Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi everyone! It has been a long time since I have been on but we have been super busy! Bailey's 1 year ampuversary is getting close...day before Thanksgiving! I am very excited. The reason we have been busy is that we have decided to move from Myrtle Beach, SC back to our hometown of Buffalo, NY. I was wondering what everyone's experience was with Tripawds and snow? Advice? How do your Tripawds do in it? I am nervous because Bailey has never seen snow, not even a dusting! She is going to hate us!! She will hardly go potty in the rain LOL. Any advice/tips or stories from your experiences would be greatly appreciated!! thanks 
)
Hey welcome back, it's great to hear from you! It's wonderful to hear that things are going so well. That's a BIG move you're going to make. Fun!
Well, I was a West Coast kid so I don't have a whole lot of experience there, other than playing in it when we traveled. But I never had to deal with icy sidewalks on a regular basis, so I know that other Tripawds who have will chime in. My biggest advice is to find the best traction boots for her and get her used to them ahead of time. Our Gear Shop has lots of ideas on how you can do that.
I think most dogs LOVE snow, so who knows, she just might be one of them! I sure hope so. Buffalo is COLD!
We have some other members in the area, maybe you all can get together and have a pawty sometime before it gets too snowy out.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
That would be nice to meet other Tripawds! Yes I was born and raised in Buffalo and moved to SC Nov 2010. Bailey was rescued here in Myrtle Beach so she has no idea what the white stuff is. I know I hate it. But also miss it now. LOL I will take a look at the boots and give them a try, not sure she will like them much. I will check back tomorrow and hopefully some advice will be posted 
Well, Cali always preferred snow to pretty much anything! But she didn't have any trouble in it, even continued her career as a sled dog. I don't think Bailey will have any problems - he will probably be zooming like a crazy dog in it!
My tri loves snow. Biggest problem is that he is a toy poodle and the snow makes balls on his fur and he can't move! Cheek is missing a front left leg and has had bilateral hip dysplasia surgery (femur head removed on both hips). Even with all that he can run in snow. All three of my dogs hate rain too, but they go nuts in snow.
Hi There! Congrats on Bailey's 1-Year Ampuversary! I'm sure he will LOVE the snow in Buffalo. We took Sierra to the snow a lot before she became a tripawd but unfortunately didn't have the opportunity to take her to the snow as a tripawd. I do remember talking to some folks snowshoeing with a tripawd several years ago and they said he got along just great on three legs. They had snow booties on their dog so that may be something to think about getting. I have snow booties for my Akita and they help protect his pads from the cold and from getting raw from the ice and hard packed snow. I also just bought a great dog jacket for my shorthaired pointer for camping trips. She is very fit and thus no fat and no fur to keep her warm (even camping in California!). I bought her a Rambo dog jacket which is waterproof and easy to get on and off, it velcro's at the chest and under rib cage. The jacket also has reflective material so you can see them very well at night. I love this jacket! You can find these jackets on equestrian websites. Shop around for a good price. Good luck!
Hi Bailey's Mom,
We live in Buffalo!! Welcome home in advance! Last winter was Peg's first encounter with snow. (She is a rescue from Kentucky) and she did pretty well.
But it was a VERY mild winter in comparison to most years. The only problem we had was an injury to her pawpad that I think was ultimately a result of ice, debris and the pad drying out. It was very scary because she is a front amputee and this was her other front leg. We had to carry her for a few days while she healed and she is not a small dog. We tried several different boots, but the ones that worked best were the plastic balloon type (also the cheapest and come in packs of 12). They don't pad the paw, they just protect it. She could not get used to any of the padded booties and we wasted a lot of money on those....although I understand some dogs do well. We didn't worry about protecting all three paws, just the one opposite her missing leg. She also wears the Ruff Rider harness. "Face Plants" are inevitable in slippery conditions and the harness helps us help her recover quickly.
Peg is also a senior dog. She just loves to go for walks but cannot keep up the distance with our other dog, so we solved that problem by buying a red flyer wagon (plastic). So now she goes on every walk and when she gets tired we load her into the wagon and she LOVES it. Plus our other dog doesn't get cheated out of his exercise.
Our plan for this winter is to replace the wagon with a sled. We are shopping/planning now because up here you never know when it will strike! Please feel free to Private Message me when you get settled, and I'll send along my email and phone number.There are several other Tripawds in the area...two of who's Moms are friends. I feel a PAWTY in the making!!!
Karen (Pegz Mom)
kviz said
We tried several different boots, but the ones that worked best were the plastic balloon type (also the cheapest and come in packs of 12).She also wears the Ruff Rider harness.
The boots Karen is referring to are PAWZ dog boots.
and I think she means the Ruff Wear harness? I thought Ruff Riders were doggie seat belts?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
YES!!! "Pawz" are the boots I was talking about and YES!!! It is the Ruff WEAR harness!! Thank you Admin!!!
See what the cold does to your brain???
Yeah I may try the cheap ones first because I have a feeling that Bailey is going to be miserable with boots on. I do need to find a coat for her, she is short haired and thin so nothing to keep her warm so I will look into that! I hope maybe we will get lucky with another mild winter in Buffalo..but I won't count on it! LOL But it would be nice to give me a winter to adjust back to crappy snow Bailey is pretty good with walks, if she gets tired she just take a little break. But she is young, a little over 2 so she still has lots of energy!! I will definitely PM you once we get settled. We will be arriving in Buffalo Sept 28th. Hoping Bailey will behave on the drive..but more worried about my kitties. 14 hours is a longgg drive. ha i'll go check out all those items now you guys suggested thank you!
Baileys mom said
I do need to find a coat for her...
Wyatt loves his Ruff Wear Climate Changer, and we do too!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
