Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Well while most of you are freezing your butts off up in the Northern Hemisphere, down here in the Southern Hemisphere it is getting very very hot. This is Koda's first Summer as a tripawd so I was hoping some of the tripawds who have gone through a summer could help us with what to keep an eye on during the hot months.
I have stopped telling people that I have the air con on for my dog. They reply with "yeah, sure". Air con doesn't really phase me, I'll use it to cool down the house but then usually turn it off as I find myself under a blanket. But since Koda's diagnosis I have always been ensuring he is as comfortable as possible and with the heat he has been panting and breathing a lot faster. So turning on the air con will help settle him, but is there anything else I should be cautious of? I am worried that the heat will take a toll on his body.
Storm and Koda
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In the summer Tazzie used to enjoy getting soaked with the hose and then laying around in the dirt. She was too big for our doggie swimming pool but she always loved the hose! We also had to buy an air conditioner last year when it hit 105 degrees (rare for Seattle).
Pam
I don't think that tripawds have any harder time in the summer than they did when they had four legs. Emily wasn't fazed by the summer this year any more than any year. Good luck.
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Speaking from experience...Nope. After 11 years of having a 3 legger, they aren't any hotter or colder than others. I did have a mini fan pointed at Comet's bed but I started that when she had knee surgery and had a cast on. She got hot from the cast. Plus, it's in a corner between the night stand and dresser and probably doesn't get much ventilation. (keep in mind, we live in Las Vegas)
But hey, it's A-OKAY to go overboard for our babies! I have and do! You can barely walk in my house for all the dog beds on the floor! I also tuck her in at night and fluff her main bed. (it gets the cooties out and she expects it!) I have to admit, I've never seen a dog that loved her beds so much. She thinks it's the greatest thing to have fresh clean bedding!
Tip: I use twin size fitted sheets and nice soft throws over her beds. It looks nicer and can be washed easily.
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.
Well our dogs (and us) always have the AC on at home (we live in Florida) except for the winter months were the temps go down a bit, and then we just leave all the windows open. That's just what we're all used to... and in the hot summer months, our dogs would go swimming in our pool to cool down when they're outside.
If you're worried about too much heat in your home, but don't want to freeze yourselves... then definitely get some fans. But if your dog has been used to living without AC all these years... then you probably don't have to do anything extra. If Koda didn't pant before in the heat... then panting now might just be due to the pain meds and recovering from the trauma of surgery. I know that Jake used to pant alot after his surgery too... and it had nothing to do with how cold or hot it was in our home...
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
We live in one of those very strange areas of the country where our summer days often hit 105+ but we do not have central air. Nearly always, the San Francisco Bay fog rolls into our valley and we pull for the down comforter at night. However, we do have a pool and like Jake, my first two standard poodles loved to swim and chase the pool sweep. Keep them hydrated and the paws cool and you should not have any problems. (any more than any dog).
Bob & Cherry
Great queston!
For me, I had trouble in summertime when we travelled to hot climates but that was only I was from the coast and just not used to being in that kind of heat. I panted more, which really freaked out my Mom. But it wasn't cancer related at all, just me not acclimating like I should've. After a few days I did, but the air conditioner really helped out. So did cooling sprinkles of water.
Otherwise though, if a pup has already experienced that kind of heat, I'd say not to worry. Provide lots of water as getting around takes a bit more effort, but otherwise, check that worry off your list and enjoy your summertime. We are jealous up here in the States!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks all for the posts. We live in Queensland and it is HOT!!! I have heard that Queensland weather is very similar to Florida weather. The only lucky thing is we are close to the ocean so the breeze usually starts up in the afternoon.
We used to have a pool and Koda would retrieve the kreep crawly hose. It was the funniest thing. Bob and Cherry, your post just reminded me of that. And last night I went to wrap a Christmas present and Koda tried to retrieve the roll or wrapping paper for me when I put it on the ground to start wrapping a present, it was the funniest thing, someone is going to have teeth marks in their wrapping paper so it will be even more special. I'll have to wrap my mothers gift in the that piece as when I point it out she'll be in tears:) She loves her grand paw baby (no grand kids yet so she adores Koda like a grand child). He has to help with everything, even when we clean up the back yard he is dragging palm prongs in his mouth while we are carrying some to the pick up.
Pam we are renevating our back yard at the moment so I would say half of it is dirt right now:) Perfect timing!!! I might let him go under the hose and then bath him. Problem here is we are on water restrictions so I hope no one dobs me in, but I did find out that water restrictions don't apply to animals so I will go with that angle if I have any problems, hopefully will green up my dieing lawn (the other half of the yard) at the same time.
I had thought of the fan option so will go with that. It broke my heart a little when I took him to the beach the other day as it was his first time there as a tripawd and it was low tide so he had trouble walking though the water. Might wait for high tide and rig up a harness and let him go for it. How do front amuptees cope when swimming? I know the ruffwear harness would be a good idea but in the salt water and sand here was thinking I might just use and old towel and that way I can just throw it straight in the wash instead of having to get the sand out of the harness....
Well we are off to play under the hose, we feel for you guys that are experiencing that white fluffy stuff. It never snows where we live and Koda is glad because he has no idea how tripawds cope with walking through snow.
Storm and Koda:)
Storm said:
How do front amuptees cope when swimming? I know the ruffwear harness would be a good idea but in the salt water and sand here was thinking I might just use and old towel and that way I can just throw it straight in the wash instead of having to get the sand out of the harness....
Storm & Koda,
Oh gosh, check it out.
Here's Oslo splashing around:
Jerry taking a swim
Oh, never fear, the Ruff Wear harness stands up great to water. In the heat it dries quickly, and it's really handy to help Tripawds swim back to shore if they get too tired out.
But for buoyancy you can't beat the Ruff Wear dog life vests.
Hope that Koda gets to swim in your beautiful ocean real soon. Can't wait to see the movies!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes, Tazzie was a great swimmer as a four-legger but definitely needed a life jacket or else he would sort of start to turn over. With the life jacket he could use his power to go forward rather than stay right side up. But hasn't Storm doesn't any swimming since amputation?
Speaking of panting, I remember LOTS of people worried about their panting tripawds in the heat of last August. They do expend more energy when they move, so it makes sense it would be a bit harder in hot weather.
Jake loved to swim… before and after his amputation. The K9 Float Coat really helped him keep his balance while he swam… Here he is in action!!!
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
We live in Arizona, so needless to say it is always warm around here. The weather in the summer gets up to 110 F and higher! Since adopting Lucky he hasn't showed any signs of not being able to adapt to the heat. Sure he pants more when it's hot but I'm not all that surprised as the other dogs do that too. We have exposed Lucky to the pool but he has yet to actually go in, and his former owners who left him at the pound had written that he liked water. We would like to use it as a way for him to cool off, but he is much happier running around. Some of the best ways to cool off a dog are just wetting them with a hose or a cup of water. Hope that helps.
Lucky Amputation 10/29/09 Adoption 12/5/09
Jedi Amputation 12/18/09 Adoption 02/04/10
"I am not afraid, I was born to do this." Joan of Arc
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