Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I just received my order of Musher's Secret (ordered through the Tripawds link, of course). Although we have runners and rugs EVERYWHERE (of every size and every color – my house looks like a clown exploded), Zeus seems determined to step on the tiny portions of uncovered hardwood and tile. I ordered this to help avoid slips, but I understand that it also helps to protect from the cold/snow.
In the last few years Zeus' feet have become very sensitive to the snow and if he stays out long enough to do his business, he begins to alternate picking up his feet in obvious discomfort. I can't tell you how many times I have carried him back to the house b/c he is such a drama king and just collapses and then looks over his shoulder with the most pitiful look. This started well before his cancer and amputation.
Anyway, if using it for snow, do you spread it all over the paws (top, too) or do you still just spread it on the bottom pads/between the toes? Thanks!
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
I had the same problem but figured out that it was the ice melt (both calcium and salt) that was the culprit. On the days that we need to melt the snow/ice I use booties. Sam likes the cloth velcro on ones and Daisy used the PAwz brand. (Pawz are cheap disposable ones that look like big latex balloons- very clown-esque)
Spirit Samson was Spirit Tripawd Daisys four legged "brother" and ruled as the self proclaimed head of the Monkeybutt Federations East Coast Division. Lady Chunky Monkey stayed from Oct 2011 and left for the bridge in Apr 2012. Miss Perdy is left and has some big pawprints to fill.
Do you have what it takes to be a Monkeybutt? Find out more at the Monkeybutt Federation
Heehee! Zeus reminds me of Bo! We put down runners and rugs all over the house and he would make the extra effort to avoid them. What funny pups!
We don't live where is snows- I don't know if the MS will protect against cold, but it will protect against snow, ice balls, and salt. If you are using it for that then you should apply the wax up between the toes and pads, not just on the pads. Here is some info from the Musher's Secret Web Page (But as you said- ALWAYS order through Tripawds!). I found you had to rub it in pretty well- its not supposed to leave any marks, but it seems to go on a bit greasy.
I used it for Maggie to keep her pads supple. For some reason her pads were always dry and cracked which made her slip more. Another thing you could do for Zeus is trim the fur between his toes and pads- that was a big problem for Mag as she got older… hairy toes 
.
I love your description of the rugs as a clown exploding. Someone else said their house looked like a rug bazaar. Maggie was funny about them too, but in the opposite way- she stuck to the rugs as her preferred path through tiled areas of the house.
I know I said this before too- but I love the pic of Zeus in the avatar- he just makes me smile.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Thanks for shopping through Tripawds! That's so great of you to remember 🙂
I used it for snow, and as far as I know it only goes on the bottoms of the paws and inbetween toes.
Would have to agree that the PAWZ boots are pretty nifty in snow too.
We should have a tour of Tripawd family homes to see who has the most colors of throw rugs in their house! Welcome to the world of three legged decor.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We ordered the Musher's Secret for Lucy too (through Tripawds as well!). We have the rugs everywhere but one day... we'll hopefully have a more lovely selection... Indoor/outdoor carpeting is a little too fiber filled for Lucy's Poppa, it's been an explosion of allergies! Anyway, the Musher's Secret worked well when she had it on for a second doctor's visit, on the first visit she took a spill hopping in the door! I like that it moisturizers her pads too. I am going to try it on her elbow patches as well.
Mary, Lucy's mom
Lucy's front right leg was amputated 12/19/11. Thankfully there was no tumor, but her nerves were found to be degenerative. Life as a tripawd is Lucy's new adventure!!
We tried boots on him a few years ago and it was a disaster. We never got more than one at a time on him, he (accidentally) busted my lip, and I truly thought he was going to hurt himself trying to kick it off (think: prancing parade horse on acid). We do trim the fur on his feet (which he HATES) and it seems to help. We are expecting some snow tomorrow so I guess the Musher's Secret came just in time. He cannot stand for us to touch his feet so I have a feeling this is going to be a battle of wills.
The rugs really are something else! We have had runners in the main areas for quite some time b/c we knew slippery floors are bad even before he lost a leg. At least they match. Now we have these multi-colored "legs" branching off and they range from red to beige to blue (with a lime green yoga mat slapped down in the middle b/c I simply ran out of rugs.) I do find it quite amusing each morning that I climb out of the shower onto hard, cold tile so that my dog can NOT walk on all the rugs I have amassed downstairs!
And, thank you Karen - I changed the avatar pic after you commented last time! I do love that picture of him (though I'm a bit biased!)
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
When Maggie was about 2 and still a quad pug I tried to put some fleece booties on her. I never got more than two on at a time. She would flip on her back and flail her legs and I would be crying I was laughing so hard. She didn't really have trouble slipping until she was about 10, which was 3 years or so into her tripawdness (she had mast cell cancer). But by that time her stubbornness had become epic- I didn't even try booties on her- there would be no way! Mag wasn't too keen on me touching her feet, especially the front ones- but I was able to apply the MS and trim her toe fur.
Good luck, I hope it works for Zeus.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Zeuspod wrote:
he (accidentally) busted my lip,
Bwhahahahhahahhahahhahhahaaahaahhhhhaaaaaaa!
That explains where your upper lip is Zeus the Lip-less Moose (head)! An eye for an eye. A lip for a lip!
Bwhahahahhahahhahhahahhahahhahhahhahhaha snort snort hahahhahahhahhahahhaha!
Oh, Monkey-ButtHead (yep, you read that right 
),
Judging by that avatar pic, I'm not sure how someone with one eye and four ears can sling insults. My mama said she will send you the name of the doctor she saw for the busted lip - maybe he can help you with that snorting problem. Hahahateeeheehee.
Zeus
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
yikes, we hate to say it...but 'score' by zeus!!!! rocket, we think you have a major adversary in this tripawd...
s.b. sam
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Yes, get him, Zeus!! I'm still going to be doing what I can to mess with his fuzzy little head from up here in heaven, but I need "feet on the street" to help from that angle.
(Even though I know now that MBBVP really did LOVE me, like I said he did all along, it's still fun to mess with him. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't want it any other way. He wouldn't have fallen for me like he did if I weren't full of it. 
Brains, beauty and sauciness - it's a combo he could never have resisted!)
Anyway - you keep on top of him! Don't let him get away with pushing us Tripawds around!
Heavenly kisses,
Angel Abby
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
Bud doesn't like having cold feet either...he is quick to get off of them and lick the snow and ice out of the fur between his paws. We thought it was just a Bud quirck but later found out it was a symptom of low thyroid.
We felt guilty to find out that lots of things we just took as part of his personality were actually symptoms of the thyroid issue. I understand that it is really common in large dogs...especially male goldens.
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