Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello there! I've just recently adopted a lab mix puppy from our local SPCA who's had a forelimb amputation. We've named her Wendy! The only information we were given was that it was amputated because of "trauma". She's the sweetest puppy who seems to get along with everyone and everything. She has even won the heart of our bossy heeler mix who rules the roost. It's been almost two weeks since her amputation so I know that she's still healing, but she seems to be toe touching a little, and slipping a lot, with the back leg on her affected side. I can't tell if it is her trying to compensate and learn who new gait, or if she's injured that leg as well. She is eating, drinking, and playing like a normal puppy which makes me feel better. I just don't know if I'm being overly cautious or not! We have an appointment in two days to check up on everything, and I'm really hoping for the best! This little pup could use a break!
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
Congratulations on the addition to your pack!
Be sure to talk to your vet about how Wendy is walking/hopping. In my experience toe touching indicates the possibility of injury and pain. It sounds to me like she may have an injury to that back leg or back as well as whatever happened to cause the amputation, or maybe an injury since surgery. Do you know if she has slipped and fallen since her surgery? What is her activity level like? Our surgeon said only short, leashed potty breaks for the first two weeks after surgery. I know it's hard to keep a puppy quiet!
How old is Wendy? It's wonderful that she is happy and outgoing. I adopted my current Tripawd Elly at 10 months old, she lost her right back leg after being hit by a car at 7 months old. Elly is skittish and slow to trust even now, she is 2.5 years old and just over 2 years past her surgery.
We will need pictures!!!!
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 and welcome. Thanks so much for adopting a tripawd pup. I adopted my girl when she was just a pup. She still had staples in from her amputation. Like you I didn't get a lot of information. One of the mistakes I made is letting her be too active. As Karen mentioned, the first couple weeks should really only be leash walks. Let me tell you, that is *not* fun with a puppy. It's hard to keep them quiet.
It does sound like something else is up so a visit to a vet is a good idea. Another thing you might want to think about for the future is seeing a physical therapist. She's going to adapt really well, but she will also be compensating for her missing leg her whole life. So knowing how to help her through that is great.
Another special consideration with puppies is that they are naturally clumsy. A quad puppy is going to slip, slide and fall at times so your girl is going to do that at times too. It's going to be really important for you to learn to read her pain signals , as you get to know her. When her healing is further down the road, it's also going to be important at times for you to just close your eyes and let her be a puppy.
Topher
Vet Assistant (in school to be a licensed vet technician)
1.5 years Oncology department, moved to rehab & sportsmed December 2024
Tripawd Angel, Cora the Determined <3
Sounds like Wendy has found a grrrrreat furever home!!! Thank you for letting her into your heart!
You've fotten great advice. Just want to DITTO checking to see if she's still having pain from the surgery and to also make sure she isn't overdoing it. No jumping, no stairs, no hard running with sharp turns....none of thos for now. .ost dogs here come home with Tramadol, Rimadyl, Gabapentin and an antibiotic. At the two week mark, many dogs are phasing off of some of the pain .eds....some need them a bit longer...some don't.
If you have hardwood floors, you'll wa t to get non slip scatter rugs for traction . Some find cheap yoga mats do the trick.
Can't wait to hear more about Wendy! PICTURES PLEASE!! We love pictures! And be sure to include her sibling!
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!
I wanna see the puppy! Pleeeeaaassseeeeee post pics of Wendy!!
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Hi there, I am just chiming in because when I adopted Cooper, it was rare to find other people who had young puppy tripawds.
Most of the tripawd stories I found online (here and elsewhere) were adult dogs or senior dogs with either cancer or an injury.
Anyway, I adopted Cooper when he was 7 months old. He is a big dog -- about 80 pounds, and I have his twin brother, Charlie Brown, too. Charlie has 4 legs. Cooper's leg was amputated because of an injury he sustained when he was 5 months old when his original adopters had him. I was given the same info as you were about the reason for the injury and amputation = "trauma". To this day (my dogs are almost 6 years old) I still do not know what happened.
I just want to give you some reassurance that your Wendy will adjust to life on three legs, and you will be amazed. Cooper can jump into the front driver's side window and seat of the car, from the ground, if the window is open! I would not recommend this, and I didn't train him to do it... he did it himself. His favorite thing in the world is riding in the car. Well, that, and chasing a ball. And yes, he can run after a ball really fast, and brings it back. He pushes off with his hind legs, like a kangaroo, and can run faster than his brother Charlie! He can run up the stairs faster than anyone else in the household, including cats!
So, rest assured that Wendy's going to be ok. Just be sure she doesn't ever overdo exercise or anything like that. Example, I don't allow Cooper to go for long walks. I only throw the ball three or four times in the back yard and then make him stop. Things like that. Don't let her "slam" her leg down onto the ground.
Cooper is a foreleg amputee, as well. I am always cautious of him slamming that one front leg too much.
Good luck, keep us posted!
Cooper (11/11/11 - 3/29/24) was a hound-collie mix "mutt" who was badly injured as a puppy and lost his leg at 7 months of age. We adopted him after the operation. He' was wonderful companion and comforting presence in our family for 12 years. He lived a fabulous life on three legs and was an inspiration to all. We will never forget our Coopie-Doopie-Doo.
Kathleen thank you so much for sharing Cooper's story!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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