Help/advice Please - Three Legged Dog

[gonchie]

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Hi there, sorry to just jump straight in with a question. We are seeking any help or advise we can find.

We have recently adopted a beautiful 9 month old rescue staffi x (we are uncertain of her x but think she has some sort of hound in her).

She has a beautiful temprement and we couldn't have made a more suitable choice. She only has 3 legs (front right amputated). The cause of which is unknown, but our vet suggests a road accident within the last few months.

Now she seems to cope very well, she certainly doesn't notice it is not there. We have spoken to our vet who told us to treat her as as any other 4 legged friend.

We dont know how to walk her as she wobbles, leans to her weaker side and often falls over. She sometimes falls so hard she could break something.

She gets tired out easily, not physically as such as she loves her walks, but begins to limp after a while. She never grumbles and we are trying not to over work her, but also want to ensure she is getting enough exercise. She adores puppy exercise classes which are great for encouraing agility as well as good behaviour but the next day she limps and is so lethargic. We dont want to hurt her, and dont want to push her too hard. Nor do we want a bored puppy! We have only ever had older dogs so the whole puppy thing is also new to us!!!

We think she has been in the rescue centres since her op so maybe hasn't had proper opportunity to learn her new skills.

Any advice or suggestions would be extremely welcome. Thanks x

 

[Debbie b]

Hi there, sorry to just jump straight in with a question. We are seeking any help or advise we can find.
We have recently adopted a beautiful 9 month old rescue staffi x (we are uncertain of her x but think she has some sort of hound in her).

She has a beautiful temprement and we couldn't have made a more suitable choice. She only has 3 legs (front right amputated). The cause of which is unknown, but our vet suggests a road accident within the last few months.

Now she seems to cope very well, she certainly doesn't notice it is not there. We have spoken to our vet who told us to treat her as as any other 4 legged friend.

We dont know how to walk her as she wobbles, leans to her weaker side and often falls over. She sometimes falls so hard she could break something.

She gets tired out easily, not physically as such as she loves her walks, but begins to limp after a while. She never grumbles and we are trying not to over work her, but also want to ensure she is getting enough exercise. She adores puppy exercise classes which are great for encouraing agility as well as good behaviour but the next day she limps and is so lethargic. We dont want to hurt her, and dont want to push her too hard. Nor do we want a bored puppy! We have only ever had older dogs so the whole puppy thing is also new to us!!!

We think she has been in the rescue centres since her op so maybe hasn't had proper opportunity to learn her new skills.

Any advice or suggestions would be extremely welcome. Thanks x

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Hello and welcome to k9,

by the sounds of it she hasn't got quite used to having three legs yet, i had a greyhound that broke his front leg so we put a harness on him after the cast come off and helped take some of the weight, on walks, also if you havent already go back to the vet and ask if their is any medication or herbal remedies that could help, also look at the protien level in her food as she is not as agile a four legged puppy cut down on the protien hope this is of some help, but no doubt you will get some other good advice, hope she gets better and you continue to stay on k9, looking forward to seeing some photo's of her

lol

and best wishes

Debbie

 

[hely]

Hello and welcome to k9............Debbie has given you some sound advice there :thumbsup:

i hope you get her sorted.............and of course some pic's would be great

 

[Hula]

You could always walk her on grass at first and just build up the amount of exercise she gets then if she falls over she won't hurt herself :wacko:

 

[Ann Glews]

Good luck with her, I am sure she is young and will adapt given care, love and time :wub:

Welcome to the site, please post some pics :thumbsup:

 

[doggy182]

She sounds lovely. :wub:

Would be great to see some pics..... :- "

Sounds like she is so much fun :luck: with her :huggles:

 

[peppermint lady]

welcome to K9, fingers crossed your girl is soon getting about abit better, maybe she is still adjusting to her 3 legs :huggles:

i did read somewhere that the only front leg over time kind of moves into a more central hold, so the 3 legs are in a triangle position :wacko:

if that makes any sense :unsure:

can we see some piccys please :wub:

 

[FeeFee]

Lots of good advice above :thumbsup:

I'd take the exercise very gently for now, do 2-3 short 15-20 minute walks if possible rather than long hikes, and build it up gradually. If she's still adjusting to walking on three legs it's going to be putting a lot of strain on her other legs, and she may have been laid up for quite a while after the operation so it will take time to build up her muscles.

