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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Hi, I'm new here. My husband and I just made the decision to amputate one of our dog's rear legs yesterday. He's having the surgery on Monday. I'm not sure how he broke his leg, but I'm assuming he was hit by a car. All I know is I found him abandoned in a supermarket with a bad limp 3 weeks ago, and we're keeping him since no owner came forward. The vet recommended a specialist and surgery involving pins and rods and over $5,000, and said they may have to amputate anyways. I asked if they could just amputate then and there, since I certainly didn't have thousands of dollars to spend on a dog I'd found an hour ago, but the vet offered to try a splint first. Now it's been 3 weeks and he has pressure sores and the fracture is even worse. We're also insanely attached. 
I was feeling a little sorry for both myself and Hiccup (the dog), but this site has made me feel much better about the whole thing. Also, I just want to say that I am so sorry for all you people struggling with bone cancer in your dogs. 
My dog's problem's will almost certainly be over once he recovers from the amputation, but it must be so hard when you know the problem may come back.
I do have a question: Do any of you jog with your tripawds? I had dreams of taking Hiccup jogging with me once his leg is healed, maybe even signing him up for agility classes. Hiccup is a 10-pound cairn terrier mix with the will of an avalanche. I've never seen what he can do with four legs, and I guess i never will, but I've seen him jump several feet in the air (nearly giving me a heart attack), climb the stairs when I'm not looking, and apparently he managed to squeeze through a 5"x6" hole in the roof of his crate while we were gone. Twice.
Hiccup is a very lucky little guy, despite his injury. As you say, he'll recover and never look back. Tripawds can do amazing things once they're past their recuperation...sometimes even before - which can be scary! Sounds like Hiccup is pretty agile even now. You'll hear from folks who have firsthand experience with younger dogs than my Roxie, but I would think that barring any issues the vet sees; age, arthritis, etc., keeping him fit will be very important to his long-term health. Especially once his spare leg is...retired. Cruciate ligament tears are always a worry (Roxie is a cancer-caused tripawd, was just found to have a partial tear), so any regular, supervised exercise is probably a very good thing. As is swimming, if you have that option. Agility might be a great choice - I've got my quad GSD in classes and they focus on good, safe form and the dogs and pawrents have a blast.
We also found, as many have, that tripawds tend to have a faster gait to compensate for the missing limb. Roxie, who is almost 12, has had us jogging along to keep up with her post-ampu, and my husband hasn't jogged in 20 years!!!
You've come to the right place for information, commiseration, and all-out cheerleading; this community is a blessing.
Good luck with Hiccup's surgery; as happy as he must be right now to have his new loving pawrents, his future looks even brighter! Keep us posted and post more pics!!! (saving Sally the trouble of asking).
-Liz and Princess Roxie
Hi Cavy,
I can't answer your question yet because our Lesty is still in recovery from her amp just a week ago, but I just wanted to say how wonderful it is that you are taking Hiccup into your hearts and caring for him in this way. I firmly believe that love is a key part of recovery and he will have plenty of it.
Best or luck to you all!
Colin
Welcome! Hiccup will do well as both a rear amputee and a small dog. Both do well and the combination is about the best you could hope for. Throw in the fact that you aren't fighting cancer and you have a winning combination. If there is anything winning about this. 
As for jogging, I know some tripawds do but Hiccup's awfully little with short legs. I'm not sure what it does to their joints. I think you may want to run it by a rehab specialist. But even if he's able to run with a human, you want to make sure he's really healed.
Just a heads-up: Those little guys often want to do too much too soon. You may have to put the brakes on. Jumping on furniture, jumping into or out of cars, jumping into laps...There is a theme here. No little monkeys jumping on the bed! Not till stitches are out, anyway.
Good luck and let us know how things go Monday!
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Thanks all of you! He still has the bad leg and he's trying to jump on everything, so I can't imagine what he'll be like once the painful leg is gone! I may ask for a couple day's worth of tranquilizers at the vet.
I'll play it by ear with the jogging. If he seems up for it, I'll try taking him for some very short runs. I really don't run very far; 2 miles is about the farthest I've ever gone and I usually do intervals of walking and running. Everyone on my dad's side of the family needs new knees by 50, so I really need to be gentle with my joints. I guess Hiccup and I will have that in common!
Keep the activity level low, then moderate after the 2-3 month mark. As well as a dog will do with 3 legs, they still are stressing their body in new and unintentional ways. Rear amps have it a little easier than front amps (due to the weight distribution) but really keep the activity down until the healing is done and he's figure out the new moves for only three legs.
Hi and welcome. I approved your post yesterday but my employer's security dumped me off the site while I was writing a reply. As you have probably figured out your posts will no longer have to wait for moderation.
I also moved your post here to 'Share your Story' since you aren't dealing with cancer.
It is wonderful that you took Hiccup in and are taking care of his injuries.
My little pug was a rear amp due to mast cell cancer. She hopped happily though life for almost 4 years. She only got back to walking about half the distance that she could before her surgery. But Maggie was 7.5 years old at the time and a pretty lazy pug 
. Mag was also a slug during her recovery- I could barely get her out of bed for a few weeks (lazy pug who HATED changes to her routine!) so I didn't have to worry about her overdoing things. You will really need to keep Hiccup contained while he heals. How old do you think he is?
I'm right there with you on knees. In fact while Mag was still with me I had a rather invasive knee surgery. It took me more than 6 months before I could out-walk my then 10 year old tri-pug!
Good luck with the surgery on Monday and keep us posted.
Karen
Ah, thank you, Krun. Sorry for putting my post in the wrong place!
The vet says Hiccup is barely a year old. The x-rays show his growth plates haven't even closed yet. He's just a puppy and already so restricted.
How great of you to take Hiccup into your family, what a lucky dog!. Good luck with your surgery and since he's so young you should do well after post surgery healing. Will keep an eye out on updates.
Esther and Snoop
Our puppy, Chance, has done great post-amputation - he runs and plays like crazy. He is still growing (he is 28 lbs right now, vet said he'll be a good mid-sized dog, in the 50-60 lb range). He was around 15 lbs when he had the amputation done. He howled a lot after the amputation and we struggled with pain management a little (the laser really helped him) but after the first 2 weeks he has been more than fine. I hope everything goes smoothly with Hiccup:)
Welcome and thank you for being such wonderful people and giving Hiccup a great home with people who love him! Everyone has already given you great advice so just wanted to pipe in for support!
Luanne and Shooter
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.
Well let me just say you're pretty cool for giving this pup a chance at a great life! Bravo to you! We can't wait to see pics.
You may want to check out our "Beyond Cancer" Discussion Forum topic to read about other dogs who are having great lives on three legs. Although you're not dealing with cancer, you'll find that Hiccup (great name!) should have some considerations kept in mind when it comes to his physical activity. Tripawds are more susceptible to arthritis and joint problems especially as they age, so the more conscientious you are about his activity level now, the longer he will be happy and healthy and pain-free. Our rehab ebook, Loving Life on 3 Legs, is a great tool for learning how to raise a Tripawd up into old age, I recommend it.
Good luck with the surgery, let us know if we can answer any questions about it. Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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