A tripod dog is a dog with three legs. The loss of a leg can be due to many reasons including cancer, leg trauma (car accident), or congenital deformities (born with a deformity).
I am privileged to share my life with a three legged Siberian Husky called Shania. She had a congenital deformity called radial head luxation, i.e., the bones on her left front leg were misaligned, and she was unable to put weight on that foot. This condition is rare, especially for a Siberian Husky, and we were never able to determine its cause.
We speculate that it may have been from birth trauma, since she was a c-section puppy. We had hoped to correct the problem with orthopedic surgery, but unfortunately, there was too much cartilage damage in the joint, and the surgeon recommended amputation.
It was a shock when she came home with three legs and a BIG bandage around her torso. However, Shania recovered quickly from the surgery and is now a happy, bouncy, and somewhat spoiled member of the family.
Here are some things to look out for when living with a three legged dog -
1. Keep a three legged dog slim.
The most common health issue with three legged dogs is that they may develop arthritis earlier than other dogs. Because they are missing a leg, more stress is placed on their other legs, and there is more wear and tear on the joints. That is why it is especially important to keep them slim, so that they do not have to deal with additional joint stresses from excess weight.
Feed a three legged dog a healthy and balanced diet but do not overfeed her.
2. Keep a three legged dog’s foot-pads clean and healthy.
Proper foot care is very important for a three legged dog.
Tripod dogs may develop cracked foot-pads because they must support more weight on each leg. I now apply DermaPaw cream to Shania’s footpads to help keep them protected.
Previously I was using Tuf-Foot by Bonaseptic, but I find that the DermaPaw cream brings better results, is easier to apply, and stays on for much longer than Tuf-Foot.
Also make sure to keep a tripod’s nails short, and to trim the fur at the bottom of her feet. This allows her to walk comfortably, and without slipping.
3. Watch out for Elbow Hygroma.
An Elbow Hygroma is a fluid-filled swelling around the dog’s elbow. Elbow Hygroma occurs when the elbow bone causes trauma to the soft tissue around it. This usually happens in younger dogs who are also constantly lying down, or falling down on a hard surface. It may also happen when a dog leans, or consistently places too much weight on one elbow.
As a dog matures, a callus will form to protect the elbow and prevent this condition. Dog beds may help with this problem, but some dogs prefer to sleep on cooler, hard surfaces.
Young three legged dogs are especially susceptible to elbow hygroma because their elbow calluses have yet to form, and their activity level is high. Shania developed this condition when she was less than a year old. However, the swelling was small, and our vet advised us to let it heal on its own. In more serious cases, where there is an enormous amount of swelling and/or infection, surgery may be needed.
We now have a cool bed for Shania in her crate. It helps to keep her cool during the summer and provides her with a nice soft surface to lie on. Remember to regularly clean and air out the water bed, so that mold does not accumulate on its wet undersides.
For outside the house, we use the Coolaroo outdoor dog bed. It is durable, provides a soft surface, and is elevated from the floor. The elevation allows free flow of air during hot days, and prevents water from accumulating during rainy days.
4. Manage slippery surfaces
Make sure that there are not too many slippery surfaces in the house.
Three legged dogs have less balance, and can easily slip on hard surfaces like wood, tile, linoleum, or marble. This is especially true when they are running or playing.
If there are many hard, slippery floors in the house, it may be time to go rug shopping! Rugs also provide a nice, soft surface for a dog to rest on.
I get natural hand-knotted rugs, that can stand more wear and tear from the dogs. Also consider getting a light, earth-tone colored rug, that can hide dirt and dog hair more easily.
Check out all the uneven ground in the backyard, and make sure that there are no deep holes. Three legged dogs can trip on uneven surfaces and hurt themselves. I also clear away large piles of sticks and leaves. Larger sticks may sometimes catch on a dog’s nails and cause damage.
Get some raised water bowls, so that a three legged dog can drink without having to bend down too much.
5. Let a 3 legged dog be a dog
When we share our life with a three legged dog, we naturally want to protect her from as many things as possible. It is important, though, to let a dog be a dog.
If a three legged dog is kept from doing all the things that dogs love to do, she will have lived an unfulfilled life.
