Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi all
I'm after some help and advice please. Barney is an Old English Sheepdog and had his front right leg amputated 8days ago now and is doing fantastic. I am amazed with how well he is getting around, although I think we over did it on day 2 of being home from vets! He is currently only on Rimadyl 50mg twice daily and seems very comfortable. I have been reading a lot into supplements to give Barney and wondered if anyone gives their doggies concentrated curcumin? Or are there any other joint tablets that I should start giving to Barney now? I'm also looking into changing his food to a less carbs and sugar, higher quality protein, any advice?
Thanks for any help
Naomi and Barney
Hi there, I am so pleased to hear how well Barney is doing. What a woolly trooper! Love the avatar pic, and would to see some larger size ones too (hint, hint...)
I give my girls Dasuquin (quite a few people on here use it), which was recommended by my rehab vet and has loads of good stuff in for supporting joints. You can buy it from Amazon and elsewhere online without a prescription. I also give them a high quality fish oil capsule, twice daily (once with each meal). Check that anything you buy has been tested for Mercury contamination.
i haven't given them a curcumin supplement, though my Meg is on a special joint support food (from Royal Canin), which includes high levels of turmeric and this suits her very well. I have also recently started giving her CBD oil and also Kaprex, though these are more for pain relief than joint support, as she suffers from arthritis.
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Clyde stayed on Rimadyl (one a day). I also give him k9 Immunity Plus. I have no clue if it really does anything, but he's still going! He likes them, they are like treats. He eats grain free , but nothing special - its a grain free kibble that I get at Walmart of all places plus some canned food from Trader Joe's.
Oh yeah, the 'who knows if it helps but maybe it does'-story of supplements! 🙂
We're on k9 immunity plus for the same reasons (and yes, apparently they are the tastiest treats ever, I don't even wanna know...) plus:
Yumove for joints
Fishoil
Holistic pain and joint pills (Traumeel and Zeel)
the occasional Metacam (if needed)
(Dr. Dresslers) Homemade (cooked) grain free diet.
Now, if it doesn't hurt but might help: sign me up. We've tried mushroom-pills before amp but Manni's stomach didn't handle those too well.
Oh, and A LOTTA LOOOVE!! 🙂 
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Be sure to check the Tripawds Nutrition blog for lots of helpful reviews and recommendations. Searching the forums and blogs will also result in numerous forum topics and blog posts with information from many members providing feedback over the years. The reason for Barney's amputation will also help other provide the most relative resources.
Jerry had osteosarcoma, he loved life on three legs for two years, without IV chemo. You can read all about Jerry's diet and supplements here. Tip: any orange highlighted words here in the forums are links to posts, topics or pages with more information, like -> curcumin (for example).
While you wait for comments from others, use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here . Or, consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common question, including nutrition recommendations.
Hope this helps!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I started giving Rocky one Cosequin DS treat per day to help with the bad leg. Now that the bad leg is gone, I've continued giving him the Cosequin to help support the remaining legs. From what I understand, it's basically a less potent version of Dasuquin. I may eventually move up to Dasuquin, but my local pet store carries the Cosequin, so it's easier for me to get.
David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)
Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.
He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know.
Otis was on Dasaquin and fish oil prior to and after his amp for arthritis. These helped significantly, and I would strongly recommend both. Gator is on both as well, more as a preventative.
We added K9 immunity after chemo #2. Not sure if it helped, both Otis and his sister Tess, who also got it, passed fairly soon thereafter of different cancers, but they sure loved to eat it! As did Gator, who finished up the leftover bags.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
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