Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

Here’s some background on my genetic condition and treatment strategy…

I learned a lot my first day at “college” (Cornell University Veterinary Hospital) back in October 2016. I have a form of Genu Recurvatum (don’t I sound smart?!). It means I can’t bend my rear legs, and more importantly, they are not able to bear weight or help me to balance and do all of the things doggies, especially labs, like to do. More importantly, there is no telling what other, long-term complications could show up as I grow bigger.

The best way I can explain it is that my thigh muscles are extremely tight and fused, so as I grow, the bones in my legs are not able to do what they need to do – like reach my hip socket, bend at the knee, and flex at the ankle so my feet can lay flat and help support my weight.

There aren’t many options out there for a doggie like me with this condition. The amazing doctors at Cornell are experienced in a surgical procedure that has been successful on other doggies with my problem. Seeing their before and after photos made me very hopeful! Basically they will go in and cut some tissue around the muscle, which will allow it to “lengthen” and re-position my leg in a normal position (or as close to normal as possible, given the state of my muscles once they get in there.) If everything goes as planned, I will be able to walk and run like other dogs! But that’s a big “IF”.

They have only seen doggies that have this condition in one leg, never both. So I guess I am a pioneer! I hope my journey can help other doggies that might have this same condition.