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 Tripawd parents,
My precious 9 month old black pitbull puppy, Jett, was mauled last Saturday by two stray pitbulls. All of my dogs were inside my fenced backyard when it happened. The dogs pulled his left front leg through the wrought iron panels in the back and mangled it. After several days of trying to save his leg neuropathy and infection have set in. He is undergoing amputation surgery as I write this.
I've been searching the web in hopes of finding.... well... hope. I stumbled upon your website and am happy to see that other people have 3-legged dogs that seem to get along just fine. What should I expect over the next few weeks as he recovers? Is there anything I shouldn't let him do? Will he be able to romp and play with the other dogs? This is all new to me.
I am absolutely heartbroken over this. I'm just sick. I never dreamed that something like this could happen to my little baby. I've had him since he was 7 weeks old. He's such an innocent soul. He doesn't deserve any of this. Everyone keeps telling me that it will be much harder on me than it will be on him. I really hope that's true.
Anyway, thanks for listening. I'm waiting anxiously for a call from the vet telling me that the surgery is over and went well. I pray...
Sincerely,
Jett's Mom
Jett's Mom,
I am so sorry to hear about poor Jett being mauled by stray pitbulls. I think that is why they have such bad reps when it should be the owner's fault.
The first couple of weeks after surgery can be difficult. Some dogs do better, some have a little more problems. I would guess that your little guy will do good because he is a puppy. Your biggest problem will probably be keeping him calm till his stitches come out! Until they are out he really needs to stay calm and thats not a puppy thing so you might want to consider confining him to a small area. Don't let him do as much as he would like to.
After his stitches are out he will be able to run and play and be like any other dog. His stamina may not be quite like it would have been because it is still more work to walk on three legs than it is on four but I think it will be significant. My doberman, Emily, could still jump onto the trampoline!
I'm glad you found tripawds! There is hope. Jett can be a happy dog on three legs!
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
I didn't know Emily (and the rest of your pack) had a trampoline to play on, Debra - whoa!
Sorry, Jett's Mom, got a little sidetracked there.
Poor Jett - how scary! But better we humans don't dwell on it, I'm sure Jett is smart enough not to.
The two weeks for the incision to heal (generally) is the roughest. Medications, in my experience, especially can make them loopy and uncomfortable, but they're a necessary evil. Ask for advice/help here and/or from your vet lots to keep yourself from pacing the floors with worry. You gotta keep yourself in good physical and emotional health to get through the two weeks! But after that, life is so perfectly fine. I had a front leg amputee (Yoda) who passed from bone cancer and now I have a rear-leg amputee (Gerry) who lost his leg to an injury (cause unknown - it was discovered at the shelter). Both ran and played and can do just about everything they did before:
Yoda caught a rabbit in the yard on three legs (and this was after his cancer had spread to his lungs, no less). Most challenges he learned by the end of his first month as a tripawd - except that chasing his tail took him 3 months. Yoda did tire out faster (but still not as fast as me) and I don't even know for sur how much of that was the one leg in front and how much of it was the cancer. He did have to build up gradually. Jett is probably going to be a rear-leg amputee?
Well, I don't know how fast or energetic Gerry was before he hurt his knee and had his leg amputated, but if he lost a step or two, then I almost want to say, "Thank dog for that!" Because he is nutso at the dog park. He runs and plays rough with other dogs just fine. Unlike Yoda, it didn't seem like he need to build up his endurance on three legs at all. He seemed like he could go on forever right away.
Follow the vets instructions as dutifully as possible, ask lots of questions, and get as much sleep and good food into you as possible (even if/when Jett doesn't feel like sleeping or eating - set a good example).
Alrighty, enough preaching from me! Hang in there!!! 
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
Well, first let me apologize. The responsible pitbull owners cringe when we hear one of these stories. It breaks my heart that you must now face this, and also that those unfortunate dogs are allowed to run loose. It is just a bad, bad situation.
Jett should adjust quickly and be a happy tripawd boy. Hopefully, Jett will have a speedy recovery, the pain meds will have minimum effects, and you guys can get on with having a great life. Debra is right, the recovery period is the worst. Once that is over, it's all downhill as your happy dog returns. Hang in there, we are all here to cheer you on.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hi Jett's Mom,
I'm so sorry that this happened to your baby! Do you have any idea who the owners of the loose pits are? I just hate it when irresponsable owners just let their dogs run loose causing havoc in the neighborhood!
Did you report this incident to animal control so they are on the lookout for these dogs? It would be nice to find those owners, so they can pay for Jett's surgery... Poor baby!
Jett should do fine once he heals from his surgery. As people have mentioned before... the first two weeks are the worst! You'll definitely have to keep him confined during that time, just to let everything heal properly. A sling will definitely help him during that time, while he's dopey and dizzy from the pain meds, and getting used to balancing on his remaining 3 legs. Some people buy slings, others use towels or a modified shopping bag. After the stiches/staples come out (around 2 weeks), a ruffware harness will help alot. After a while, he probably won't even need any extra support. In the meantime, you could check out the Angels Exchange in the Tripawds forums and see if anyone has a harness that they aren't using anymore, that would fit Jett.
Good luck with everything! YOu have definitely come to the right place for information and support!
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!
Jetts Mom, what a tragedy, we are so very, very sorry. Agggh! Stupid irresponsible pet people make us angry as all heck.
But, here's the good news: he is young, he is a strong boy and he WILL bounce back from this. Shucks, by the time he's a year old he won't even remember he had a fourth leg! He has so much going for him, you will be amazed at how he recuperates and leads a regular life.
