Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello! I am an alumni with Angel Abby, but I have a question about my 4 legged pug Quinn who is 9 years old. I've noticed some stiffness when he sits and gets up so I started him in glucosamine several weeks ago. He's mostly fine and can still easily go on long walks. A few nights ago though, his leg freaked out on him. I think he was trying to get up from a seated position on a hardwood floor to be the first to get a piece of food that had fallen from the counter. He is a pug after all so food comes before all. Anyway, his hind leg got stuck in the up position, for lack of a better word. It was like that leg was trying to run full speed but couldn't get back to the ground. He hobbled around on 3 legs and eventually let me hold him. It passed after 15 minutes but that leg seemed weak the rest of the night. Now he's back to normal. Could it have been a cramp or could it be a sign of something more serious? Anyone experience this before? Thanks!
PUGS! I've been a pug mom for about 17 years.
First thing that occurs to me from your description is a luxating patella- the knee cap slips out of place, it is fairly common in pugs. Both my pug girls had one patella that slipped but they never caused a problem. Unfortunately my quad pug boy Obie has had to have both his knees repaired.
When you say he is stiff getting up is he stiff in both back legs? If you look at his hips and upper legs, or feel them are they even in muscle tone? Obie's first knee had a very bad luxation but he never limped or cried. I didn't know there was a problem until one day I noticed he had a lack of muscle mass on the one side.
It could be just a weird cramp thing, or he tweaked it getting up, but if it happens again I would have his knees checked. It is fairly easy for a vet to tell if the knee caps are loose and slip out of place.
PM me if I can help in any way.
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
Online
First of all, want to say how often I think of sweet Alumni Abby. Her journey on earth was waaay to short, but she certainly could not have been more loved.
She continues to touch our lives. I always think of all the lessons Dear Abby taught us all. I hope you don't mind, I wanted ro post something you shared in her blog.
"I am faced with the realization that we don’t go through all these extraordinary measures just for the hope of extra years of life. We go through them for the here and the now."
Sorry Quinn js having issues. You've gotten great insight from our Pug Expert!! Keep us posted, okay?
How is Gizmo? You KNOW we would love pictures, right??
Sending lots of love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Thank you Karen for the pug support! I'm going to pay more attention to whether he has been stiff on both sides or just one. He's been fine since I posted this and his muscle mass seems even. I think he probably just needed a little extra attention because there's a puppy in our lives too! Last time we had a puppy, it seemed like he sprained his ankle outside by himself, but by the time the vet saw him he was completely fine. We're going to go with the extra treats and loving approach for now!
Erika
Thanks for the love Sally! It's always good to know that your angel is still remembered. Gizmo is awesome and Quinn is mostly tolerating her! He apparently just needs to remind us from time to time that he has needs too. Pictures on the blog one day this month. I promise!
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