“A life lived in fear is a life half lived” ~ [Spanish proverb]
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Thank you for this post. I adopted an adorable 1.5 yr old puggle, Gracie, two years ago, after the owners ran her over (I hope on accident). They took her to the vet and asked to put her down, “She is too energetic, and not worth the hassle.” I was told.
It’s been two years; we’ve gone through two major surgeries. I just found out yesterday that the last operation, two years ago, was a “none union” meaning the bone never fused together. She has a chronic infection at the implant site.
She is a total trouble maker, smart little whip, and the sweetest, happiest cuddle bug I have ever had. The options given to me weren’t all that great. Amputation was the best out of the four evil choices. And it breaks my heart and turns my stomach in knots. I cried all day yesterday.
She goes in for the procedure tomorrow morning. I had no idea how tough and difficult this decision would be. My Supervisor suggested I Google success stories of tripod dogs. I am so thankful to read your story, get some ideas. Deep down I know she will be okay. My puggle, Gracie, basically has been on three legs during the five months we were going through the surgeries to “fix” her. So being three legged won’t be new to her.
It’s heart wrenching for me. It was comforting to read that my heartache is normal.
I’ll keep in touch and let you know how we are doing.
Michelle
Ps. Sorry, I can’t get the picture to link in or upload.
She is a doll. My Barton is a looker, too. He was hit by a truck at high-speed. He was left to die but crawled into the ditch where ice cold water from snow ran over the area he was hit (hips). he was in the Vet’s office within 15 minutes of being found thanks to a dear friend and his son who grabbed an old sprung cot as a strecher and a blanket.
After three surgeries to save both legs it became obvious one was going to be all I could hope for. After his rear leg was amputated be began chewing his tail. I think it was due to his spine being broken right at the tail. I’ve broken my back 4 times so I know how it can feel. He couldn’t feel his tail. I had to have it removed, too.
The first four months he was adjusting but after all is said and done he is as happy as ever, rarely shows any sign of pain and is as much a part of my family as I am. I admire him so much!
Thanks for sharing Barton’s story with us. It is amazing how quickly he adjusted to everything. Big hugs to your very brave and awesome boy!
Mahalo for the information. My baby girl, Li’i, has a growth on her right elbow which causes her pain and discomfort. Vet said it’s not cancerous but recommended that her arm be removed to help her as “dogs are resilient.” The information you shared is greatly appreciated. Aloha
This touched my heart. I know im not the only person with a three-legged bestie, but it’s nice to be able to relate. I have an 8 yr old pom who lost his front right leg at 2 yrs. He runs and jumps off the couches and my bed. It’s amazing. I try to discourage him from doing things that might hurt him, but he’s a trooper. Thanks for making this website
He sounds wonderful! Big hugs to your Pom and thanks for sharing his story with us.
What a lovely website! I have been thinking about adopting a puppy for a long time and just fell in love with a tripod online through petfinder. She’s 5 months old and I would love to give her a home. I guess I am a little nervous though, with all the care. I have my own health issues and I’m only 20. I think it would be a good fit, but still nervous!
Hello Allie,
Yeah, I was nervous and worried about Shania as well, after her surgery. I was not sure how well she would adapt and whether I would be able to help her with the transition. Happily, she adapted quite well and very quickly. I was very happy to see her running around playing and exploring in the backyard.
Shania does require some added care and more supervision, but I am very glad to be part of her life. She is such an awesome girl. I still worry about her, and take special care to keep her safe. Very likely, I fuss over her too much, but she tolerates it with grace. I tell her it is my job to worry about her, and it is her job to be a happy dog.
Is your puppy a larger dog or a small dog? Is she missing a front leg or a back leg? Would love to hear more of her story and hope you will give us an update on what you decide.
Hello! Last year I got a message from a friend saying someone was going to kill this little German shepherd puppy because she was born deformed. So I called the man and told him I would find her a home, little did I know this is going to be my now best friend. When I went to go get her, her deformity was more extensive that he said. She had a left from leg but it was locked in a bent position and only had one nail and was half the size and witch of her other legs. I took her to my vet and he said it had to be amputated. It was a long process but a yr later she is just as fast and full of energy as my other 4 legged dog. She has been the best dog I’ve had and she is so smart. She was recently registered as a service dog and I have plans for her to visit amputee hospitals for kids. I do worry she will have a shorter life do to joint problems or shoulder issues but she has definitely exceeded everyone’s expectations and is such a joy to have.
