he is working hard, but maybe not how he should be. A rehab therapist can tell you if it's helping or hurting, and the best part is the Tripawds Foundation may even pay for your first rehab visit !
We asked the folks at Texas A&M Rehab about the difference between open water swimming and a doggy treadmill and here's what they told us:
Texas A&M Vet Rehab Tips for Tripawd Dogs
Swimming in a pool or lake is fun, but it’s not water therapy.
“The important thing about water therapy in general is they are still weight bearing. We never take away all of that bottom surface so part of their weight is still working towards building the muscle,” she says.
“Sometimes swimming can work if a dog is just trying to regain that muscle memory about how to move their legs but this (water treadmill) works really well to teach them how to walk again. It’s really hard to translate swimming back into walking, whereas this combines the best of both worlds with the weight reduction and still enabling to walk at the same time.”
We find that the Ruffwear Float Coat makes an incredible difference in how a Tripawd swims. It keeps the dog from ingesting tooo much water, and allows them to swim longer and safer, without getting so tired that the dog has a hard time returning to shore. We never swim our Wyatt Ray without one.
For lots more tips I encourage you to pick up a copy of Loving Life On Three Legs , and keep telling us more about your crazy doggy! What fun!
Oh and see:
A Tripawd Dog Life Jacket Helps Our Heroes Swim Better
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Jerry,
His name is Boomie, and yes, he is an energetic boy.
I hear what the therapists are saying about weight-bearing water rehab being better for certain kinds of injuries. We have a rehab clinic here in Seattle that offers it. But I'm a little skeptical, in this case. For my own body, recovering from a leg injury, non-weight-bearing swimming laps did wonders for my overall strength. And I also value endurance.
From what your Texas vet specialists are saying, I get the impression that they are focussed on using hydro to help dogs learn how to walk again after surgery. That's not our situation. This dog can run fine. He simply needs healthy exercise.
I almost feel like we need a sports coach, not a rehab therapist. Happy to pay for good advice, but this dog is not a cripple.
Thanks for your thoughts. More ideas are always welcome.
Boomie is a great name and so fitting!
Regarding the learning how to walk..it's not necessarily that the dog in the video could not walk. He got along just fine and did all sorts of cool activities. But the therapists were teaching him how towalk properly with his compromised gait. Because even when a Tripawd looks like they are getting along fine, their body is compensating. A rehab therapist can help train them to use the new gait in their favor, instead of developing bad habits that take their toll over time.
Most rehab therapists do train under a sports medicine umbrella, so they can definitely act as both for Boomie!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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