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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
I just wanted to take a few minutes to introduce myself and say "Hello!"
In early October, I lost my 13-year-old quadripaw Sheltie, Vallen to a sudden, unexplained illness. He was my first dog, and I was sure it would take at least a year before I was ready to bring a new dog into my life. But a few weeks ago, a funny thing happened: I realized that I had not one, but two empty places in my heart. The first was for Valen and nothing will ever fill that, the second was the absence of a dog in my life and I was ready to start looking for the right pup to fill that one.
I started looking idly on PetFinder, just get a sense of who was out there when I started to notice the occasional posting for a tripawd looking for their Forever Home and I would think to myself "Poor dear, I'm sure it's going to be very hard for them to find a home." Suddenly, it dawned on me: Maybe I could adopt a tripawd. I spoke with my vet and did some research on the 'Net and the common wisdom seemed to be that, once they've adjusted, 3-legged dogs are just like 4-legged dogs! My vet even said, "I don't actually consider them special needs." This sounded a little too neat, so I continued looking for information until I found Tripawds, and you folks are exactly what I was looking for! I've started to learn about PT exercises to develop good muscle tone and proprioception , booties for traction and the importiance of maintaining a healthy weight. Now I know what challanges I'm likely to face and I'm sure I can meet them!
It only took a day or two for me to find the dog that captured my heart and wouldn't let it go! Ater dealing with the fact that I would have to pick her up at her Rescue is 13, which is hours away from my home in Central MA, I put in an application to adopt her. As of today, I am 99.9% approved! I'm just waiting for the official "Come get her!" email, so please keep your fingers crossed for us.
Well, this is my very long winded way of saying "Hi, it's great to be here. I look forward to getting to know you all and pestering you with endless questions."
Offline
Welcome! Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
We notice you attempted to embed images in your post. Here are instructions for adding pictures to forum posts. If you don't already share photos somewhere online, the easiest way may be to start a blog so you can upload them to your media library.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I think everyone would agree- we are delighted to have you and what a great decision!
Can't wait til you get that email to go get her!
Being a Tripawd Mama is a wonderful thing! Please keep us posted on what happens.
Fingers and paws crossed for you here in not-so-sunny-today So Cal!
Jackie, Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Yay!!! And welcome to Tripawds!!! We all can't wait to meet and hear about your newly adopted Tripawd!! You must be so super excited!! I am excited for you!! Hoping everything goes through without a hitch and we are all looking forward to chatting with you and answering any questions that you may have. 
You literally put everything I have been felling into words! Since losing Bo, I have two pieces of my heart missing. Like you said, one for my boy, that can never be filled. The other for being around a dog in general. Thank you for your insight and welcome!
How wonderful that you opened your heart to adopting such a special kid!
Congratulations!!! And welcome 
Photos when you are ready would be great!
Hugs
Joanne and Lylee
http://lyleegir.....ipawds.com
You are PAWESOME! It's so good to see you here (Wendy, right?). Please keep us posted on the approval process, we have paws fingers and tails crossed for you!
And we don't consider Tripawds special needs at all either. As you know there are some things to take into consideration, but in general, Tripawds really aren't handicapped the way some folks think we are.
Good luck, and keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh!!! Oh!!! Oh!! She doesn't get any prettier than the pic on the avatar!!!!
Your heart is not going to be empty! I'm so happy for you and your new beginning with your soon-to-be furbaby! (paws crossed you'll get her!)
Feel free to bombard us with questions! I had a 3-legged dog for 12 years! She was "special". Her leg was deformed and still attached but she did fine! She lived a full and wonderful life on 3 good legs. We miss her more than words can express, but it was the best 12 years that filled our world with joy!
Let us know when your call comes!!!!! Looking forward to hearing more!
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.
crazydoglady said:
I would have to pick her up at her Rescue is 13, which is hours away from my home in Central MA, I put in an application to adopt her. As of today, I am 99.9% approved!
What I meant to say was:
"I would have to pick her up at her Rescue, which is 13 hours away from my home in Central MA" 
That's what I get for typing when I'm way over tired. What a way to make a first impression 
Thank you all for the warm welcome. I will definitely let you know when I get the final word. When I spoke with her foster mom, she told me that if it wasn't for the distance involved, they would have already approved me. The major hold up has been finding a MA Rescue that would be willing to take her in, just as a safety net. While I'm as sure as I can be that she'll make a perfect addition to my family, I appreciate their caution. I did locate out "backup" and now it's just a matter of the Rescues talking to each other and working out the details.
Yes, that's the Girl in my avatar pic. I think this picture is the one that absolutely stole my heart! I couldn't believe that any dog could be so happy and have so much love in its face after all she's been through. I don't think I would be able to trust people again if I'd lost a leg because someone shot me. 
I just noticed that I haven't told you her name yet. There is a reason fior iit: I'm going to be changing her name and feel like I might jinx something if I start using it before she's officially mine. Silly, I know.
Oh she is just a beauty!
I too adopted my Wyatt as a Tripawd. His paw was crushed (removed) and he was abused.
It will soon be three months he has been with us and I can't imagine life without the love bug!
Crossing fingers and paws that you get her soon!
Some one here said "you don't always get the dog you want, but you always get the dog you need" 
Wyatt - non cancer Tripawd
~ missing front left paw ~
10 pounds and bulletproof!
1 Guest(s)