That is such a good idea! Big hugs to your wonderful girl.
You are three times a hero for saving her life, giving her a happy home, and training her to work with kids. Do you have any pictures online? Would love to see your girl.
I just brought my boy, Jack home from the Vets after he left rear leg had to be amputated. He slipped his lead last Friday night and was hit by a car. He seems to be in really good spirits, although tired and in some pain. I did order an orthopedic dog bed for him which I think will help, especially for his healing process. I can’t believe how well he is doing just 3 days after surgery ! I am trying to keep positive and look forward to helping him adjust to all the new ways of doing things.
Yeah, dogs are really amazing. They just get on with living life – they have fun, do all the things that they can do, and don’t worry about all the other stuff. I wish Shania would be more careful, but she thinks she is indestructible!
I think that is a great attitude. The hardest part with Shania was keeping her activity level low until the stitches came out. She was raring to go.
Big hugs to Jack. Glad to hear that he is recovering so well. He sounds like an awesome boy.
My dog, Remington, is a lab/greyhound mix and is 8 years old. He has had a cancerous tumor on his left leg that has been rapidly growing over the last couple of months. We took him to our vet today and found out the best possible outcome is to remove his whole leg. The vet assured us that Remington would live happily even after being an amputee. This site has really helped me understand that an amputee pup is still the same old pup. Thank you very much!!
Hello Shane,
Big hugs to Remington.
When is he going in for surgery? Let us know how he is doing if you get the time. Shania sends her love and lots of licks.
today my poor baby cloe a chiwawa about 3 years of age. a very close member of our family was attacked by a bit pull. anyway the vet is amputating her front left leg tomorrow. witch concerns me of cores. im just hoping that she can become a happy bouncy dog that she was just this smorning.
So sorry to hear about the attack.
How did the operation go today? She is young and a small dog, so it sounds like she will bounce back quickly. Big hugs to your girl.
My 12 year old is having his hind leg off as we speak. He broke his leg Sept 1st, 2012 and he had a plate and 7 pin put in. Jan 2,2013 he had to have a bone graph. This past weekend I found out 3 of the 7 screws broke, so we have decide to have the surgery. My husband is not sure we made the right choise but he has been using only 3 legs since the surgery and I have read all the articles on 3 legged dogs, so I know he will just be fine in a couple of weeks. I will have to lok into carpet due to the fact all of the house is hardwood. We made him a ramp instead of the staries outside, which really hepled him be comfortable going out to do what ever and when he pleased. We will do anything we can do for our Buddy so we can enjoy him as long as we can.
Thanks for sharing Buddy’s story with us.
Is he back home? Hope he is doing well and big hugs.
Hey
I have a three legged dog she is a year old Kelpie, she had her leg off at twelve weeks old after a very bad accident and breaks in seven places. The vet tried to realign and splint but it was never going to happen, being a vet nurse myself I suggested taking the leg off and It doesn’t bother her one bit. She is a working sheep dog in shearing sheds and does a fantastic job, she tires a lot quicker than the other dog and goes and has a swim or a lye down and she’s back working in a flash just needs regular breaks and she knows when she needs them. She is a much loved dog in the sheds and everyone Is blown away with the way she works. Just to be on the safe side and the fact that she is a working dog I have had the remaining front leg x-rayed just to check there is no damage or twisting from her work and all is fine. She is a happy healthy tripod who loves going to work, being sociable, playing with other dogs and being at home with the family.
it is always great to hear when a dog recovers. Yours was so young when it happened having four-legs now would seem strange to all concerned.
While a working dog needs a purpose, I would be inclined to keep the tripod on very light duty and eventual “semi-retirement” soon. I realize there are two ways to look at it but my dog has a cruciate ligament torn in his only good rear leg. He shouldn’t be walking but nobody told him.
