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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Not new to dog amputations, sheepdog had front leg removed in 1975, now facing a right rear leg amputation of my Golden (8yrs old otherwise in very good health). three tumors rear leg, sacromas. My concern is my home environment, specifically hardwood floors (slippery) and 15 stairs up to second floor (steep, house built in 1879 so not typical run/rise on the stairs). Would appreciate feed back from those with dog having a rear leg amputated about the same size (Tink weighs 80lbs) and how their dog does with stairs. big concern for me, Diagnosis occurred today 2/25/26. Thanks to all who share their experience.
Hi and welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
Traction is a Tripawds best friend! Many have used throw rugs or runners, or yoga mats to make at least a trail though the slippery parts of the house.
Traction on the stairs will be important also. Rear amps in general have trouble going up things, front amps have trouble going down things. How does Tink do on the stairs now? My guess is after he heals up the stairs will not be a problem. A harness might be helpful while he re-learns or even long term. Many here use the RuffWear WebMaster.
FYI-y little rear leg tripawd climbs stairs with no problems.
Others should be chiming in soon.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi there, I have a staffy who had his rear leg amputated 3 weeks ago, we have tiles in his sleeping area so I've placed mats everywhere to keep him from slipping.
My other dog had a hip replacement when she was young on her back leg, she's a mix breed, about the same size as your retriever. When she came home from surgery she didn't use her leg a lot so I would use towels to help lift her back end to help her up and down stairs. We had a double story house at the time so we would limit her time going up and down the stairs as much as we could. I got her a crate to keep her in downstairs so she couldn't go walk about. I placed mats around on the floor as we had floorboards too. She also had socks that had grip on them for the times she got too nervous to walk on the floorboard, especially with the stairs.
Hope this has helped! Hope everything goes well!
Hi mel, thanks for posting your experience here in the forums, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I've been following your blog!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Online
Sorry you and Tink are having to deal with this, especially since you've already had to deal with this with your Sheepdog.
My Happy Hannah, a 125 lb. Bull Mastiff prior to amputation, was a rear legger. I also have a very old home with narrow and steep steps to the upstairs where she slept with me in the bedroom. Happy Hannah never mastered going up those stairs and I ended up sleeping downstairs with her on a mattress. She never let me use a towel sling...just kind of froze.
I think with a dog weighing 80 lbs you would be able to help Tink navigate stairs with a sling or harness. I know what you mean about steeper and more narrow stairs though. That does make it more difficult.
It was at the seven month .mark thst my Happy Hannah finally went UP the outside stairs to the deck. She handled going down just fine, and used her ramp to go up. The deck stairs are wide and not as steep.
Just no way of really knowing.
As you already know, dogs are so resilient and can figure out challenges and how to work around them. The non slip scatter rugs will take care of maneuvering on hardwoods.
Do you have a date scheduled for amputation? Let us know if you have any questions. Hopefully, the second time around is easier!!
Extra treats for Tink tonight!
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Thanks to everyone for their replies. Related to stairs, do individual strips on stairs work better than a continuous run of runner? Any suggestions on beds (looking at big barker beds now). Tink is my third golden with CA. Emily went with a hemangiosarcoma in 3 days after diagnosis, zoey first had a oral cancer (limited to lower jaw), had 1/3 of lower jaw removed and did well but passed just 10 months later with a hemangiosarcoma and now Tink all within the llast three years. Monday Feb 29th will be back at vets for xrays, biopsy. Pics to rule out spread, determine if her left hip is adequate to take on the additional load and biopsy to determine type of CA.
Mentally not doing well. She is the love of my life, was transporting her for golden retriever rescue out of syracuse (volunteer as transporter and in home interviewer for placement) and she managed to take over my lap during the transport. End of story, here we are 4 years later.
Great web site, nice to share , always makes it somewhat easier. Thanks again to all.
Sadly Golden's have one of the highest cancer rates in dogs.
I'm so sorry for your losses, it is terribly hard to lose so many in so short a time.
