Hello everyone! My dog Diesel is an Akita, he was about 95lbs and was 1yr old when he was hit by a motorcycle. His femur was shattered in his front right leg. Luckily we had a great vet that really helped out with costs. We decided to try to save the leg since Diesel was amazing protecting it, kept it off the floor, and if their was a ball infront of him he would swing the leg to hit it. If my dog was willing to try so was I. With the vet, Ortho specialist, and therapist we worked with Diesel to save the leg. I stayed by his side for months, changing his bandages every four to six hours, giving him his meds, doing therapy, and making daily doctor visits. Diesel was a perfect angel thru it all! He never once gave me a hard time. He went thru 5 surgeries before we unfortunately had to amputate. The healing leg just couldn't support his weight and broke again.
After the amputation he immediately adapted. As soon as the drugs wore off he was already going up n down the stairs! The only trouble was that he kept pulling the muscle in his left front leg. But once he was able to strengthen those muscles he was fine. Now Diesel was always a very clumsy dog and knowing this I made sure that any obstacle he would could come across he would do while I was there. This way he would know what he is capable of and how to handle these obstacles if I'm ever not around. Waring, If u were constantly at your dogs side for months, expect your dog to go through separation anxiety. Since I no longer had to play nurse, my dog started screaming for my attention. And of coarse for days I thought he was in pain so I always ran to his side. I even took him to the vet. He would scream so loud the elderly neighbor ACROSS the street would come over to see what was wrong. He even would wake up scream several times a night! Finally I convinced his doctor to observe him overnight just at the very least so I can sleep. Sure enough the next day the doctor told me he was fine all day and night. So the next time he started to scream, I looked at him and sternly said NO! He tried to yell one more time and again I said NO! That was the last time he screamed.
He is now 7yrs old and very lean and strong. I have him on science diet which contains fish oil. I also make sure he takes his vitamins. VERY IMPORTANT, always keep an eye on their pads! In the beginning they can develop corns and that can b painful. Also their pads can become very dry. I suggest to have wax ( I love Musher's wax) and wax their feet, AT NIGHT or else they'll be sliding all over the place! Also have boots for the extreme weather. Try to avoid rough surfaces like cement, Diesel always walks on the grass rather than the cement side walks because of his feet.
There's really not much Diesel can't do at age 7. He still goes up and down the stairs, jumps into the back of my SUV without ramps, stairs, or help and he loves to run and play! And don't let the 3 legs fool you, HE IS STRONG! He even broke the groomer's table and had the groomer on the floor when I walked in. So right now I'm still scared of arthritis one day cribling him but I doubt it'll be anytime soon!

Tripawds' hugs are the best! Their one leg on your one shoulder and their head on your other shoulder!

Hi everyone. My dog chopper is a bull mastiff x ridgeback and were from Australia. 2 years ago on my 19th birthday I watched my 7 month old chopper get run over. The bottom half of his right back leg from the elbow down was only hanging on by a piece of skin so amputation was really the only option. After he was hit he jumped up off the road and hopped onto the grass. I told the vet and she said that it was a good sign he would adapt easily.

So 2 days later we could take him home. We have eight or so stairs leading up to the house and he took to them like a fish to water, he ran up the stairs like normal which made us all start crying with happiness, we knew we had made the right decision (only my dad thought of putting him down but as we bought chopper as a Christmas present for him we couldn't do it). As he was only 7 months at the time he adapted really well and had barely any problems outside the norm for any dog 3 legged or not. Our biggest problem was always going to be his size and weight as bull mastiffs don't really stop growing until there about 2&1/2 years. He is nearly 3 years old now and unfortunately due to his size it is getting a bit harder, he weighed in at 56kg (112lb) on monday and needs to lose a lot of weight. He gets really freaked when we touch his feet especially when we cut his nails, so we tried to get them done at the vet, who after one attempt said he would have to be sedated. After giving him enough for a 60kg (120lb) dog, and it having no effect the vet had to leave his nails long. But the vet did say that he is so strong that a paralysis tick would die on him before it could kill him, which is good because he has had one before.

We live in a very small town so he is known every where as the 3 legged dog and everybody loves him. My dad and I work in the industrial area and chopper comes to work every day and justs walks around playing with the other dogs and going to every other business to get treats or just eat out of their bin. It was as work where he got ran over but we don't really worry about it anymore because everybody is always keeping an eye out for him. My dad doesn't like to think that he ever considered putting him down because now he couldn't live without him. But as a family we have all decided once his quality of life is gone and he has given up we will do what is right for him.

Chopper is the most beautiful dog in the world and we think if he had 4 legs he wouldn't be half the dog he is today.