It is getting stiffer and very arthritic, though. I need to drop his weight by about 10%.
Great story…thanks!
Thank you for posting this information. Websites like yours have been comforting and informative beyond what words can describe. Our beloved greyhound Keagen had his hind leg amputated in Sept 2012 after we learned that a leg break was actually caused by cancer. Like most here, we went through the full spectrum of emotion, but the happy ending is that after 4 months of chemotherapy, he is in good health and we hope for similar results during his quarterly checkups. I did want to share one suggestion. Keagen was having a very difficult time walking on our linoleum floor we tried carpets, runners, mats all of which would move causing him to slip. Finally we picked up a package of cork sub floor mats (about 6 per package) and strategically placed them on our floor with doublesided tape. Happy to report Keagen is no longer terrified of running to the backdoor and the look on his face when he realized he would no longer slip was priceless. Thank you again for having a place where people can share their experiences and ideas.
That is awesome! A happy dog is priceless.
I have to try out the cork mats and see how it goes with Shania. She thinks she is indestructible and always leaps first before looking.
Would love to see some pictures of Keagen. If you have some online, please post us a link. Big hugs!
I just adopted a 3 legged dog. Originally I found him on the side of the road with a serious foot injury, unfortunately the front left leg had to be amputated. Its rainy and wet where I live, and the hardwood floors and front deck have caused a lot of falls. I went and bought dog shoes, ( Brand name Ruffwear), from the local outdoors store. Usually these are meant to put on dogs for long hikes, but Ive tried just putting one shoe on his front foot to help with gripping. Its worked perfectly!!! He was a little worried and confused at first having such a strange thing on his foot, but now he’s hopping all over our wet porch and floors without slipping! If any of you have a dog missing a front leg I want you to know that this is a great solution to slipping! Its probably wise not to leave the shoe on continuously, but on wet days or around the house its been a great solution. It seems dogs are more likely to slip and hit their faces when its a front leg thats missing, the shoe gives him the extra traction he needs now that his balance is off. Im so pleased.
Thank you for this site, so many of my worries have been addressed here. It made me feel so much better to see your happy healthy dog who’s missing the same exact leg as mine. I was really stressed out specifically about it being a front leg. Thank you so much for taking the time to help all of us on our 3 legged dog adventures!
Thanks Sarah. That is very useful information.
I did consider getting some shoes for Shania but I wasn’t sure if it would stay on properly. Glad to hear that it works so well with your furry one. I also like the Ruffwear brand, so maybe it is time to give their shoes a try.
Do you think size of the dog will affect how well the shoes work?
Big hugs to your furry one and Happy Holidays!
Hi Sheba Shake!
May i first say, you may be one of the reasons my little girl, Shasta is alive. After I found her, I was worried about the care and the extra needs of a three-legged dog. You put those fears aside. I now am the proud momma of a three-legged rescue, Shasta.
I have 2 questions for you though. (Btw, she is missing half of her right-front), so one, does Shiba’s opposite front leg have any issues? Bending inwards or anything?
Second, (she is a lab/border collie mix about 25 lbs), did Shiba ever experience dogs picking on her? My pup is not even 1 yr yet and has recently been back-to-back attacked by a bull terrier and a pit. The vet thinks it’s because she is missing a leg and therefor is the weaker one.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Love, a new three-legged, proud momma. And by the way, thank you for being the one resource I found that helped aid my decision to rescue a three-legged.
Hello Christine,
Congratulations on your new furry family member!
1. Husky Shania also has a missing front leg. Her remaining front leg is bigger and more muscular, because it has to support more weight. She also uses it for digging, holding bones, etc. Luckily, there were no issues with that leg. The surgeon did x-rays of all her legs, and it was only the one leg that had the disconnected bones. I do not notice any inward bending.
I carefully manage her and protect her, so that we minimize accidental leg sprains and such. I also clip her foot hair so that she has better grip. I check her paw pads often to make sure they are healthy and I try to prevent her from walking on rocky surfaces.
2. Shania is more vulnerable during play and can get overwhelmed by other dogs. I make sure to only do very small and highly supervised play groups. I have strict rules during playtime and I step in if any dog is getting overwhelmed or being bullied. I also have safe zones, and I throw in many play-breaks to manage excitement levels. I don’t bring Shania to enclosed dog parks because there are too many dogs, and too little supervision.
