Rear leg Tripawd Roma benefits from canine rehab evaluation thanks to Tripawds Foundation Rehab Grant #159. Roma’s free consultation and at-home rehab exercises help her stay strong and fit. Read Roma’s story, and learn how you can get a free veterinary rehab evaluation for your dog or cat.
Yes! Tri-kitties qualify for free feline rehab too. See all Tripawds who have received free rehab sessions thanks to your support.
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Canine Rehab Helps Rear Leg Tripawd Roma
My experience visiting a certified rehab veterinarian with my Tripawd, Roma, was an overwhelmingly positive experience. We were recommended a visit by an instructor at our training club, where we hope to continue to train in dog sports for years to come. In particular, Roma just turned two and started agility classes this summer, which is an intense canine sport involving obstacles, jumping, twisting, and running. I value Roma’s safety in every activity we do together and will always make it my top priority. We visited Twin Cities Rehab in July where we met Dr. Missy Weber and had a full evaluation so Roma can enjoy her healthiest life as a rear limb amputee and canine athlete.
The appointment started with a thorough run-through of Roma’s life so far: her rough start as a stray shepherd mix puppy found alone on the road and taken in by Rescue Network, back left femur poking through the skin, and the amputation that followed. Roma then found herself in my home, excited to be a first-time foster with a sweet girl who stole my heart right away. We discussed how Roma has always been a determined and driven dog. I told the vet how much Roma enjoys training and dog sports, and how we currently enjoy activities such as flyball, agility, and Fast CAT, to name a few. We discussed all this as Dr. Missy analyzed how Roma moves when performing certain activities: jumping up and down from a table for treats, as one example.
At Home Exercise Regimen for Roma
We also learned some new daily exercises to practice at home to keep Roma fit, with dog sports in mind. These exercises mostly target Roma’s obliques. Strengthening her abdominal muscles can only increase Roma’s success in physical activities and help avoid injuries. Some of these exercises involve raised platforms where we practice leg lifts, shaking paws, and position changes from sits to stands, as a way to work the abs and increase her balance. In the clinic, the doctor also performed Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (VSMT) on Roma’s spine, which has extra tension from the way her body has to hold itself to compensate for a missing leg.
Lastly, Dr. Missy and I discussed my goals for the future with Roma. She emphasized the importance of practicing our sport(s) of choice more than once a week in order to retain muscle memory and practice these activities in the safest way. We will have another check up to see how Roma has grown stronger with the implementation of our home exercises, and I am more confident now in Roma’s abilities.
I’m thankful I heard of Tripawds in my research of all things relating to the husbandry of three legged animals. Roma doesn’t even notice that she only has three legs. It doesn’t stop her from doing anything she wants to do, and she is an inspiration to all.
Thanks,
~ EG & Roma