Tripawd Husky Mix Hermes benefits from free canine rehab evaluation and at-home therapy thanks to Tripawds Foundation Rehab Grant #191. The consultation, and rehab exercises help Hermes stay strong and love life on three legs. Read his 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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Our Tripawd Husky mix dog, Hermes (7.5 M Husky mix), was diagnosed with osteosarcoma about a month and a half ago. We were presented with a couple of options for his treatment plan. This included amputating his hind leg to make his remaining time with us more comfortable. We found out about Tripawds when we looked up information about three-legged dogs.
About Tripawd Husky Mix Hermes
We adopted Hermes when he was a wee 4 months old. He’s been an integral part of our family since Day 1. Hermes was born in Tennessee but grew up in Buffalo, NY. There he enjoyed the cold weather and heavy snow days! He is an adventure dog and has spent most of his life outdoors hiking, going on long walks, and romping around the dog park. Hermes has been part of our family’s milestones (when we got engaged, married, bought our first house, job transitions, health scares, and more). He’s a very mischievous and treat-obsessed goofball of a dog we’ve been lucky to call ours.
Hermes’s Life as a Tripawd: Rehabilitation
As part of Hermes’s new chapter being a Tripawd, we worked with Dr. Laura Perez at Upstate Veterinary Specialities for his rehab journey. During our first visit with her, we learned a series of easy and simple exercises that didn’t require any additional equipment. The goal of the exercises is to help strengthen and build up Hermes’s remaining limbs to make him feel more stable and stretch out his legs since he wouldn’t have the same natural movements (vs. if he were 4-legged). We were pleasantly surprised to see how quickly Hermes adapted to the exercises; it was an enrichment exercise for him. He honestly had so much fun!
We practiced the following exercises: 1) creating unstable surfaces for Hermes with pillows, cushions, etc., to recreate different surfaces; 2) encouraging him to sit to stand with a pillow under the hip; 3) moving joints and moving through the available range of motions (flexion, extension); and 4) shifting weight between the limbs. Hermes is a large dog (80 lbs of love), and we wanted to incorporate ways to incrementally build up his strength and keep the remaining limbs in healthy condition. The recommended cadence for the exercises varies between 15-30 seconds (2-3 reps) 2-3 times daily.
Lessons Learned with Hermes
We learned from this experience how easy and impactful doing these simple exercises was for him. Before visiting, we didn’t know what to expect, and we walked out feeling more confident about the proactive care we could provide Hermes as he embarks on this new chapter as a tripawd. Hiking and being outdoors are huge parts of Hermes’s routine, and we wanted to ensure we could still do those activities (within reason) during the remaining time we had with him. More than anything, Dr. Laura gave us a lot of encouragement and positive feedback about how we could enhance Hermes’s quality of life further. The one thing that stuck with us is how she reminded us to let Hermes just be a dog and do dog things — we didn’t need to over-engineer everything, and we’re doing our best.
How Tripawds Supported Us (Emotionally and Mentally)
To say we were devastated to learn of Hermes’s cancer prognosis is an understatement. However, this community has been there for us every step of the way, from helping us understand our options, debunking any biases about amputation, being emotionally prepared for post-op care, and cherishing the wins we can get with Hermes. Reading other dog lovers’ countless stories and updates made this unfortunate situation feel less isolating. It was comforting to know others have gone through the same emotional rollercoaster we have. Coming across Tripawds and going through all the available resources allowed our family to feel comfortable with deciding to move forward with amputation. Most importantly, we’re thankful that the Maggie Moo Fund exists – if it didn’t, we wouldn’t have even considered rehabilitation for Hermes.
~ Annette and Hermes
How to Find a Rehab Therapy for Tripawd Dogs and Cats
At Home Front Limb Tripawd Rehab Program