It is difficult to say if Shania gets picked on more by other dogs. I think she does — but I am extra protective of Shania, so that may be coloring my perception. Also, she does not have as good balance because of her missing leg, so she may fall more or get overwhelmed more easily, which probably also affects my perception of things.
Whatever the case, I try to make sure that we don’t get into negative situations. Off-leash neighborhood dogs are sometimes a problem, so I avoid certain houses, especially when they have their garage doors open. We got charged a few times, but luckily, the owners have been good about keeping their dogs secured after they realized that it is dangerous for Shania.
Where did Shasta get charged? Was it from off-leash dogs? Were the owners there to secure their dogs?
Happy Holidays and big hugs to Shasta! Shania sends her love and lots of licks.
I found your website when i googled ’3-legged dog care’ and this was really helpful! I had to go back and write down all the information though so I wouldn’t forget! Me and my family are adopting a 3-legged black lab mix (she looks like a pure-bred but we haven’t gotten her YET) from North Carolina, and we live 40 mins south-ish of Cincinnati, Ohio, and we have gotten 3 wonderful people to help us get her so the pound wouldn’t euthanize her! Her story is the same as your Husky’s story, but she was also born with no pads on the bottom of her feet (her leg still folds up into her chest though) but she doesn’t know how to walk on 3 legs yet because the pound had kept her and her siblings in such a small cage that they could barely walk, so we are all excited that we were able to save this poor puppy’s life!
Hi! I found your website as I have recently been caring for a dog who had his leg amputated. He looks like a Shiba Inu. I can’t figure out how to post a pic on here but I wanted to see if you thought that he looks like the breed! He resembles your dog Sephy quite a bit! I have appreciated all your tips on caring for a tripod dog thank you! Oh, any pointers on how to post a pic?
Hi Lisa,
If you have his picture up on your website, feel free to post a link. I would love to have a look. Otherwise, we can hook up on Facebook or through email. Let me know what works best.
Btw. love the pictures on your site. You are so lucky to have grown up among so many furry friends!
Thank you for the excellent advice. We’re currently fostering a three legged chocolate lab. Your experience will help us tremendously as we care for her and wait for her forever home. (which may be us) She is overweight and had to stay in her crate for 30 days since she had the serious heartworm injections. She is among my family and fur family now. We consider ourselves blessed to have her here and want to help her get her in good health. Her name is “Victory” aka Vicky.
What an awesome name and great story!
Very big hugs to Vicky. I am so glad she has found a loving and caring family.
I would love to hear more about Vicky, so please let us know how it goes with her. Also post us some picture links when you have the time.
My baby, Mira just shy of 4 months, jumped out of my car at 40mph a few days ago. She doesn’t have any feeling in the leg so the doctor thinks we’re going to have to amputate it.
Right now the legs in a splint for a broken elbow and to help with possible healing on the off chance the leg will regain feeling. It doesn’t phase her one bit. I came home and she tried to jump all over me hours after leaving the vet.
She just cries because we won’t let her play with the other dogs right now, doc said bed rest, so bed rest she gets.
I wanted to thank you for the article it was really helpful. I’m the kind of person who reads about the things that stress her out. It helps me come to terms with it I guess and this was the most helpful article I’ve seen yet. You’re pup is beautiful and I hope he continues to do well.
Yeah, that was also the hardest part with Shania. She was all ready to go and did not understand why she couldn’t play with Sephy. Luckily, she really loves food, so we kept her busy with frozen Kongs.
Me too. Helps me put things into perspective and come up with a plan. I am big on plans.
