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.
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Firstly hello to all! And what a great site!
I am wondering how my new 7mth Groodle tripawd will handle running around on hilly/sloping acreage land?
My boy lost his left front leg last week after a 'freak' accident with a ride on mower. He also damaged his anterior tendon and muscle in his rear left leg but it all seems to be healing well.
My main concern is that he will hurt himself running around and injure his remaining front leg.
Am I just being over anxious or justified?
I live in Australia so dont have to worry about snow like some of you guys do.
Any suggestions? Thanks
Hello and welcome to our 'family' that no one really wants to part of 
for the obvious reasons! But the BEST place to be when you need it...
Because you have dealt with an injury and had to amputate quickly and not having to deal with cancer and often having lots of downtime prior to amputation in trying to figure out what is wrong, my guess is your pup will adjust faster and having had lost physical strength less. But that said, it will take some time for him to build up his strength/stamina-- especially for hills. I suggest you search the site for information on core building exercises or check out my dogs blog for exercises too. The key to building up your pup's strength will be core work. Less is best...meaning, don't over work your pup as a Tripawd now. Walks will be shorter...at least they are for my Tripawd.
IMO, you aren't being over anxious or not justified! I worry about my dog injuring her other remaining rear leg. I don't let her race around foolishly or jump up in the air at toys for instance. Maybe I'm overprotective but I just couldn't live with myself if she did something to her other leg when it could of been avoided...know what I mean?
Good luck with your pup!
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
Welcome and thanks for joining! Wyatt spends his summers on our pretty steep Colorado mountain property (at 8500') and loves it!
Focus on slowly building your pup's strength and monitoring his exhaustion level, and in time he should do just fine too. Just try not to let hime overdo it while he rebuilds his strength. Within a few months after Jerry's amoutation, we saw his remaining front leg get noticeably larger to compensate fr the extra weight.
It is common to be anxious about damage to that remaining leg, but you should be more concerned about high impact jumping onto that leg than hilly terrain. With some regular training your pup should be fine. What's his name?
You'll find lots of recovery and exercise tips in Jerry's Required Reading List, and even more tips and fast answers to the most common amputation questions in the new Tripawds e-book, Three Legs and a Spare.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thankyou so much for your positive replies!
Our dogs name is Benson.
I will try to upload a picture as soon as I work out how!
He is back to our wonderful vet on friday to have the stitches in both legs removed and then hopefully he can get out and about a little as he is confined to a crate at the moment apart from toileting times and the occassional cuddle time.
He seems to be getting stronger each day and even from the day after the accident he was able to go to the toilet by himself with absolutely no assistance from us.
Look forward to hearing from you all some more.
Thanks again, your support is greatly appreciated!
Welcome aboard Benson and family,
Don't you worry about Benson as a Tripawd. He will do just fine. I'm looking forward to hearing all about his Australian adventures!
Here is a link to a post created by our wonderful and multi-talented Cometdog for Adding Pictures from your Facebook or Photobucket account.
Fortis'Dad
patrick said:
I will try to upload a picture as soon as I work out how!
Click the profile button above (top right) and follow the link to upload your user avatar.
Here are instructions for embedding photos in forum posts. If you don't have a photo sharing account somewhere online, consider starting a Tripawds blog to upload your photos here.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome, Benson! We're sure you'll do just fine once you're past the recovery period. We just gradually increased Holly's walk - and paid attention to signs from her. She does a good job letting us know when she's only up for a short walk. But most of the time we think that's due to reaction to her chemo meds, or something to do with her cancer. You might have to watch Benson carefully since he is a pup and pups tend to be a bit exuberant, right? 
We'll keep all paws and fingers crossed that Benson does just fine on your hilly terrain!
Hugs,
Holly, Zuzu and Susan
Holly joined the world of tripawds on 12/29/2009. She has a big little sister, Zuzu, who idolizes Holly and tries to make all of her toys into tripawds in Holly's honor. And she's enjoying life one hop at a time!
http://anyemery.....ipawds.com
Welcome to the family, your one of the lucky ones not having to deal with cancer. We live on a farm and once Gus healed he did everything just like before, including climbing hay mows. I think you may want to watch Benson doesn't overdo using that other leg, if I'm not mistaking you want to make sure that ligament heals completely or he could damage it again, ask your vet about that. Paws up, Spirit Gus and Dan
My buddy Gus had a left front amputation on April 7, 2010 and lived a great life until July 26,2010
Welcome Benson! As for hilly terrain, you can watch a brief clip of my tripawd Chloe hopping all over the steep bluffs overlooking the ocean! She did this on her own and goes up there all the time if I turn around for just 1 second...
I know that you are probably looking into hiking stuff, but I wanted to show you that they can be very agile in treacherous terrain. Probably takes more energy to do so (3 points of contact instead of 4), but anything is possible! Part of my physical therapy is taking her to the beach every day and having her walk on the soft sand. Hard to do and builds up her remaining back leg. I have also worked on her endurance too. Good luck and happy trails!
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Patrick and Benson,
Hey, no worries! Once Benson builds up his strength (the time it will take varies from dog to dog) he'll be able to do all kinds of cool stuff like me! Just use common sense; don't let him overdo it, especially these first couple of months, and take it slow. Remember that if Benson sits down during a long walk, it's time to go back. That's one clue I always give my pawrents.
Good luck! We're so happy to have another Aussie member here!!!
Wyatt Ray Dawg . . . The Tripawds Leg-A-Cy Continues!
Read all about my adventures at my Tripawds Blog
Well the stitches are OUT!!!!!!!!!! Yeeehaaa!
Had them taken out by the vet yesterday and all seems to be healing well, we have been told however that the tendon and muscles damage in his hind leg will still take another couple of weeks to heal properly! So it is back to the cage for another week but with regular outside time in the yard while we are around. He seems to be getting better day by day. so fingers crossed! Thanks for those videos and pictures they REALLY do help us understand more.
Patrick
Congratulations for that milestone, thank for the update. Log in here and your posts will appear immediately without moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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