Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone,
Tabitha our Greyhound is 2 weeks post op with a rear right leg amputation. She is going down (6) stairs well and can navigate outside in our yard and walking up and down our sort-of paved street (which is very hilly). We take breaks sometimes when outside and don't take walks longer than a few minutes, but she's doing well and is almost back to her normal walk schedule.
Our difficulty is getting her back up the stairs. I know this is harder for back leg amputations, but we're not sure how to help her. Right now, my husband is lifting her up the 6 stairs using 2 slings. She sometimes will put her front paws on the bottom step, but backs right off. Bill (my husband) is starting a new job at the beginning of July (providing COVID restrictions are lifted) and I cannot lift Tabitha myself into the house (I work from home). Any advice? Would a harness help?
Thanks!
JoAnn, Bill and Tabitha the Greyt Tripod
Hi, a harness with a handle would be a lot of help. You can find some that are recommended in the gear blog. Brownie was front leg amputee, so the Flag line came in handy helping him downstairs.
My Beautiful Beloved Brownie was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma on February 26, 2019. With all odds against him he lived an additional one year and eight days with amputation, love, and prayer. I was honored to be his mom, and I have never been so proud! He will live forever in my Heart!
04/01/2007 - 03/05/2020
"March Saint"
In my opinion a harness with a handle on the back would be a great help. And with a harness you should be able to help her up the stairs on your own. It could be that the dual sling is making her nervous too, a harness would feel more secure to her and be easier for you (or your husband) to use.
The other two things you need are treats and lots of praise! While your husband is still home start working with her to build her confidence. Do you have access to any shorter flights of stairs, maybe one or two? It would be great to let her go up one or two stairs and get lots of praise and treats. If not you can do something similar on your six stairs. First I would give her lots of praise and rewards IF she keeps her two front feet on the first stair. If she backs down that's OK but don't give her any treats. The next part is a little tricky with 6 stairs because once she gets her momentum going up you don't want her to stop. But if you had a harness one person could help guide her up while the other dispenses treats or maybe just lures with treats until she gets to the top.
You want her to have only success while on the stairs. My little Elly is very sensitive and when something scares her she is very reluctant to go near it again.
Two weeks is very early post surgery too, she will continue to get stronger and more balanced and more confident. Elly is a Pug mix of about 15 pounds, she lost a rear leg to a car accident when she was 7 months old. I got her when she was 10 months old and she struggled a little on our stairs, now she flies up and down without issue. We do spend a lot of time on strengthening her core and her one back leg so she is very fit and strong, she is coming up on 5 years since her amp.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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