Big hugs to Mira and everyone else in her furry gang!
i can relate to your dog! i had recently got hip surgery and there’s a part in my leg that i can’t feel anything in that spot. Honestly, in my opinion, if she still USES the leg, i wouldn’t amputate it, i have a dog that was hit by a car when she was a puppy so she limbs on her 3 legs (her back left leg is the one that is injured.) but when she runs or she gets excited, she uses all 4, but the vet she went to when she first got hit told us to just amputate her leg cuz it would just ‘get in the way’….but we found out that it was all just a over-exageration
I luv that u help all those dogs I was wondering since my great Dane got hit by a car my vet told us that amputation would be to harsh on her do u know why (the vet put her to sleep at 10 months)
Hello Jane,
I am sorry to hear about the accident. In terms of amputation, I can only speculate since I am not a vet and do not know the particulars of the situation.
What Shania’s doctor told us is that being a three legged dog means that more stress will be placed on the joints of her remaining legs. Dogs carry more of their weight on the front, so missing a front leg (as is the case with Shania) is a bit harder than missing a back leg. Also, larger dogs have to carry more weight, so that will increase joint stress.
The doctor says that this may cause arthritis and other joint issues when she is older.
I try to be more careful with Shania in terms of her daily activities, but it is also important that she should enjoy life, enjoy the awesomeness of being a dog, and enjoy being a Siberian Husky.
Oh ok I got a new dog tho he’s a dachshund so right now I’m so joy ful thanks so much bye
Hi.. I have a 3 legged dog( missing front leg) name Russell and was wondering if anyone knows where I can find a harness for him. All the ones found at places like petco are not made for 3 legged dogs… Thanks
Hello Amanda,
I was using the RuffWear Web Master Harness with Shania when she was younger. It is a heavy-duty harness and worked quite well with her. The only problem was that Shania would often get too hot while wearing it, but may be less of an issue with a shorter coated dog.
This article has a picture of Shania wearing the harness-
http://shibashake.com/dog/walking-with-a-3-legged-dog
Hi! My name is Katelynn, and today we found out that my 10 month old baby is going to be a Tripawd in two days!! She was my sixteenth birthday present, and the best thing that’s happened in my life!!!!
Of course all I could do was cry from the vet to home, but after doing a little research, I found your site, and I have to say that your story has made me realize that my little girl will be ok in the long run!! Thank you so much!!!
Hello Katelynn,
Yeah, I was also destroyed when the bone specialist diagnosed Shania. But she recovered very well and has been bouncy and crazy ever since.
I still worry about her more than I should, but often she would just give me this look as if to say, “Don’t worry, be happy.”
Big hugs to your little girl! If you have the time, please let us know how things go.
Thank you for the info on three legged dogs, I just adopted one he is a doberman has his rear leg amupated, is 5 months old he slipped on the steps coming into the house due to rain, he cryed in pain took to emergency vet they took exrays and has a popped disk put him on pain meds and muscle relaxer then my regular vet put him on a antiflamitory, tody he is kind of dragging that back legacy suggestions taking him to chripractor on Saturday thanks so much
Hello Terrie,
How is your Dobbie feeling? Sometimes, it takes a while for the leg to heal and be fully weight-bearing again. Shania recently hurt one of her rear legs during play. She was totally out of it and in pain after getting home from the emergency room. She got better after a couple of days, but I kept things really quiet for her for a while.
Rain is not Shania’s friend either. Now I try to dry her feet when she gets in from the rain. Trimming the hair around her foot pad also helps her get a better grip.
Big hugs to your little guy. Hope he is feeling better.
I have a three legged coyote mix named Ruby, and I feel that calling her tripod is like calling a person in a wheel chair iron sides. I do not care for it, it is derogatory. That is just our opinion.
I am not sure why calling a dog “three legged” is descriptive but “tripod” is derogatory. As far as I can tell, there are no negative connotations associated with the word “tripod”, nor have I heard anyone use it in a derogatory fashion with respect to dogs. Perhaps, it is just because the word is less common.
In any case, Shania’s best friends are the people who give her cookies, tummy rubs, and are positive as well as friendly. She puts less weight on the words that people use, and more on their actions and state of mind. She is a clever girl.
