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 am adopting a 1 yr old German Shepherd named Bella, in May. In Feb.2011 she was intentionally shot and lost her front leg. She layed under a porch all night in 4* temperatures. When found the next morning, her tail was wagging even though her leg was shattered. I truly believe the freezing temp. kept her from bleeding to death. Bella was bred to be a Police K-9. She failed because she was too sweet. Her owner and my friend is moving and can't take her. So, I am adopting her. I have never owned a dog and my 1st will be a Tripawd. I have 2 cats, a husband, live on a farm in Southeast Missouri, am an RN, and raise Black Angus cattle. I will need a lot of support and advice.
Hi Marilyn,
Welcome to Tripawds. You are awesome for taking in Bella!!
Even though you are past surgery and recovery with Bella you might find some good information in Jerry's required reading list, a compilation of info on what to expect with amputation. You can skip over the recovery and cancer treatment links- but there is good stuff there on dealing with a tripawd.
Also- check out the various Tripawds blogs dealing with Nutrition, Gear for Tripwads, including the Ruff Wear Harness that many here use. and Fun stuff to to show your Tripawd Pride!.
Welcome to the family!
Karen and the pugapalooza
p.s.- your future posts will not need to wait for moderation as long as you log in- only the very first post from a new member has to wait.
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Awww, sorry to hear Bella's background. Glad she has found you and best wishes for her speedy transition and recovery. Being loved and cared for will be the best medicine!
We will be anxious to hear more about her progress! 
Marilyn, thanks for joining us here! It's good to see you and Bella hopped on over from The Tripawds Facebook Page !
Someone with your background has all the skills needed to handle a new Tripawd. You're going to be so surprised at how well she does. When we adopted our Tripawds Spokesdawg (and GSD rescue) Wyatt Ray, he was 2 months out from amputation and you never would have guessed it, he was getting around so well.
What a lucky pup to have you for a pawrent. We can't wait to follow along with her adventures!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome! Bella sure is one lucky pup to have been taken in by such terrific pawrents. Can't wait to hear more about her adventures, too. Please post some pics! Sending you lots of golden hugs!
Cathy
Many Congrats and Yay!!!! for you and Bella!
She sounds like a super great girl!
I love a sad story that turns into a happily "furever" one!
Congratulations on the new member of your household! Tate is my first dog too, and I've learned a lot in the last month of browsing this website. There are many, many knowledgeable and caring people here.
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
Well welcome, welcome! And bless you for taking Bella.
As a mother of a 3-legged tripawd for 12 years and not knowing anyone else who had a tripawd for the first 10 years – I can tell you….YOU'LL BE A GREAT MOM with or without advice!
But a little knowledge would have helped me a few times…
Put down rubber backed rugs in the slick areas of your house. I bought mine at walmart and they all matched but were different sizes. Since you in it for a long while, you can make it look nice in your home by placing them symmetrically.
You may want to buy a raised food and water dish. It will help on the neck later in life. My Comet liked to lay down and eat so it wasn't always an issue until her neck became an issue and then I made sure her water was raised.
Use a harness when walking. It will also save on their neck. Also use a retractable leash since tripawds have to hop fast to walk and need the slack for movement.
My best advice – just love her and try not to worry so much about the 3 legs.
You've got the best of all worlds – a sweet shepherd girl and a tripawd!
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.
You are a lucky lady - Bella sounds like a beautiful dog. After a while you'll not even notice that she is on 3 legs - GSD's are such courageous dogs. She is young and will cope very well.
I highly recommend the ruffwear harness and as mentioned the mats are important.
Best wishes to you and your pretty pup, she really is lovely.
Thank all of you for welcoming me. I will have many more questions. I wish I could find someone in southeast MO/ that has a tripawd. My husband and I are like a parent adopting a baby!! We've been looking at doghouses LOL. And my husband can't wait to take her out on the farm with him. How do I know what size harness to get? The pic was confusing where to measure. I definitely want to get one--our farm trucks are hard for me to get in sometimes and Bella weighs about 90 lbs. I am visiting her this weekend. Her momma is so sad she has to leave her but so excited she will be living on a farm.
Marilyn
Welcome to the family. To bad the bullet didn't ricochet back and hit the dumb**s that shot her. We live on a farm here in Ohio, Gus was a lab-rott mix and once he healed from his surgery he was jumping into the back of pickups just like before, tailgate down, climbing in the mows and roaming the fields like he always did, unfortunately we lost him 3 1/2 months after his surgery, but don't worry about a tripawd getting along on the farm, the only thing different is they hop instead of walk. Gus lost his left front, but he was extremely strong, especially his back legs, he would clear the tailgate of the truck before surgery. He was king of the barn, always had to let the cattle know he was there and he was boss, , 3 legs didn't mean anything to him, so I think you guys should get along great, kudos for taking her, .Paws up to you guys, 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
Dan you're funny! I like that thought!
Marilyn, about measuring for the harness....take a seamstress tape measure and wrap it around her torso, starting at the spine and going down and around the widest, lowest part of her ribcage, then back up the other side to her spine. Hope that makes sense.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you Jerry. How do I put pics in here? I am blonde and very computer illiterate.
Hi Marilyn,
Here is a link to instructions on posting pictures in the forums: Adding Images to Your Post.
The pictures have to be hosted somewhere on line like photobucket, or in a Tripawds blog.
Karen and the pugapalooza
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