Rear leg Pitbull Tripawd Juice benefits from canine rehab evaluation thanks to Tripawds Foundation Rehab Grant #157. Juice’s free consultation and at-home rehab exercises help him stay strong and fit. 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 beautiful boy’s name is Juice and he is a 1 ½ year old, pit bull/terrier mix tripod. He is our forever boy!
Juice is an amputee because he was struck by an automobile shattering his leg into two pieces which made saving his leg impossible. A vet at the Eastside Albuquerque, New Mexico Animal Shelter performed the only surgery possible: a complete amputation of his left rear leg up to the hip. His surgery was performed on June 2, 2023. We adopted him on June 17, 2023 from the Eastside Albuquerque (NM) Animal Shelter and brought him to our home in Albuquerque.
Rehab Helps Pitbull Tripawd Juice Recover
In our research to find ways to help Juice in his recovery, we discovered a local business which provides physical therapy for dogs, Ace of Paws . Juice was evaluated by their staff and Dr. Ana Esquivel, the supervising veterinarian and certified rehabilitation practitioner gave us a regimen of 11 exercises to do with Juice at home and scheduled 12 consecutive weekly therapy appointments with their staff at their facility. Juice’s weekly therapy at Ace of Paws includes water-supported treadmill walking, laser therapy, massage therapy and obstacle challenge exercises to meet his specific needs.
All of the at-home exercises and the therapy exercises at Ace of Paws have improved Juice’s ability to place more weight on his remaining back leg and to improve his physical and mental wellbeing overall as he continues to recover from the trauma of his accident. Dr. Esquivel also prescribed a mild pain medication and Dasuquin for joint support. The 11 home exercises are ideally done every day and we are working towards that goal. At this point, 2 weeks into this therapy, Juice can accomplish all 11 exercises 4 days a week with a limited amount of work 3 days a week and an occasional visit to the park. We are careful to monitor his stamina which does seem to be improving as he more readily and frequently applies appropriate body weight to his remaining back leg.
Juice’s At-Home Exercise Program
The exercises we do with Juice on the limited work days at home include the three exercises you can observe in the photos we sent: exercises 1, 2 and 3 (Stifle Flexion PROM, Flex Extend PROM) and exercise 8 (Step-Over-HL Amputee x 2). The main reason we do these on the limited days is that they are the easiest and most fun for Juice.
PROM = Passive Range of Motion Exercises
What we have learned most is that the exercise time provides wonderful bonding and trust in our relationship with Juice. It has become a great joy for all of us. We have also learned the power of Juice’s resiliency in his recovery process.
We learned about the “Tripawds” Foundation and the “Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehabilitation” through Ace of Paws and are grateful to be considered as recipients for this funding.
Blessings in and thanks for your important work.
~ Steve and Sharon and Juice (aka: sharonbarton)