Tripawd Gidge benefits from free canine rehab evaluation and at-home therapy thanks to Tripawds Foundation Rehab Grant. The consultation, and rehab exercises help Gidge stay strong and love life on three legs. Read their 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.
Tripawd Gidge Starts the Year with a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist
Gidge the Tripawd started the New Year with a visit to a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. He has been a Tripawd for most of his life – going on 5 out of 6 years, if his adoption paperwork’s to be believed. In all that time, and all those miles hopping up mountain trails, he’d never once been seen by any sort of specialist, nor worn any sort of protective or prosthetic gear.
That’s part of the deal when you live in a remote corner of Montana. His human relied heavily on the Tripawd Foundation for advice online, but in-person expertise beyond the annual vet check-up, well, that wasn’t a thing.
Tripawd Gidge Reached Out on Social Media
So how did we get here, with a therapist driving out to make a house call on Gidge? It started with a social media account. Specifically, a dog’s social media account.
Even remote corners of Montana have internet. After one too many old-timers stopped us on walks to reminisce about the dogs they’d put down for having a bum leg, @SeeGidgeRun was born.
We wanted to show the folks who’d never met a Tripawd that three-legged dogs can have a great quality of life. Gidge quickly became a Tripawd Ambassador. He went on to volunteer with kiddos as a therapy dog at the University of Montana’s LAB preschool. It was in that capacity that we were introduced to Mary Mischke (that’s important later!).
Tripawd Gidge and His New Brace
As Gidge’s social media presence grew, a prosthetist orthotist named Sean Maher reached out via Instagram. He’d been following Gidge’s journey. Sean thought that Gidge could benefit from a brace he’d been working on, one that was designed to protect the remaining sound limb for a front-leg amputee.
The beauty of his design, called the Carpal-Stride by New Stride Animal Prosthetics and Orthotics in California, is that it wouldn’t need to be completely custom-made. Rather, based on Gidge’s weight, he could ship us the correct size of brace.
This means that other Tripawd pet owners could order a brace. Or, eventually find one at a local store, without needing to be local to Sean. Excited about the potential for this to be a more accessible (and thus more cost-effective) option for Tripawds everywhere, we connected Sean with the Tripawds Foundation.
Tripawds Foundation Helps Tripawd Gidge
The fine folks at the Tripawds Foundation gave us the push we needed. They strongly suggested that we contact a canine rehab specialist to ensure the brace fitting go as smoothly as possible.
Being in a rural part of the country, options were limited. There was only one canine rehab therapist that we could find in all of western Montana and eastern Idaho!
Lucky for us, we’d already met her – Mary Mischke!
Meeting Mary Mischke and Helping Tripawd Gidge
Mary owns Mountain Dog Rehab, which is based out of Missoula, MT. It’s a relatively new operation, so I want to mention her for any Tripawd owners living near there.
She gave Gidge a full assessment. Then asked me with some stretches and massage to do with him, and ensured that Gidge’s brace fitting went without a hitch.
Although getting the brace on and off was a breeze, Gidge was reluctant to move once the brace was on (as he is with any piece of footwear!). Mary was incredibly patient and motivating for him.
Before the hour was up, he was hopping around, sitting, laying down, getting up. All the things he does without a brace, he was confident to do while wearing it.
Tripawd Gidge’s Ongoing Therapy and Progress
Based on Mary’s assessment, Gidge will be wearing the brace for steep hikes this coming summer.
Until then, we’re having Gidge wear it for a few minutes at a time. Then, increasing that length as the weeks go by.
It’s ideal for preventing any hyperextension of his remaining front leg, so wearing it on inclines is going help tremendously.
Being a border collie, Gidge is blessed with agility. But this can be more of a curse as he moves his remaining front paw in ways that do more harm than good.
With Sean’s brace, Mary’s help, and the Tripawd Foundation’s guidance, Gidge is assured of many good hiking days to come.
Learn More About Tripawd Gidge’s Brace
You can learn more about Gidge’s brace, the Carpal-Stride, at www.newstrideapo.com. It also houses video tutorials to ensure the brace fits properly.
Gidge’s brace was a prototype. Sean is already on to the next version. There will be a more durable shell to withstand the wear and tear dogs can put it through.
If you don’t have access to a canine rehab therapist, Sean recommends that your dog be evaluated/fitted by your veterinarian.
In our experience, once you’ve seen and felt how this brace fits when it’s worn correctly, it’s very easy to put it on again and again.
Help for Local Owners in Missoula
If you’re local to the Missoula, Montana area, you can learn more about Mary and Mountain Dog Rehab at www.mountaindogrehab.com.