I agree. My dog is going to have his front leg amputated next week. He is 16 months old. He jumped out of a moving jeep at about 30mph. My son was holding the leash and the dog jumped out the side of the jeep and thank goodness the leash broke because who knows how much worse it could have been. I think it is going to be harder for me and my family to deal with then the dog dealing with it. He gets around pretty good now and he has no use of the leg. So he is only using three legs
Hi,
I have a puppy who was born with 3 legs, missing a front leg. I have been trying to find support information on caring for one. My pup loves to run and play, but he has injured one of his back legs twice already. In fact we are off to the vet shortly. I’m concerned for the long term problems like arthritis, curving of the spine, and injuries since he is just a pup and has a LONG way to go. Is there any advice you can give me that you found helpful with your little guy?
Thanks,
Norma
Hello Norma,
Some of the things that I do with my 3 legged Siberian Husky, Shania -
1. I give her a Glucosamine tablet every day to help with the joints based on the advice of my vet. Definitely consult with your vet in terms of dosage as it will be dependent on size.
2. I make sure that my other dogs don’t play too rough with her and I also have a no-getting-on-furniture rule. Jumping off elevated surfaces will be very bad for Shania since she is missing a front leg.
3. It is better to walk a 3 legged dog on more flat surfaces, but this is not always possible. Getting down hills puts more pressure on their leg joints.
Here are more of the things that I do with Shania -
http://shibashake.hubpages.com/_srec/hub/Three-Legged-Dog-Tripod-Dog-Care-Tips-How-to
One of the most challenging aspects of living with a 3 legged dog is balancing between happiness and safety. In general, I try to let Shania do all the things that she enjoys but I manage her environment carefully and try to direct her towards lower impact activities.
Hugs to your puppy. How did the vet visit go?
Hi-My name is Sara & I adopted a 3 legged Jack Russell. He is just 2 years old & built like a linebacker! My question is I’m not sure what type of collar/harness to put him in. He pulls & chokes himself during walks but I’m not a regular harness will work? Any suggestions?
Hello Sara,
Shania used the Ruffwear Web Master Harness when she was younger and it worked very well for her.
http://www.ruffwear.com/Web-Master-Harness
It is a nice heavy duty harness that gives a tripod good support. In the hot weather though, it got a bit too hot for Shania, since she has a double coat. But this is likely not as big an issue with a Jack Russell.
Another thing I noticed is that a harness gives the dog even more power to pull. As a result they are difficult to use to leash train a larger sized dog.
Hello,
My family adopted a tripod 3 months ago, and she is amazing. We were told she lost a battle with a badger and needed to have her front right leg amputated when she was 2. She is now 6 and gets around very well. We watch her weight and take her on 2 walks a day and supplement her with Glucosamine(HCI) She is an amazing addition to our family!
Thanks for sharing your story with us Leslie. Also some great advice on 3-legged dog care -
watch her weight
take her on 2 walks a day
supplement her with Glucosamine(HCI)
I just started with the glucosamine pills a few months ago on the recommendation of my vet.
Hello I have a dog with 3 legs . She is missing the front rte. When young she fell out of a moving car. She is now 2 and she limps realy hard. I was wondering if there is a wheels char I can get. I saw some for dogs with 2 legs gon but idk if there is some for 3 legs. If u know of a web sight pleas messeg me thank you
Hello Haley,
The Tripawds forum is a great place to connect with other 3-legged dog owners and get information.
The handicappedpets.com site also seems to have some good information about dog wheelchairs, although I haven’t bought anything from them, so I cannot say how good they really are.
Try posting these questions on the tripawds site. There are many great dog owners there who are very knowledgeable.
Thanks.Ill post a picture of him was my camera gets fixed.His name is Nick
I read your website and it has helped with a lot.I recently adopted a 3 legged rat terrier he lost his leg as a puppy due to a accident.Ive been doing some reading and should I get him a elevated food bowl and should I put a ramp leading to my bed so it wont jump up there
Hello Joseph,
Congratulations on your new dog and kudos for adopting a three legged dog.
The elevated bowls are helpful to Shania because she is a larger dog, and would otherwise have to bend quite a bit, thereby putting additional stress on her one front leg.
I would observe your new dog and see how he does. Since he is a smaller breed, he may be fine without it.
The ramp is a good idea. Make sure to train him on how to use the ramp properly with fun and food rewards. Go slowly and do not rush him up the ramp so that he always associates it with something positive.
Do you have a picture link? Would love to see him. What is his name?