Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello-
We (my 2 daughters and I) are meeting a rescued tripod tomorrow and hope to adopt her. Any tips/thoughts out there? She is a 6 mo. old pug mix, came from Georgia where her original owners chained her to the yard as a puppy and then she was hit by a car and had to have her back right leg amputated. 
Just thought I'd join your group for any advice that owners might have for us! Thanks!
csherrero said
Any tips/thoughts out there?
Plenty, welcome! You came to the right place, and your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Be sure to bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for plenty of links to the best tips and advice from the forums and blogs over the years. Or, consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for immediate answers to the most common questions about amputation recovery and ongoing care for three legged dogs.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ohhh Tat's who derful!! Get ready for a no d so deep you never imagined it would be possible!! Get ready for the most I credible life lessons ever! Ad you are the students t and your precious pup is the teacher:-)
There are plenty of PEO.e here who actually have tripawd pugs! One is Karen and I hope she sees this.....she'll have to s of advice on personality and attitude, etc.
If you have hardwood floors, suggest scatter rugs so she won't slip.....and you'll always want to think long term and do what you can to prevent injury to her other join ts, etc.
Please get back to us when you can and update us on this NOW lucky pup!!
CONGRATULATINS.......she will be your "forever dog" that will stay in your girls memory...and yours..forever!
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
What a rough start for this poor pup. I'm glad you are giving her a second chance to know what a dog's life is really like! So many like her are overlooked in shelters because they are not "perfect". Being she is young will help her a lot. My Daisy was 6.5 years old (and 80 lbs.) when she had her front leg amputated due to arthritis so her mobility is not as great as other tripawds.
Like Sally said carpet runners are great for those areas with tile or wood floors. Tripawds tend to slip more on hard surfaces. Keeping the paw fur trimmed and the paw pads supple helps a lot, too. I use a paw wax for sled dogs to keep Daisy's pads nice and soft.
As your soon to be pup ages there are things you can do to keep the remaining joints healthy like joint supplements and limiting the extra stress on those remaining limbs by avoiding jumping in/out of the car, on the sofa, etc. But since she is only 6 months old now you shouldn't have to worry about that for a long time!
You will soon see that tripawds can do everything a quadpaw can do. They can still walk, run, play and swim.
Good luck today!
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit 
and Spirit Daisy 
Thanks so much for the tips! I had read about the area rugs and plan to add as much floor coverage as she needs. I was wondering about stairs and how she can navigate them, but I'm guessing she will figure it out and with practice will be taking them faster than other dogs! I will be adding a runner or treads for her this week.
I'm sure I'll be asking more questions as we get to know her, but happy to have this site as a resource.
Happy Sunday!
Most tripawds can do stairs just fine. It takes them a while sometimes to build confidence with them. I have two steps coming in our backdoor and Daisy did them just fine when we came home from the hospital the day after her amp surgery (stubborn little bugger wouldn't let me assist her).
Going up is a little harder on rear amps and going down is harder for front amps. If she fairly recently had the surgery it might take a while for her to build strength in her remaining rear leg. You might need to use a sling such as a towel under her belly to give some support to her hind end.
Another thing I thought of too is weight. It's a good idea to keep all dogs on the trim side but especially for tripawds since the 3 legs have to carry all the weight. Easier said than done sometimes though LOL. I'm constantly trying to get Daisy down to closer to 70 lbs. but it is near impossible since she is such a couch potato.
Let us all know how the "meet and greet" goes.
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit and Spirit Daisy
Hi CS, I hope you get to bring that special pup home! She did indeed have a rough start in life, thank dog there are folks like you out there who want to make things right for these pups.
It sounds like your stairs are slippery? If so, adding traction is definitely smart and will ensure her safety. Dogs do figure the stairs out but it really helps if you make a slow, fun introduction to them. Use treats, don't force her to go up or down and keep the area blocked off with a baby gate until you know for sure that she can do them safely.
Good luck! Keep us posted. And Hoppy Sunday to you too!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome!
What special angels your family are by giving her a second chance to have a great life.
We built stairs for Shooter to go in and out the doggie door and to get on and off the bed. He adapted very quickly to using them.
Can't wait to hear how everything goes!
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Hi All!
We brought Princess home and she is fantastic! Took the stairs like a champ, no worries at all! She is super fast, played catch outside with us for a while and loves her walks. Totally has no idea that she has 3 legs! Only issues so far are a few pee pee issues in the house, but that's to be expected. SO, we are thrilled!!!
YAY for Princess being home! Glad she is doing so well.
Marla and Daisy
My Two Tripawds...Biscuit and Spirit Daisy
Yaaay! Congratulations! Let's see some pics!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
That is awesome. I agree we want pictures 
Michelle & Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Congrats and what a great adoption you have done. Lucky dog and you will have a fantastic new family member!
Congratulations to you all and to Princess; opening your hearts and home have already helped her heal. Now you'll need to take vitamins to keep up with her!!
I'm still pretty new to Tripawds. My 11 1/2 year-old "Princess" Roxie had a rear-leg amp in March the day after an osteosarcoma diagnosis, and the support and advice and information here is just fabulous; I'd have been lost if I hadn't found this site and all the wonderful pawrents here.
Best wishes; also can't wait for pics!
-Liz and Roxie
Yay! She is one lucky Princess. Hope to meet her soon.
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
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