Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi,
I have a 50 lbs, 9 year old dog who one week ago received an amputation of her right front leg.
Should I be concerned about her jumping down from beds, out of cars and such in terms of extra stress to the one leg that she has or is it still ok for her to just hop down as usual. Currently she is acting as if the one front leg that is left might be stiff and sore from hoping around as she licks it from time to time and lays down very gingerly in the evenings.
Thanks in advance, and it's great to be here.
:Ron
Hi Ron, thanks a bunch for joining us here and sharing your experiences with us.
I would be cautious about allowing your dog to jump like that, especially as a front leg amputee. Dogs put 60 percent of their weight on their front legs, and when they lose one, their remaining front leg tends to work exrtra hard.
You'll notice that she may not be able to do as much as she did before due to this. At first, she will also need time to build up extra muscle in that remaining leg. Soon that leg will be buffed out and extra muscular, but until then, I'd be watchful of how high she jumps and how often. A harness can help you assist her in getting in and out of cars and up and over obstacles, but you should definitely limit those kinds of impacts. That doesn't mean being overprotective. After all, a dog should be allowed to be a dog. Just watch how she behaves and make sure she doesn't injure that extra leg by working it too hard.
Good luck to you both. Keep us posted OK, we're here for you!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks so much for your reply. I'll continue to help her down. She is starting to be more like herself so we're happy about that. Her name is Coda. We now call her our “One nose, two eyed, three legged Coda Puppy”. She just looks at us like "You guys are weird, take me for a walk already!"
When her fur grows back in I'll post a pic. She's a little shy now all naked and such.
Welcome Bitman and Cody
Radar is a furniture puppy too (all 95lbs of him). He will not only jump down from the sofa but over the arms and over other dogs. Scared the living @#$ out of me at first (sometimes still does) and he did have a period of soreness before he built up some strength.
While I worry and help when needed I can't be holding his paw all the time and I can't keep him from living. Sometimes I just have to hold my breath and let him be himself. I do keep the stairs blocked off and help him off the stoop in the icy weather but for now that's pretty much it. I have learned that he does limit himself (took a couple of falls to teach him that) and he is much more aware of where he steps now.
Hugs
Connie & Radar
Coda had mastered the stairs right away. There is no other way into our house!
This weekend is 12 days since the surgury. The doctor said no walks for two weeks. I think it's close enough so instead of asking Coda “Ya wanna go for a walk?”, I'm going to say “Let's go to the hop, oh puppy, let's go to the hop!” 
Just around the block for starters.
Here are some pre-surgury pics of her.
She is a Chow/Shepherd/Malamute mix.
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She is a very pretty girl!! It looks like she always has a smile on her face!
Paula and Spirit Max
Thanks Paula. By the way I thought I'd chime in here. This is the same Coda I've been posting about in the Presentation and Diagnosis section of the forum. The above post is my husband. I told him about this forum and he's now joined as well.
Karen and Coda
Thanks Paula. She actually is a very happy girl, especially when she's outside. By the way I thought I'd chime in here. This is the same Coda I've been posting about in the Presentation and Diagnosis section of the forum. The above post is from my husband. I told him about this forum and he's now joined as well.
Karen and Coda
Wow, my Mom's jaw dropped when she saw these pics of her. She is GORGEOUS!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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