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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My lurcher is 5 days on from his surgery, lost his front right. I'd like to pick the brains of more experienced tripawds. He's doing really well, but wants to keep walking when we're out, but not sure how far we should go. Also any advice for introducing him back to stairs? Thanks.
Welcome, and best wishes for a speedy recovery! You future forum posts will not require moderation.
It is still very early in your Lurcher's recovery! Is his name Seapee?
Rest, confinement and leashed potty time is all he needs for now. Once stitches are out, you can start working to rebuild strength and start with very short walks. More frequent shorter walks are much better than a longer walk.
We had about 20 stairs when Jerry lost his front leg to OSA. He insisted on going up and down himself within the first week, so we supported him with a towel slung under the belly at first. You can also cut a canvas shopping bag down the sides to make a handy sling with handles. Once stitches are out the Webmaster harness works great!
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What questions do you have?
Murphy is a front leg tripawd also. We have a ranch-style house, so stairs aren't a problem for us, but I would say get one of the harnesses to help. We have the rough wear harness, but I like the look of the newer one - the convert harness. They both have a handle at the top so that you can help hold his weight and help him balance and prevent a fall. The rough wear harness does slip sometimes on Murphy since that front leg isn't there to help hold it in place lol. I think the convert probably stays in place better, but since we don't have that one I can't say for sure. We use our any time we go in the car so that when he gets out, I can hold his weight and protect his good front leg.
I wouldn't walk too far yet, since it's just been a few days since his surgery.
Keep us updated! And don't forget to post pictures! We love pictures 
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Good to hear he's doing so well this early. That's not always the case.
Ditto the advice you've already gotten from Donna and the Admin Guy. At this point in recovery, dogs should still just be resting and going out for short potty breaks.
Front leggers do "walk" at a faster pace as they need the momentum to help move forward and keep their balance. I think it's almost hard for them to just stand still sometimes.
Would love to hear more about your pup when you can. I know your hands are full right now. Pictures too!
Hugs to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Double ditto what the others said....my Dobe nitro is also a front amp and it was months before I would take him for short walks. But, he had a somewhat difficult recovery. We also used the ruff wear harness by webmaster for at least 6 months, and this is how we eased him into going up and down steps. Now he does the 12 to our downstairs without it like a champ. I would think you'd want to wait for the staples/stitches to come out before tackling a lot of stairs. Good luck with continued recovery success!
paula and nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Howdy and welcome!!!
My Harmony was a front leg amp too. I think it takes more out of them when they're front-leggers as opposed to rear. Rest is a definite requisite, just like we humans have to rest after surgery or sickness to optimize healing. These first few days are crucial and let's face it, sometimes their little furry brains don't use common sense when they see "SQUIRREL!!!" or hear it! So you have to be the logical one.
Keep us updated, and pictures!!!
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
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