Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi, My 11 year old Mastiff - Brandee - had her right rear leg amputated in Feb 8th 2018. Just recently this remaining leg would no longer support her. She still tries to use it but is very wobbly and falls lots. Had x rays and it showed the cartilage in both the knee and hip are worn out. Unfortunately this leg also had cruciate surgery to repair the torn ligament back in 2015. X rays also showed that in the 'stumpy" there is evidence of more bone cancer.
I am wondering if anyone else has had similar issues with cartilage wear and tear. I am struggling with holding her rear up when going out to do her 'business'. ( at present I am using a towel) She is 97 pounds and I have really bad knees. She wants to go go go ( energy to burn ) and I cannot keep up which causes me to lose my balance and both of us go down. I do have a wheel chair but she will not do her poo and pee when she is in it. Is there a trick for teaching her it's ok.. Hope I do not have too many questions. I appreciate any information Thank Brandee and Kate
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Hi Kate and Brandee, welcome. Please, ask as many questions as you would like, that's why we are here.
You two make a great team! It's not easy to support a giant breed dog on three, especially one with some challenges, but so far you have done a great job. I think I might have some suggestions that can help.
You're right, dogs don't like to eliminate while they're in wheels. Our Wyatt Ray , also a rear legger with wheels, won't. So what we do is first we let him sniff around the yard a bit until he goes. Once he does that, then we put him in his wheels if he's up to a longer walk. That seems to do the trick.
Wyatt doesn't need standing help at this point, but if/when he does, we have his Ruffwear Webmaster harness to aid him. Being that he is also experiencing joint problems in his remaining rear leg, at some point we will need to put his Custom Pet Support Suit on him. This is a great harness not just for steadying him but also to hoist him up with the shoulder strap. You may be interested in our recent Pet Support Suit review from a vet who needs it to help her old boy to get around.
I'm sorry to hear about the cancer's return in the stump. For now, have you considered taking her to rehabilitation therapy to see if they can help with her mobility issues? Acupuncture and Adequan injections are just a couple of things they could try out with her. And the best part is that the Tripawds Foundation may pay for your first rehab visit . Check out the link for more details.
I hope this helps. We have other members with giant breed dogs so hopefully they will chime in soon. Stay tuned!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
thank you for your suggestions. I had thought about eliminating before using the wheels. I do have a webmaster lift harness but now that she is weak on the rear leg it does not support in a way that is easy for both of us. I had been looking at the suit as it appears to be what I actually need to ease the strain on my arms and shoulder -yet give her the support she needs. About therapy. I live in the middle of nowhere. To get her any sort of treatment I would need to drive for over 5 hours and then probably need to rent a motel while having her treatments. This would prove to be beyond my financial means. I think Brandee would have benefitted from therapy after amputation. We appreciate your quick response.
Brandee and Kate
Hi Kate,
If you'd like to PM me your location I can try to locate a practitioner for you. Nine times out of ten I am able to find one when a member thinks that none are closeby. Please let me know if I can help OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Your devotion to Brandee comes shining through. She is very lucky to have you as her hooman.
If you can swing it, the "body suit" could be the answer to your "go, go, go" sweet Mastiff and your back and knees!
I'm owned by a go, go, go three legger Coonhound who recently had cruciate surgery on one of his remaining back legs. He had surgery on the other one a year ago. My back, my knees, my "maturity " all are what kept me from properly helping with his mobility. I can relate to being pulled down by a strong willed dog!
The body suit helped me keep my balance, have more control over Frankie and give him the support he needed. I could stand up straight and save my back.
It is crucial, absolutely crucial that you measure exactly. I never got the right measurements twice in a row, so be sure and get someone to help.
Sending extra hugs to you both!
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!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too .. thank you so much for your response. Yes holding Brandee up is hard for me as I am almost 70, with some nerve damage in my lower back and shoulders, along with arthritis in all the old joints.
The body suit does seem as if it would be a good replacement for the towel. I will be sure to try and get the exact measurements. Appreciate the heads up on that.
OMG I just read about the deer poop-- Ha ha Brandee now at 11 years- suddenly discovered a 'taste' for it..
smiles.... Brandee and Kate
Kate Warnock said
.. thank you so much for your response.
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Below is a copy of a couple of videos showing Frankie going way to fast without the body suit. Then you will see a video where I have mich mpre condol ocer hom. Itrealky, really is very suppor WITHOUT hurting my back, knees, etc. It's jist not a cery good selection due to all the reasons I spelled below.
And maybe some techie person can come behind me and just "copy the video and leave out the rest of the thread. So just skip to the video....well...you do need to read the part about the rain, the sandals the slippery ramp, the two bathrobes, etc
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!
Well heck. Tried to,post it and said unable to submit reply because it contained a disallowed Iframe...or something like that
Maybe rhis will work.....go to page eight
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!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Rene!! My video doesn't really do the suit justice. It really is so much easier once you get the hang of it. In the video I didn't really have the straps right around my neck, etc. And I was holding my arm out, not for balance, but to show I didn't need to hang onto the railing for dear life. My hunched over position was moreso ne teying yo ve extra careful because of the sandals and slippery wet ramp.
And again, make sure you measure accord6 to the directions. I bet I measured twenty times and never got the same measurement twice. Partly me, but mostly getting my hard headed hound to hold still!!
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!
Frankie, hard-headed? Haha never! 😉
Great description of the video, and measuring tips. Thanks.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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