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. Scamper is an English lab. He has short legs but a stocky body weighing 98 pounds. He looks like he is a healthy weight now; however, the vet states that he needs to lose 19 pounds so that he can get around better. I have another female lab who is approx. 65 pounds and she is very slim. My question is: is 19 pounds going to be too much for scamper to loose - will he look emaciated? Thanks.
Hey Scamper...mom and I wrote you under your entry on share my story.
Hang in there pal~
Love Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
scamper said:
Hello. Scamper is an English lab. He has short legs but a stocky body weighing 98 pounds. He looks like he is a healthy weight now; however, the vet states that he needs to lose 19 pounds so that he can get around better. I have another female lab who is approx. 65 pounds and she is very slim. My question is: is 19 pounds going to be too much for scamper to loose - will he look emaciated? Thanks.
i have a similar question, my dog is 14 almost 15 very heavy sheppard/lab mix weighing 116lbs. He has had swelling and edema in his rear leg and is on a large number of meds including lasix, predisone and tramadol for past 2 months. We have a sling which used to help get him up and out but now he's resisting getting up at all. our only option for a possible cure is amputation but im scared his weight and health might prevent it. Im trying to decide if its better to try and fail (but possibly cause him more pain which i dont want) or .... cant really say the words, too hard. anyone have any advise?
Hi Teena and Scamper. Obesity is a huge problem in dogs these days. Studies show that one out of every three dogs is overweight. Whether or not your dog is overweight depends on if his/her weight is due to fat or muscle, bone mass and structure, and their physical conditioning. Radar was 93lbs on the day of surgery but he was a performance dog, very lean looking with a lot of muscle. I still would like to see a couple of pounds off him but I am very conscious of physical conditioning in the breed.
Most people (and some vets) think a dog looks unhealthy at their proper weight. It's a matter of perception and this adds to the dog obesity problem. If your vets feel your dogs should lose some weight, I would listen to them. I have seen huge improvements in rescue dogs (that were very overweight) after they lose the extra pounds. They become more active and playful and are better able to handle health issues.
Good luck with your babies
Connie & Radar
teena said:
our only option for a possible cure is amputation but im scared his weight and health might prevent it.
Great advice, Connie. I agree, you might want to start by helping your pal lose weight, and see if his condition improves. We dogs are so good at shedding those pounds quickly! Your vet can tell you the best ways to get him to drop those pounds.
Fifteen years old. Wow, that's one lucky dawg! Give him a big hug from us.
Your friend,
Jerry
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Our Veternaary rehab explained that, for our Mastiff tripawd Bella, since 70% or so of a dog's weight is on their front legs, when they lose one you have to be very careful to protect the remaining leg. They recomended some neck, chest and rump exercises to increase the muscle mass and tone to protect the remaining leg. They also recommended that we have her lose some weight to make up for the increased muscle mass. She has been on a diet now for a few months, she's done with her rehab and is raring to be adopted!
http://www.bell.....lisimo.com
Schlafende hunde soll man nicht wecken.
(don't wake a sleeping hound)
Trouble was 69 lbs when she had her surgery. The vet was concerned about her weight also as pitbulls carry so much of their weight in the front and she is a front amputee. It was almost as if she knew she had to lose weight, or maybe she just wasnt' feeling 100% yet. In the four months since her surgery she has dropped 14 lbs. She looks great, and the vet isn't so worried with the extra weight gone.
Just as with humans, it is better for them to be thinner.
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.
I've just joined this forum, so forgive my newbie-ness. My dog Billie has been a tripawd for most of her life. As a lab, she is a bottomless pit. We've had her on diet food, but haven't had much success. I never thought a three legged creature could get up onto a counter and steal a loaf of bread in the night (put WAAAAY back on the counter) eat the entire thing and only leave a tiny hole in the bag- and then sneak back into bed undetected! Can anyone recommend a diet or type of diet food that works well? My Billie started out at 65 lbs. when she lost her leg, and is now up to 87 lbs. Any specific advice would be great!
Hi Billiesgirlmama, thank you for joining! No apologies necessary, we were all new here once.