There will be things to consider; not letting him overdo it too much, making sure he doesn't gain weight and just generally watching his fitness and helping him out with occasional doggie massage and physical therapy if necessary. Not too bad, don't you think?
Hang in there. Yes, the first two weeks are rough but I'm guessing that with a dog this young he is going to be FINE. He'll be dopey and maybe a little weirded out when he comes home from the pain meds, but he'll bounce back in a couple of weeks, just you wait.
Plus, he's going to be a celebrity wherever you go. Once you get out on walks again, you'll see what I mean!
Meanwhile, do check our Health Tips and Resources page for more info OK? And we've recently posted some good videos about canine rehabilitation and therapy in our News Blog , so check those too.
Keep us posted on the surgery status and let us know how things are going. We're all thinking of you guys.
(Hugapitbull, you rock, I was hoping you had already seen this!)
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
What an awful experience.......and obviously you know better than anyone how awesome Pit Bulls can be.
I wish you and Jett a very speedy recovery. He's young, it will be fine....it will just take some weeks from now.
Hugs,
Fellow RESPONSIBLE Pit Bull owner and lover....
The compassion that we feel for you and Jett as well as our outrage at the irresponsible owners has been well stated by all those above. I can not really add much to the verbal expressions except to say that it is not limited to Pit Bull owners. There are idiots out there owning many different breeds – not just Pit Bulls.
Now to the issue at hand, considering where you are just now after that episode, I would say that the amputation should not be worse that what you are experiencing now. Once Jett has healed, you can expect a great quality of life for this little guy. Based upon my experience and all the TriPawds members I have met, I can honestly say that there is not anything that they cannot do. You may have to provide some help getting up and down very steep steps or into and out of pick-up trucks. However, that is where our RuffWare harness comes in. Point I am trying to make, you can shoot for the sky in terms of the quality of life that Jett can experience from here. Just make sure that there is plenty of TLC now and through out all Jett's life.
Wishing you the very best and sending Pawsitive thoughts you way.
Spirit Cherry's Dad.
It is a terrible tragedy but Thank Dog your baby, Jett was in the yard! Try not to be too heartbroken and count your blessings - he's alive and can live a normal happy life on 3 legs. I know this because I chose a 3-legged puppy and have had her for over 11 years. I never think about the "what if she had 4 legs". I don't! Because the 3-leggedness is just so much of who she is.
Jett is already so precious to you, now he will be so even more. He'll be super special. I can promise you this, he won't mind being 3 legged and after a little bit you won't even notice him having only 3 legs. You'll be oblivious to it!
But just know, we are here to help you through the initial trauma and feel free to ask anything! Or feel free to come over and laugh and/or cry - we do both!
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.
I am so sorry to hear the story of Jett. I am so glad that he has such a loving and caring pawrent! You will be amazed at how well he will do, especially because he is a puppy. Last fall our 5 year old Lab ran on 3 legs in the mountains of Colorado with the other dogs. She had osteosarcoma and had lung cancer also at the time.
It is wonderful to see how our Tripawds recover and for Jett, there is no reason that he can't live a long and full life! Welcome to our family here at Tripawds. It is a great place to get support and answers to all your concerns and questions.
Take good care and we would love to see a photo!
Ginny & Angel Paris
Grateful for every moment we had with Paris…..no regrets!
Honoring her life by opening our hearts & home to Addy!
Wow! I am floored and speechless by the outpouring of concern and reassurance here. Thank you all SO MUCH from the bottom of my heart!
Jett's still in surgery right at this very moment. They started later than anticipated. I'm biting my nails waiting for the call that it's over. I will definitely keep you all posted. I feel like I have a whole new lot of friends now. Thank you all SO MUCH!
Also, regarding the pitbull thing. Yes I have two pitbulls myself, Jett being one of them. I ADORE pitties and I still do. This does not at all change my opinion of them. In fact, I consider the two dogs that mauled Jett to be innocent victims as well. One was captured by animal control and the other was 'put down' by the police officer on the scene. They also paid a price in all of this. It's the people that I blame. Unfortunately, they were strays with no identification. We'll never know who the real guilty party is in all of this. But I'm very happy to see 'pittie supporters' on this site! I just love them!
Again, I cannot thank you all enough. Honestly I wasn't expecting too many responses. What a pleasant surprise! I feel like I have a whole cheering section now! I'm so excited to have found this community!!!
Now how do I get a picture up.......?
jettsmom said:
Now how do I get a picture up…….?
The easiest way to upload photos is to start a Tripawds Blog for Jett. Otherwise the image files must be hosted somewhere else online to embed them here.
See the Tech Support forum for:
- Instructions for how to add photos to forum posts
- Instructions for how to upload user profile avatar
Thanks again for joining!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
jettsmom said:
In fact, I consider the two dogs that mauled Jett to be innocent victims as well. One was captured by animal control and the other was 'put down' by the police officer on the scene. They also paid a price in all of this. It's the people that I blame.
You are so right. We say there are no bad dogs, only bad humans.
All dogs are pawesome in our opinion...it's the humans who need the training.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Everyone,
I am saddened beyond belief. Jett did not survive his surgery. Thank you all for your encouragement and support. My heart aches in a way that words cannot describe.
OMG! I'm so sorry to hear this!!
When you're feeling up to it, please post again. Sometimes it helps to have support from others who love their dogs as much as you...
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family... Sending you a loving hug...
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!
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