I have the tread strips taped on my tile stairs and they work well. They were actually put in place before my most recent Tripawd Elly joined the pack, my dad was having depth perception problems. My dogs are both small (15-16 lbs) but the stair treads have been in place for quite awhile without issue.
I can't really help with the bed issue. Both of my rear Tripawds have gone against the norm, they both like/liked the soft snuggle ball type of bed instead of the firmer bed preferred by most here.
Good luck with your vet visit on Monday, hoping for the best possible news.
You will find lots of folks to lean on here.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I guess you aren't "doing very well mentally". Losing Emily and Zoey, and now having Tinker come down with this piece of crap is enough to drive anybody over the edge.
I know one thing, all these dogs are sooo lucky to have picked you as their human for their furever home!
I LOVE the story of how Tink decided you were his, and he was yours. Such a sweet story.
Karen gave you good first hand insight into the strips. I can tell you first hand about The Big Barker Bed . They are made specifically for larger dogs. The first one I brought was an XLG for my Happy Hannah (125 lbs) That was almost three years ago and it has not sagged, it jas not bunched, it maintained it's shape and density this entire time. I have two more now as I keep one upstairs and two down. I now have a 120 lb Bull Mastiff and an adopted 60ish lb tripawd Coonhound. They are an investment but seemingly will last forever. They come with a ten year guarantee and made in America.
They are firm enough for joint suppprt in larger dogs. Tripawds are able to stand without losing their footing or slipping. My Happy Hannah never seemed to experience any of the sore muscles and joints that some tripawds do. If firmly believe, in part, it was because of the great support. I spent many a night sleeping beside my Happy Hannah halfway on this bed. It really is the Tempurpedic of dog beds.
The covers have been washed numerois times without any issues. The dogs "dig" their "nest" on the beds, they chew their bones and there has never been a tear or rip.
Okay...that's my 2¢ worth! And no, I don't work for them! I was just so hesitant to spend that much moneynon a dog bed, and so darn pleased to realize it was worth every single penny. It was everything the company, and the reviewers, said it was...and more!
When yiu can, we would love to see a picture of Tink. Include one of Emily and Zoey too! They're watching over you both.
We're all here right by your side, okay? You've been through so much. We're here to help. Let us know how Tink's appointment goes. Once you have a firm plan a d proceed, you'll feel some relief.
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
We have 3 Big Barker beds. I bought the first for Otis (106 lb lab/Dane mix) to help with mild arthritis. After 3 years, I was getting ready to replace it and had purchased 2 new ones. Fortunately, I never tossed the first one. Otis (front leg amputee) moves from one to the other during the day. He loves vex them. On your hardwood floors, try yoga mats. They are cheap, yet stay in place and provide great traction . Haven't tried the stairs to the 2d floor yet - we are only at week 3.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Tinks appointment did not go as expected. Sarcoma for sure, had Cornell read pics also, no lung infiltrate, however a small spot on her metacarpal was noted, all stuff to be dealt with. The problem came with the bilateral hip pics. Despite that she runs like the wind, she has severe arthritis in both hips along with substantial bone loss. We are concerned about her left hip being able to hold up after the right leg removal. No choice as to amputation, scheduled next week. Will have to get her weight reduced (already working on that much to her dismay!) have ordered a webmaster harness with brush guard and will begin to prep house tomorrow. I am praying that her left hip will suffice with her typical activity levels (she runs fast but not often and not for long),
Will most likely order the barker bed. Still researching. (Cornell is a first class vet college/vet school in down state new york- I am in upstate near Buffalo NY)
Thanks for all the encouragement. It helps a lot. Praying that her life will be enhanced and her longevity increased.
First two weeks post surgery will be hard, but there are lots of blogs and posts here to help you get mentally prepared. But you will get to week 3 and things will get better! She managed to get around just fine without you even knowing about the arthritis, I bet she is able to make adjustments to her activity post amp too.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
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