Billie is quite the counter surfer, pretty amazing that she could do something as tricky as that. I'm not sure what kind of diet would help as long as she's still able to get into the pantry. Other than cutting back proportions, is she getting enough exercise?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Wow - I am so impressed at your pup's zest for life - or zest for food. I know exactly what you mean, but my food hound has not had the same determination to open cupboards and ovens since he has had cancer.
My last bottom less pit lab cross had to eat a pretty light diet to keep his weight down. As for a specific diet that would help in your case, I can make no suggestions, but at least it is terrific that she feels good enough to get into trouble.
What about just cutting out all treats, and putting all food and bread IN the cubboards? If I am outside the house, I never ever leave food on the counter (not even onions) and I always hide the garbage in a different room. Dogs can lose a lot of weight when they get no treats (and they can gain weight very quickly when they get treats).
I can chime in on this one because my Alle is a bottomless-pit, scarfing up everything kind of overweight lab. Lite food never did it for her and now she's become diabetic. What has worked to get her weight down is supplementing her dog food with vegetables. I give her the same vegetables I give Cemil, make them into a smoothie and put it over their food like gravy. She gets about a cup of ground-up vegetables with each meal and she's dropped the weight, finally. So, figure out how much food he should have and make up the difference between that and what he'd like with the green smoothie. Green beans, broccoli, spinach, carrots, yams, squash..all of those work, alone or in combination. It's amazing--ask the now-svelte Alle. Sometimes, I even put in an apple, which is her favorite, but has a little more sugar than the green things so it doesn't happen very often.
Cemil and mom Mary, Mujde and Radzi….appreciating and enjoying Today
I wanted to revise this post because this issue is a concern of mine, and hopefully to elicit more responses.
Peanut had her left front leg amputated 2 days ago. She's been mobile and eating normally (although I have cut back on her intake while she is not as active). Before the surgery, she weighed in at 161.29lbs - I just round it off to 160. 🙂
My regular vet and the orthopedic surgeon both said she's at a normal, healthy weight. However, after the orthopedic surgoen left to prep for surgery, the vet tech who stayed behind with Peanut suggested I have her lose several pounds. The next afternoon when I picked her up form surgery, I asked a different vet tech if she or the doctor had any recommendations on how to best help her shave a few pounds yet still get the nutrition she needs. She asked another doctor who supposedly was the best to ask questions about nutirtion and weight management. This doctor told me that Peanut was not overweight and I really didn't need to have her lose any weight.
So now I'm conflicted. I certainly feel like it wouldn't hurt to have her lose a few lbs, for better mobility and less strain on her remaining limbs. But do I really need to?
Most of the research I've done on canine cancer suggests feeding a high protein/fat content, and low carbs/no sugar. I've been slowly adjusting Peanut to that over the past couple of weeks. However, high protein and fat content will add lbs, which I'm afraid to do.
I'd love to hear what other people's vets have recommended. Or if any other big dog tripawds have some insight. In the meantime, I'll be perusing the nutrition section. Thanks!
~*~*~ Peanut is strength, love, and happiness. ~*~*~ 11/30/03 – 12/26/09
Well, I'm inclined to say that if two vets told you that Peanut isn't overweight, then it's good to be vigilant, but you probably shouldn't worry too much about it. If it would make you feel better, why not consult with a nutritionist if you can?
In our experience with a low carb, high protein diet, it didn't make me fat, I maintained my weight pretty well on it. This diet is mostly to help starve the cancer cells from sugars, which are fuel for those boogers.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I do think it best for the big guys to be on the thin side. I can't use the high protein food with Tazzie because she also has liver issues but she does great on the California Natural Lamb and Rice with added chicken and veggies. She also likes cottage cheese. I had to back off her food a little when she was getting so many supplements since we were using Velveeta cheese and she gained about 10 pounds.
My other cancer dog is a Pitbull and she is on the Evo poultry. She is still pretty active so she stays thin but my other Mastiff got way too fat on it so he is now on Reduced Fat Lamb and rice.
I would try the Evo and see how she does!
Pam and Tazzie
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