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 recently went to an animal shelter in the hopes of finding a dog. I fell in love with a three legged lab/retriever mix. I noticed that his front right leg was swollen (his back right leg has recently been amputated). I just got a call saying the front leg was fractured and that I need to decide what I want to do. I was wondering if anyone had any input on this or has had a similar situation.
They mentioned the dog could potentially develop arthritis in this fractured leg. Is it harder for tripod dogs to heal from a fracture? Would there be anything I could do to help it heal correctly? Any information regarding this will help.
Thank you.
Welcome! Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Chatting with you now...but please use the advanced search for the forums above to find "remaining limb injury" or other related terms. you can also search all blogs here .
Here are a few posts to start with:
/2009/07/09/when-a-tripawd-needs-another-leg-surgery/
Oliver's Hip Replacement Journal
Total Hip Replacement after rear leg amputation
My Tripod had Total Hip Replacement on her only back leg! Happy to help....
Hope this helps!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Just found out his front right leg has a fracture in it. This means he will need to be on pain medicine the rest of his life which will be a monthly cost of up to $100 a month. Any suggestions?
First of all, you are a very kind Soul to consider a shelter dog...and then a tripawd...who has a fractured leg...VERY, VERY KIND SOUL!!
The Admin Guy has given you great links to check out. Another dog here, Murphy had an amputation and then hip replacement. His human will see this I'm sure and chime in. No, it's not the same as a fracture, but it requires similar care when going through the healing process.
Has the shelter told you the reason for the amputation..AND , the reason for the subsequent fracture. It would be important to know if this was due to an injury or some underlying disease.
I am not a vet and STRONGLY suggest you jave the shelter onsult an Orthopedic specialist review this sweet pup's situation. You need to know exactly what challenges you may bee facing.
As far as arthritis developing, that's such a "guess". There are definitely things you can do as far as joint supplements, etc. It seems that arthritis can seem to happen almost at any age now and without any real "tell-tale" issues to warrant it. Again, I'm no vet.
Let us know if you can get anymore information from the shelter. I really, really hope this works out for this pup...you sound like you woukd give him the best forever home possible! And thank goodness you were considering him! I'm not sure why no one at the shelter jad noticed the poor guy's swollen leg.
Sending love to yiu!
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!
lmorgan4 said
Just found out his front right leg has a fracture in it...Any suggestions?
have you consulted with a certified rehab vet tech yet? (CCRT or CCRP)
We strongly suggest you consult with Orthopets too. They can develop a custom fit orthotic brace to help support the limb and prevent the fracture from causing a pathological fracture—which may be inevitable if you only address the issue with pain meds.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
