Tripawd Nora benefits from free canine rehab evaluation and at-home therapy thanks to Tripawds Foundation’s Rehab Grant. The consultation, and rehab exercises help Nora 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.
I adopted beautiful Miss Nora about a month ago in Portland, Oregon.
She is a sweet, 4-year old, three-legged pitbull, likely surrendered in Stockton, California due to a cantaloupe sized mass on her left hind leg.
I was told that she had been chained up outside having litters of puppies.
The wonderful people of Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team (START) transported her to a foster in Portland, where they discovered that the mass on her leg had cancer in it, so they decided to amputate to prevent further spread.
About a month later, I found Nora on Petfinder.
Nora Begins to Show Physical Challenges of Being a Tripawd
Nora is a delight; she loves people and dogs and wants nothing more than to say hello to everyone we meet on our walks, but we can’t go far before she gets tired and sits down.
I also noticed that she was sticking her left shoulder out in an odd way to compensate for the missing leg.
With these clues and some information I heard on Tripawd Talk Radio, I thought it would be a good idea to see a doggie PT, Canine PT and Me
Nora Meets Her Rehabilitation Therapy Team
Everyone at the office was kind and welcoming.
They called Nora beautiful and perfect (which she is) and Dr. Wade was great with Nora.
We talked a little about Nora’s backstory, what my house looked like (stairs, carpeting etc.), and if there was anything Nora was struggling to do at home.
A Vet Rehab Assessment for Nora
Dr. Wade assessed Nora, feeling her ankle and wrist mobility, checked her ACL, spinal movement, and areas of tenderness.
Overall, Nora was in good shape with one of the main issues being that Nora was undermuscled.
Dr. Wade mentioned that well-muscled dogs like pitbulls tend to have an easier time being a tripawd than smaller-framed dogs like whippets and greyhounds.
Time for Rehab Doggy Bootcamp
After the assessment, we got down to business with some doggy bootcamp.
These were the exercises Dr. Wade sent Nora home with:
Walking over an unstable surface of foam pads to activate those little muscles of the legs and spine.
Setting up cavaletti poles (low poles propped up on either side, like what horses jump over) and having Nora walk over them to use her full range of motion.
And hip flexor extensions by getting Nora to put her front feet up on an elevated surface and using a treat to lure her forward and side to side, activating her core and stretching her hip flexor.
When a four legged dog walks, they are fully extending their leg during each stride, but a three legged dog is hopping and not stretching the muscle all the way, leading to tightness and pain.
A Long Term Fitness Plan for Nora the Tripawd
Overall, I’m so glad I took Nora to the PT.
I want to do what I can to keep her healthy as she ages so she can play with other dogs and jump on the couch with me.
My biggest takeaway was that being three-legged is something Nora is never going to “recover” from, and we’re going to have to work together throughout her life to keep her mobile and strong.
My number one priority for Nora right now is putting on some muscle, which will help to protect her joints and increase her stamina.
I’m so grateful to the staff at Canine PT and Me and the Maggie Moo Fund helping to make initial evaluation more affordable.
I’m hopeful for a long and strong future with Nora.
— Elena and Nora
How to Find Rehab Therapy for Tripawd Dogs and Cats
Check Out the at Home Tripawd Rehab Program
(created by veterinary rehab therapist Dr. John Waterhouse)