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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I adopted my lovely Lucy from a local dachshund rescue. Her missing front leg is the result of a birth defect. She gets around quite well and has all the tenacity of any four-pawd dachshund- maybe more! 
I am curious- has anyone else met a tripawd dachshund missing a front leg? I have seen a few missing a back leg, but never a front leg like Lucy.
Also, does anyone have any special advice regarding long, low tripawds such as dachshunds, bassets, etc? I am concerned about the strain on her back and her front leg as she gets older.
Hi there! Bless you for adopting darling Lucy!
I don't think I remember any other dachshunds here. But we have a few congenital birth defect legs missing or deformed here, including my Comet. Her left front leg is deformed and doesn't function. She is about 11 1/2 years old and I've had her since she was 4-5 months old. Comet is low and long but more in the line of a Corgi. She looks to be mixed with a larger dog and looks like a minny lab and weighs 38lbs. She is squatty bodied.
We have a topic section regarding dogs that are missing legs from birth or accidents here: http://tripawds.....nd-cancer/
Comet has always acted like she has had 4 legs and knows no different. She blew out her back knees from twirling and dancing on them so many years. So, she has had TPLO's on both of them. It helps to make sure your floors are not slippery. Most of all us have put throw rugs on tile and hardwood floors.
She had a neck disc infection a year ago (no one knows why) that caused her a lot of discomfort and her neck is not so great now. And her back does get sore. Physical therapy and massages really help her.
She has gone to physical rehab several times in which they do water therapy. And she'll be swimming soon so that will help.
When Comet was younger she did everything any dog could do. She'd jump on the bed, couch and in the car. She still goes up/down the stairs in our house. Lucky for you, you can pick Lucy up with ease when she gets tired!
I hope that helps! Take a look around the site to get some good ideas on life with a tripawd. It will help you a lot!
Best wishes,
Comet's mom
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Welcome to our Tripawds family... Lucy is so lucky that you adopted her... How old is your cutie? As with all normal 4-legged dachshounds, I would just tell you to be careful about her jumping up and down from couches and beds, as they are prone to damaging their backs. Other than that... just love her and you will get so much love in return!! Congratulations on your adoption!!!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Awwww, well her adorable picture has me wondering now if Gerry has some dachshund in him. I baby-sat a dachshund once and she was sooooo happy to just cuddle with me on the couch all day long, if I wanted to be a lazy couch potato. Gerry is very nearly that cuddly too. Is that a dachshund's trait, I wonder?
Anyway, sorry to say I don't recall any long breeds since I've been coming to Tripawds, but it'd probably be a good idea to ask your vet about a joint supplement. Gerry had his amputation last December and he's only around two years old, so we have many years (knock wood) to get his joints through, so I asked his vet and he recommended Dasuquin, which I had also read about in posts on this site. Gerry loves taking it. It's chewable and liver flavored, mmmmmm. If I remember right, it adds extra cushion to the joints, to help prevent wear and tear.
Gerry has been a tripawd since 12/16/2009.
He was a shelter dog with a mysterious past and an irrepairable knee injury.
Videos and pics of Gerry's pawesomeness can be found at: http://gerry.tripawds.com
Yes, I met a fore leg tripawd Dachshund. Tazzie's surgeon brought a dog home from Mexico and did the amputation himself, and then adopted her. He brought her in for me to meet when Tazzie and I were debating about amputation. Of course it was hard to judge anything related to Tazzie since he is so much bigger. But the little dachshund had absolutely no trouble. Her legs moved so quickly that you couldn't even tell one was missing. It did not seem to be an issue for her. Of course I did not ask him about life expectancy or anything (we were facing "C" issues at the time, not life expectancy of a tripawd for other reasons.
I thought there had been a basset on tripawds, but might be confused about that one. I remember telling a few people about the little Dachshund, but maybe that was a 'small dog' conversation rather than a 'long dog'.
Where do you and Lucy live?
Thanks for the warm welcome everyone 
Lucy is four and I adopted her from a local rescue about a year ago. She was impossible to resist- she was listed on Petfinder as being "two dogs for the price of one"- she came with a gigantic stuffed dog (about three feet long) that she sleeps with and drags around the house by its ear (it's really something to watch, a three-legged, ten pound dog drag a giant stuffed animal around!). We live in Washington state.
A joint supplement is a great idea- I will definately ask my vet about it.
Lucy is so nimble on three legs that many people don't notice that she is three-legged for quite some time after they meet her. Her remaining front leg is very over developed to compensate- I call it the "super paw." She is very smart about knowing her limits- she uses doggy stairs to climb onto the couch, but refuses to jump off (thank goodness) or go down the stairs. She just howls until someone comes to lift her off. 
Awww, what a cutie! Thank you so much for joining us here, we are so glad you did.
As far as a front leg Tripawd member, I can't recall any, but I'll ask my Dad tomorrow and see if he can. I will tell you that smaller dogs have a slightly easier time than big ol dawgs like me when it comes to being a front legger. We are definitely more prone to spinal issues, big or small. I would definitely consider doggie rehabilitation therapy to keep her spine in top shape.Check out the latest massage videos in our News Blog .
As for a joint supplement, this post has a lot of good links links to ones we talk about in our Nutrition Blog.
Managing Pain in Dogs During Winter Weather
Dasuquin – The Next Generation Cosequin
Hope this helps. Thanks again for joining, keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I just adopted Star from OHIO. She is missing her entire front right leg. Birth defect, just has a flap about an inch long. She gets around all right but does fall over sometimes.
Thanks for the feedback Trace, please consider registering to make the most of this community.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi!I dont have a dachshund tripod but im sure you need some help with caring for her im getting a chihuahua tripod soon and i was wondering if you could help me in caring for him im 13 and you sound expirienced so could you? my email is sillyness123 [at] ymail.com
thank you
gabygurl301 said:
… im getting a chihuahua tripod soon and i was wondering if you could help me in caring for him…
Please consider registering to take advantage of these forums. Until you do, your posts will require moderation. As a member you can also use the PM system to avoid exposing your email address. Then feel free to start a new topic so your discussion doesn't get buried in this one. Be sure to bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for lots of links to helpful advice too!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
tripawddachshund said:
I adopted my lovely Lucy from a local dachshund rescue. Her missing front leg is the result of a birth defect. She gets around quite well and has all the tenacity of any four-pawd dachshund- maybe more!
I am curious- has anyone else met a tripawd dachshund missing a front leg? I have seen a few missing a back leg, but never a front leg like Lucy.
Also, does anyone have any special advice regarding long, low tripawds such as dachshunds, bassets, etc? I am concerned about the strain on her back and her front leg as she gets older.
Welcome Bailey's mom. We deleted your last post since it included no comment in your reply.Your post above also seems to include no comments or questions.
FYI: If you register your posts will not require moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My daughters six month old Dauchsund puppy is set to have his front left arm amputated on Monday March 6th. He was attacked by a Pit Bull off his leash and has had a trying week, but the last two days has been up and around, I was wondering if any of you had any ideas on the long term effects this will have on him, i am especially concerned with problems in his other front paw having to carry the bulk of his weight
hi 'soon to be three leg'…we suggest you register so your posts don't have to wait for moderation. sorry to hear your daughter's pup is facing an amputation, but he fortunate in that he's a young dog, and you guys aren't facing cancer. that being said, the surgery is definitely scary (especially for the humans). there's a great book called 'http://amazon.tripawds.com/2009/11/08/never-regret-your-decision-to-amputate/ for many helpful hints.
finally, after you register, you might want to start a new forum topic to make sure our members see your post and can offer all the knowledge and support they have. good luck
charon & spirit gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
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