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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Hello...I'm new to this group...just signed up actually. I just found out my sweet Chocolate Lab mix, Reeses will need to have her right hind leg removed. She's 4 years old but apparently broke her knee at the growth plate when she was a very small puppy, quite possibly before I even got her. It never healed properly and she's limped her whole life for short periods but recently the limping hasn't stopped so to the vet we went. It was actually the 2nd opinion who discovered it was her growth plate that had broke. So next week she will be joining the tripawd community. The vet said I could try orthopedic surgery to fix it but it would involve harvesting her bone marrow and be a very long, very painful recovery, not to mention very expensive. And even then, it would only be a chance. I can't imagine putting her through all that for a chance. I love her so much, I want her to live her best life chasing squirrels, hiking, "running" 5ks with me, and tackling all her friends at the dog park. I've been told she'll be able to do all those things with 3 legs. So I'm hoping and praying I've made the right decision for her to live her best life.
Hello Reeses and her hoomans who clearly adore her!💖
Your post has been approved and now you will be supported by people who understand this journey like no others can.
FWIW, Take comfort in knowing you are absolutely making the best decision for Reese's. It's one surgery, one and done, one recovery of approximately 2 weeks or so and then onto living her life to the fullest!! Perhaps most important, she will be pain free!!!
want her to live her best life chasing squirrels, hiking, "running" 5ks with me, and tackling all her friends at the dog park. I've been told she'll be able to do all those things with 3 legs.
Yes, Reese's will be able to do all of those things. You'll want to make some adjustments and do some of these things in moderation. You don't want her to do any high jumping in the air and then landing hard on her remaining legs, like chasing a frisbee and trying to catch it mid-air, as opposed to just catching it low on the ground.
One tip you can do now. If you have hardwoods you'll want nonslip scatter rugs for traction .
I'll give you a couple of links so you can be better acquainted with life with a tripawd.
Tripawds Recovery Shopping List
Stay connected and let us know as questions arise, okay ?
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!
Kat and Reeses, welcome! You've joined the club nopawdy ever wants to join but you know what? It's not such a bad thing once you realize that you are giving Reeses a new chance at a great life! She is going to impress you with her ability to bounce back and get on with enjoying all the things she does. Those dreams you have of doing things together don't need to go away. You will need to do things a little differently so that her joints last a long time, but it's totally worth the extra effort, I promise!
Sally gave you some great tips and links. To that I'll add, as a rear legger, Reeses' challenge will be that she is going to lose half of her propulsion power, since dogs carry their ability to jump and run fast in their back legs. However, by taking care to modify her activity and learning what she should and should not do, she can go on to chase those pesky squirrels but just in a more modified way.
If you haven't already, ask your vet for a referral to rehab therapy. Rehab makes a huge difference in a Tripawd's life, especially a young dog who has lots of living to do. We recommend it because it's the best way to get to know your dog's physical capabilities and limitations, and to have a team you can check in with as she grows older. It's such a huge component, that the Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit ! So please take advantage of the program OK?
Here are some rehab stories to inspire you:
https://tripawd.....tag/rehab/
https://tripawd...../tag/rehab
Also, you might want to get a copy of our e-book, Loving Life On Three Legs , which is really great reading for someone in your situation. Highly recommend it!
Holler with any questions you have about preparing for surgery OK? Oh, last thing: talk to your vet about pain management and what Reeses will get when she comes home. Good pain control makes a HUGE difference in recovery.
Hello and welcome.
Sally and Jerry have given you great input.
I wanted to second Jerry's recommendation for a rehab vet. Some vet's will tell you that young Tripawds don't need rehab but my experience says they do. My current Tri Elly lost her back leg when she was 7 months old after being hit by a car. Because of her anxiety and then Covid shutdowns I didn't get her to a rehab vet until after she hurt her remaining hip in a weird accident. Elly is my second rear amp Tri so I had an idea of what exercises and balance training would benefit her in general prior to her injury but the rehab vet was able to give me specific exercises to help with her injury as well as getting her strong for the long term. They also suggested a muscle building supplement and after last years checkup we added an anti inflammatory medication.
BTW- my regular vet didn't think a rehab vet would help much after Elly's injury. When we went for a recheck about 6 months later she was really surprised and impressed with Elly's progress!
Unfortunately Tripawds are prone to develop arthritis earlier than 4 leggers and are a little more susceptible to injury of their remaining limbs so keeping Reeses fit and strong will go a long way on giving him a great life on 3.
With Elly I spend some time every day on exercises, or training tricks and obedience, or food puzzles and games. I have a stroller so she can come along with my other dog on our daily 3 mile walks by walking some and riding some. I should add that Elly is a little 14.5 pound Pug Mix (who is almost 10 years old) and my other girl is a small Pug x Pom so 3 miles is a long walk for them. We also do the sport of Nose Work although Elly is retired now from competition.
Do you have a surgery date? Keep us posted.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls and Boy
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
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