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
I've noticed that Mickey, our 7 year old Golden Retriever (the one with the 'extra leg', ha!), has really been changing since McGwire's diagnosis and surgery.
- He's started playing with his toys like he did when he was 7 months!
- He is much more attention needy
- Here's the weird one, whenever McGwire goes to pee outside, Mickey pees right where Mac just did. He never did that before.
McGwire is definitely the alpha dog in the house, but this whole thing is making me wonder what else to expect from Mickey. It also is making me more worried about when Mac goes, how Mickey will react. We love having 2 dogs and definitely want to get a puppy at some point, but it needs to be the right dog and it may be significantly before or after Mac goes. I really hate that I have to think about this at all!
Offline
macsmom said:
I've noticed that Mickey, our 7 year old Golden Retriever (the one with the 'extra leg', ha!), has really been changing since McGwire's diagnosis and surgery.
- He's started playing with his toys like he did when he was 7 months!
- He is much more attention needy
- Here's the weird one, whenever McGwire goes to pee outside, Mickey pees right where Mac just did. He never did that before.
Hi Amy,
Mickey may just realize that since Mac had the surgery, Mac is not up to playing alot right now. Our dog Gretchen was very toy oriented when Chuy had his FHO surgery. Also, Mickey may see how much attention you are giving to Mac and he may feel that he deserves that too. As for the peeing on Mac's spot, Mickey is probably taking Alpha dog position now that Mac is weaker. When Mac makes his comeback, Mickey will most likely submit to Mac again.
Chuy, showing everyone that Tripawds do everything 3 times better than regular dogs!
Although I was an only dog, that behavior sounds similar to what other multi-dog households experience after one dog goes through amputation. Here's a post that Nova's Mom, Sue, started, called Tripawd Siblings – Feeling Left Out, Depression, etc.
As far as thinking about getting another dog at some point...if it's upsetting to think about, then don't. Live in the moment like McGwire, just cope with what's going on here and now. The universe has a way of working things out.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for your insights! The weird thing with Mickey and McGwire is that they haven't really played together in years! Mickey is quite active and frisky and loves to play, but McGwire is like a big grumpy grandpa dog. We foster Golden retrievers and Mickey loved to have a dog he could run around the yard with and who would battle him in fetch, but if the running got too rough or too close to McGwire, he'd let out this bark that basically meant, "You kids cut that out!" McGwire is definitely the alpha, and I think the peeing thing is Mickey trying to take over Mac's place, or perhaps even masking the fact that Mac is hurt?
Sue's post was really interesting. I know that when McGwire goes, we are going to have to do something quickly for Mickey because between Mac and the fosters, Mickey is really a 'dog's dog.' He gets depressed when McGwire used to go to the groomers for the day, I can't even imagine how he'd feel if/when McGwire doesn't ever come back. He loves to play fetch, play in the lake and take walks, but he's also keenly aware of the other dogs.
1 Guest(s)
