Dog Leg Amputation – Helping Your Dog Get Used To Life As a “Tripod”

After your dog’s amputation surgery it is important for the owner together with the veteranarian or other expert to plan for the dog’s rehabilitation, and long term health and emotional stability.

Should I Get My Dog To Exercise Now That It Has Only 3 Limbs?

Most dog owners dealing with a dog leg amputation are dealing with this problem for the first time, and hopefull the last. One common misconception is that the newly amputated canine needs to avoid exercise once it has adjusted to life with 3 legs. This has no basis in truth.

The unbelievable truth is that dogs usually forget they are missing a limb after just a couple of weeks have passed. Their nerve systems and coordinate adapt, and the new “tripod dogs” quickly regain their ability to run, jump, play, climb and even swim just like other dogs can.

Your dog’s ability to adapt so quickly is a welcome relief for owners overwhlemed with worry for their beloved pet. Of course the dog with move around with a hop or a limp, but the dog doesn’t really notice it after a while. This is an uplifting and encouraging experience for the people who love the dog.

Watch Out For Your Dog In The Mean Time

Even though your furry friend will recover quite speedily, you still have to keep an eye on him and take care to prevent injuries until the dog has regained his coordination.

One example of a danger faced by the dog is slippery floors, especially for a dog that has been given a prosthetic leg. Your dog can slip and fall and possibly knock off the dog’s artificial limb with the impact. To limit this danger, it is very helpful to cover hard floors with rugs, or replace them with carpeting.

One other thing you need to keep an eye on long term is the health of the dog’s remaining limbs, particularly the limb opposite the amputated one. Obviously damage to any of the other 3 limbs can cause a serious problem for the dog’s mobility. Extra pressure will be placed on the remaining limbs, but they need to remain healthy and strong enough to withstand that extra pressure and weight. If the dog’s movements and posture suggest weakness in the limbs, a harness can be used to help remove the extra weight. This may seem troublesome for you and your dog, but if you keep in mind the dog’s long term mobility, then this is a reasonable measure to take. But only if necessary. For the mean time keep an eye on your dog’s remaining limbs to make sure they are holding up and staying strong.

Dog Prosthetics – Can Your Dog Live With One?

Is there a chance that your dog will need to have one of its legs amputated as a result of injury or illness? Dog amputation isn’t uncommon, particularly when the pet is hit by a car or other serious accident, or suffers from bone cancer. Those conditions often call for an amputation. These dogs are lovingly referred to as “tripods”, a fun nickname meant to ease the negative feelings associated with such a condition.

Is a Dog Prosthesis Right For Your Pet?

It is common to feel worried and maybe even ashamed when deciding on an amputation of your pet’s limb. But rest assured that even though your dog’s life will certainly change, it will move on to be healthy and happy just as it used to be, after the surgery is completed.

The initial consideration you need to focus on is where to amputate, either at the leg, the shoulder, or the hip. This depends partly on the reason of the surgery, and whether or not you intend to give your dog a prosthetic leg.

If cancer is the reason for the limb’s amputation, it is normally best to amputate the whole leg. But if there is no disease present and the reason for the procedure is an injury, then you have the option of leaving part of the limb intact, such as a stump. If a stump is left in place, that is conducive to a prosthetic limb. The stump helps the artificial limb to remain tightly in place and attached.

Leaving a stump of the limb in tact makes to attaching of a prosthetic leg much easier. If the amputation is carried out below knee level, then a prosthetic limb will give your dog almost full functionality. The lower section of the stump needs to be healthy of course. Sometimes part of the surgery is to remove tissue from the amputated error and connect it to the bottom of the stump. This is for added protection in the area that connects to the dog prosthesis.

In cases where your dog’s leg requires a complete amputation, which occurs in many cases of bone cancer, a quality prosthetic limb can not be attached. Perhaps in the future this might become possible, as we are all hoping, but for now such canines will have to get used to life with three legs. With love and guidance from their owners this is a lot easier than you might imagine.