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 it. This condition is rare, especially for a Siberian Husky, and the cause for it is unclear.
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 tripod 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 remaining joints, and there is more wear and tear. Therefore, it is very 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 our dog’s foot-pads clean and healthy.
Proper foot care is very important for a three legged dog.
They may develop cracked foot-pads because of the additional weight placed upon each paw. 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. However, Shania will often try to lick the cream up, so I apply it right before she takes a nap (e.g. when we come home from our walk), and I supervise until she settles down.
I also keep Shania’s nails short, and 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. It occurs, when the elbow bone causes trauma to the soft tissue around it. This usually happens in younger dogs who are 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, 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 air-flow 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. Consider getting a light, earth-tone colored rug, that can hide dirt and dog hair more easily.
In addition, I check the backyard, and make sure there are no deep holes. Shania can trip on uneven surfaces and hurt herself. I also clear away large piles of sticks and leaves. Larger sticks may sometimes catch on a dog’s nails and cause damage.
It helps to get raised water bowls, so that our tripod 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 tripod 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]
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
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
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! 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’ve been reading your information on owning a tripod dog. The information has been very helpful
We have been thinking about adopting a 9 month old blue healer/lab. She is a beautiful well mannered girl.
My concerns on getting her are more long term complications. She lost her leg due to a bad injury.
As well I have two young children who have fallen in love with her. Do you think she would be harder to care for with children in the home, wanting to play with her all the time?
Hello Shari,
My tripod, Shania, was very active as a puppy. She did not let her missing leg slow her down, and totally wore out my other dog with her playing. It was difficult for me to keep up with her, and keep her occupied. 😀
I did take special care, especially with slippery surfaces and elevated surfaces. I also made sure that other dogs did not bully her, but overall energy level was not a problem.
She did have her own enclosure though, that she could go into for some rest. I tried to make sure that she did not overdo things. Still, as I remember it, she tired everyone else out. 😀
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.com/dog/living-with-a-3-legged-dog
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?