A number of memories have shown up in my Google photos over the last week and it has prompted me to write this blog about Amaya. This time last year she had lived with us and our lurchers, on foster, for nearly two weeks. I had been contacted by a fabulous rescue, Forever Hounds Trust, who had taken her in after she broke her leg at the race track and was due to be PTS. The break to her left hind leg was too severe to be repaired and so she had her leg amputated. She was in need of a foster home after this major surgery and this is where we came in.
Many people stop and look at her when we are out on walks, she gets lots of fuss and people say “Awww” a lot and ask how she lost her leg. Amaya does not have any issue being a three legged dog. She is still cheeky, fun loving, opinionated and it does not stop her doing very much, though obviously it does have an effect on her mobility and she can’t scratch her left ear!
There are typically two main reasons dogs lose a leg. Some, like Amaya lose a leg through a traumatic event, such as an accident of some sort. The second reason is if there is bone disease, such as a cancer. The dogs in this second category can be affected differently because they are often older, so can find it more challenging to adjust to life with three legs, but not necessarily. If it is a front leg amputation they may find it more difficult to adjust initially, due to the front legs carrying typically 60% of a dog’s weight, compared to 40% on the hind limbs, however again this will differ between dogs, they are all individuals.
Dogs adjust very well to life on three legs, depending on their age, breed and their general condition. Good aftercare and rehabilitation post surgery can make this recovery easier and return to their pre-surgery fitness in many cases. The remaining limb on the other side of the body does have to do the work of two legs. They will have to adjust the way they stand and move to enable them to redistribute their weight on three legs instead of four.
So what can you do if your vet says they recommend amputation?
Firstly, don’t panic. You may well have questions such as, What will their quality of life be? How will they cope? Ask your vet these questions and speak with other owner’s of dogs who have had a limb amputated, they will be able to answer them for you and put your mind at ease.
What can you do to keep your tripod healthy?
The biggest challenges a dog faces when it has had a leg amputated is to re-learn proprioceptive awareness and compensatory issues. Proprioception is the body’s ability to know it’s location, how it moves and it’s sense of balance and equilibrium. A dogs’ gait has to change when a leg has been amputated and this can lead to compensatory issues which may require assistance. This is where a Veterinary Physiotherapist can be a great benefit, by optimizing the body’s ability to heal post surgery and re-learn how to walk and move functionally.
There are a number of changes you can make to your home environment that will mean your dog can stay healthy and mobile:
Ensure the dog has a well padded bed that will protect the elbow and prevent callouses and pressure sores from forming.
Keep their weight down. This keeps the strain on the remaining legs joints to a minimum.
Exercise them regularly and keep to a routine.
Feed a good diet and maintain general good health.
Assist the dog going up and down stairs.
If you have hard floors, cover these with non slip rugs to prevent slipping and damaging other limbs.
Monitor the dog’s activity and do not let them get over tired.
Ask your vet about a good supplement to help keep joints as healthy as possible.
One year on, Amaya is a happy, healthy three legged greyhound. She has a zest for life, going out on walks, playing with toys, lounging on her back and eating her favourite foods and treats - which is all food and treats! Amaya gets a weekly physiotherapy assessment and treatment from me, which keeps her in tip top condition and enables me to spot any small changes early and remedy these before they become a problem for her. Oh, and she isn’t a foster dog any more, she is a permanent member of the Jackson family.
If you have a Tripaw, please leave me a message or contact me for further information on how veterinary physiotherapy can help your animal.
Amaya two weeks Post Surgery
Amaya out and about enjoying life with Idris