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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi
I’m a new member to Tripawds website and I’m so glad that my vet told me about this place. My baby Bandit will be getting his back right leg amputated come Thursday due to synovial Myoxoma and this website has helped me out with a ton of questions that I had.
I do have one stupid question to ask you guys/gals. How did your dog adapt to going to the bathroom? Particularly going number 2 🙂 I asked my vet this question, and all she said was “oh he’ll find a way”. Will I need to get a harness to help him out in the beginning?
Thanks Paul
Hi Paul,
We're so glad you found us. Please give your vet a big thanks from us too. We would be happy to send the vet some Tripawds business cards, who is it?
Your question is not silly at all! Believe it or not, "how do Tripawds go potty?" is one of the most asked questions people have when they learn their pup will lose a leg!
Whether a pup is a front-leg amputee or a rear-leg, they do figure it out, usually even on the first try. The best way to describe it is when they squat, they instinctively shift one limb on the non-amputated end toward the middle of the body in order to create a "Tripod" effect and squat without falling over. For example, our Wyatt Ray , a right rear leg amputee, will take his front right leg and shift this foot back, toward the middle of his torso when squatting. Not sure if I described that properly, but trust me, he figured it out right away!
How old is Bandit? What kind of dog is he?
Thanks again for finding us! Your future posts won't require moderation and will appear immediately.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Paul and Bandit - sorry you had to find us here. Our Abby was a front leg amp, so not the same situation as Bandit - but you'll be amazed, they really do figure everything out. Things I thought Abby would never do again, she did! (Like going through the doggy door, or digging, etc.)
A harness can be handy when they first get home to help them get around, but you won't necessarily need it while Bandit 'does the business.' He'll probably need some help to get outside, but then want some 'freedom' to do his thing. (You can make a homemade "harness" - more like a sling really. You can cut the sides out of one of those plastic reuseable shopping bags and line it with an old towel.)
Keep us posted on how he does!
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
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!
Jerry,
Thank you for the fast response and Your description was perfect 🙂 Bandit is eight years old and is a shepherd/Beagle mix.
Oh, our current pup, Rita, is a shepherd/beagle mix. Hope you can load some pics of Bandit at some point. We love pics. 🙂
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!
1 Guest(s)
