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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Good morning, I am new to this site, and am glad I found it after trying to do some research on dogs with amputations. Currently I am hand raising an English mastiff pup. She is two weeks old today. She was pulled from the litter when she was 8 days old so that someone could spend a lot of time with her.
Her left foreleg is malformed, both at the shoulder and the ankle. Her right foreleg we are monitoring. She likes to keep it back against her belly like her left tends to do. It does appear to have full range of motion and I spend quite a bit of time massaging and moving/keeping the leg forward so that she starts using it appropriately. She goes back in for re-evaluation in about 10 days to make sure the right leg will be okay. The third vet she saw when she was a week old basically said to euthanize. When I took her and brought her to my vet, he seemed much more hopeful for her and said "give mother nature time" for her right leg.
I was wondering if any of you had young pups get an amputation? Just really interested in any stories or experiences. Thanks!
Hi Marci! Welcome! Oh my gosh a two week old Mastiff Tripawd? Awwwww! She is so lucky to have you looking out for her.
The vast majority of dogs with birth defects do just fine on three legs. Even Mastiffs! Check out Hurricane Rosie, who has been a Tripawd since she was a young puppy. And scroll through this Forum too if you haven't already, we have lots of dogs born with similar birth defects.
She may not need an amputation even if the leg doesn't end up functioning. IF she has enough limb there, she could be a great candidate for a prosthesis! See our OrthoPets interviews for details.
My best advice is to seek the consult of a certified canine rehabilitation therapist. Animals born without the use of a limb have a few more hurdles to overcome as they grow, but it's nothing you can't handle. Because they don't have motor skills yet, they do have some challenges getting around at first, until they find their normal. A canine rehab therapist can guide you in this area so that she grows up strong and healthy. Best part is the Tripawds Foundation will even pay for your first consult!
Got any photos of this sweetie? We would love to see 'em! Here's a post about adding images to the Forums.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Aww, that sounds so sweet! How good of you to take care of that baby!
I haven't got any experience with canine tripawds. My pet-minus-a-leg is a chicken who was born missing a leg. I just wanted to give you encouragement that animals born with missing/deformed limbs can adapt as well as those who lose them later in life. That was a concern of mine starting out.
Even if you end up not needing to amputate, you should post pictures! I wanna see that cuteness! Good luck!
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