If she seems restless you could maybe do some clicker training or play games with her at home? Dogs can get just as worn out from using their brains as they do running around, and she sounds like a bright dog who would probably love to learn some tricks and play hide-and-seek games.

Good luck with her (and I think we need a picture!) :wub:

 

[gonchie]

Thanks for all your replies, will post some pictures later today

@ debbie, We went and got a harness today and she promtly chewed through the centre strap!! We think it was rubbing on her stump though and seems to fit far better now lol. It certainly does help, she is not quite so wobbly. :thumbsup:

@ fee fee, thanks for your tips. We are walking her 2-3 times a day but usually for less than ten minutes as she begins to limp. We're off to the library for puppy training books so hopefully it will give us some games to play.

Please keep offering suggestions, they are very helpful. xx

 

[affieluver]

hi and welcome to the forum my cat has just been hit by a car and has had his front leg amputated it will take time to build up muscle on the other side to compensate for the lost leg max still falls over now and again

just take it slowly in time you wont even know any difference she will be running around with the rest of them good luck she sounds a lovely girl :wub: :huggles:

 

[Barkley]

Can I just say a big "well done" for taking on a three legged pup!! :cheers:

 

[June Jonigk]

Losing a front leg is much more difficult than losing a hind leg, as the front takes the majority of the weight (and you sure can tell that's true when they stand on you :lol: ) I had a whippet who had to spend 10 weeks in a valpeau sling when she dislocated her shoulder, and in no time at all she started coming for walks with us, and managed really well. I've seen 3 legged dogs sprinting, and you can't tell they have a leg missing. With a Staffie, they have so much more weight than a whippy, so I would think it would be bound to take longer to build up the strength. Don't worry too much, and yes, get some pictures on here - we're waiting :- "

Good luck with her :luck: :huggles:

 

[Debbie b]

Thanks for all your replies, will post some pictures later today 
@ debbie, We went and got a harness today and she promtly chewed through the centre strap!! We think it was rubbing on her stump though and seems to fit far better now lol. It certainly does help, she is not quite so wobbly.  :thumbsup:

@ fee fee, thanks for your tips. We are walking her 2-3 times a day but usually for less than ten minutes as she begins to limp.  We're off to the library for puppy training books so hopefully it will give us some games to play.

Please keep offering suggestions, they are very helpful. xx

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hi ya get some soft material or fake fur and stitch round the part where its rubbing that will help loads, and do some massage on the leg thats taking all the weight that will improve the circulation and help ease any aches glad you have taken on such a speacial girl you are trully special yourselves :wub:

 

[gonchie]

Have posted a few pictures under thread named 'Sally' cant figure out how to create an album in gallery!

Today we went to the beach, and boy did she surprise us. She can't half run! Spent 45 mins chasing her around!! It's really quite funny watching her. She throws herself to the floor to stop herself in her tracks, somewhat of a nose dive!! She was having sooooo much fun we didn't want to stop her but now she is stiff and limping

 

[AnnSa]

I've just seen the pictures, she's beautiful :wub:

 

She sounds fun to have around, i wish you lots

of luck with this brave girl :thumbsup:

 

[Foxglove]

I've just seen the pics too - she's an absolute sweetheart :wub:

Lots of good advice already been given :thumbsup: I would just give her two/three/four shortwalks each day so she doesn't over-tire herself and I'm sure her body will soon adapt and it won't be long before she's belting around like a four-legged dog :lol:

Training her to do various tricks indoors will help tire her out too by using her brain (as has already been said) - staffies are a very intelligent breed so I'm sure she'll soon pick things up It'll help create a stronger bond with you and your family too

I didn't even notice she had a leg missing until I saw the last photo :b

Well done to you for taking her on - she really IS a beautiful wee girlie :wub:

 

[gonchie]

@ foxglove, I dont think she realises she only has 3 legs either!!!

Sally has now been with us for 2 weeks, and it feels like she has always been here. She has settled in so well and apart from night time is generally toilet trained. She has a lovely temprement and is fantastic with our kids.

She's getting better with walking and we've started going to puppy training, so hopefully we can instill further good behaviour while she is still young.

We've since discovered that she was previously adopted and returned so has actually been in kennels pretty much since her accident (2-3 months ago) so we think she is amazing to be coping so well.