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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My Catahoula leopard dog Buddy was ran over by a truck 2days ago. I have spent 3,000 on him at the vet's already and had to make the decision about 10 minutes ago to amputate his back right leg or he would be in constant pain for the rest of his life. This site is the reason i was able to make that decision. Maybe he will be a happy dog after all...
hi darren and buddy, your future posts won't require moderation. so sorry to read that buddy was hurt, and is now facing amputation. seems many pups are put through surgery to save a damaged leg, only to go the amputation route after the fact. dogs do great on three legs. there will be a couple of weeks of 'challenges' while buddy heals, but, he will be fine once that's behind you. you guys will find a 'new normal', and life will be great. maybe no marathon running or such, but it will be a great life. we'd love to see some pictures of buddy. please let us know how he does with his surgery and recovery!!!!
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
So sorry to hear about Buddy, but I am glad the site has been helpful to you. Most people (myself included) have not been exposed to a tripawd and really are not aware of how well they can do. When I heard the word amputation I didn't know what to think but I remember my general thoughts being along the line of 'invalid' dog and wheelchairs. Then I found this site. Almost six months later I can laugh a bit as my three-legged, 11.5 yr old dog drags me around by his leash as he bounces through life as happy as can be. I wish you the best of luck with the recovery!
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Hi Darren and Buddy,
I'm so sorry you had such a bad accident. Making a decision like amputation will make your head spin, but you'll see very quickly that you can't stop a Catahoula Tripawd! We are glad that you found comfort here, and look forward to helping any way we can. The recovery can be rough but I'm betting on Buddy being unstoppable and healing pretty quickly (we just love 'houlas and their energy!). You'll probably find it hardest to keep him calm so he heals up. Have you checked our Required Reading List yet? This can help prepare you for his homecoming.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Darren and Buddy - sorry you find yourself here, but it's the best place to be in your situation. Our dog was only 15 mo old when she had her amp, and after about 12 days of recovery and then rebuilding her stamina, she was pretty much back to her normal crazy puppy self.
Catahoula's are such cool dogs! We'd love to see some pics.
Hope Buddy does well with the recovery. We're here if you have questions.
All the best,
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Hi Darren & Buddy. So sorry to hear about your accident. Wishing a speedy recovery for you. Daisy and Shadow's good friend and neighbor, Layla, is a catahoula. I had never heard of them before I met her. They are great dogs. I can picture Buddy "flying" across the yard in no time!
Can't wait to see pictures of Buddy.
Heather & Spirit Shadow
talked to the vet today and he said buddy is doing great, "practically running around while still in his sling". Buddy's a trooper i think he will do great.
Oh. My. Dawg. He is GORGEOUS!
Glad to hear he is doing so well already. But don't be surprised if he "crashes" a little after you bring him home. He might not since he's so young and full of it, but if he does, that's totally normal. While they are still hopped up on the killer pain meds at the vet, they tend to do great. Once that's out of their system and they are into the less potent at-home pain meds, they can sometimes crash and seem like they are not doing as well. He might seem very depressed. That's all normal. He'll be his old self soon and will begin to amaze and inspire you.
It's all going to be good. You'll see!
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Oh we LOVE Catahoulas! And happy birthday kiddo, may you have a long healthy hoppy life ahead of you!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hey Buddy,
Happy Birthday! Kind of a crappy way to spend your first birthday 
. But I bet you will blow through recovery and never look back!
And you are a good looking boy.
Karen and the pugapalooza
leaving to go pick him up now, also i have a very steep wooden staircase im worried he would fall on, should i just fence it off or can i eventually teach him to use them?
Hi Darren,
Juste wanted to wish you the best for your puppys recovery. I am going though this at the same time, we have to stay positive.
Good luck
Melina
I would fence off the stairs while he is healing- so he doesn't fall and tear out stitches or land on a very tender incision.
As a rear amp and a 'normal' sized dog I would think he could do stairs once healed up. My little pug Maggie was a rear amp and could go up 2 or 3 stairs, she could and would go down just about anything. Her limiting factor going up was her size- she was only about 12" at the shoulder so was trying to jump most of her body height going up each stair. I think a bigger dog would do fine.
You should think about putting something non-skid on the stairs- tripawds need traction . Maggie would not go up the stairs on my trex deck without her rugs in place. Here are some Traction Ideas from the Gear Blog. If you scroll down a ways you will see Musher's Secret. I found that very useful for Maggie- it kept her pads supple which gave her better traction . I also kept the fur between her toes and pads trimmed short.
Let us know how Buddy is doing when you get him home.
Karen and the pugapalooza
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