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TexasBushwhacker

(20,043 posts)
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 06:11 PM Mar 2013

An update on Shila, the 3 paw pit bull

A couple of months ago I told everyone about my friend's 3 legged pit bull and its need for a cart. Well, the $600 was raised and her custom walking cart was made and received. After a few weeks of sniffing the cart, climbing on it and general "What the heck is this thing?", Shila has finally been strapped in and is learning to walk with her new wheels. I thought y'allmight like to see how she's doing.



She got dressed up for last month's "Mardi Paws".

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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An update on Shila, the 3 paw pit bull (Original Post) TexasBushwhacker Mar 2013 OP
Shila is so danged cute! Curmudgeoness Mar 2013 #1
Three Cheers for Shila Auntie Bush Mar 2013 #2
That is awesome! Shila is amazing! 2theleft Mar 2013 #3
why does she need the cart? ceile Mar 2013 #4
She was having trouble with her remaining front leg TexasBushwhacker Mar 2013 #6
I see. ceile Mar 2013 #11
My tri-paw may need one of those someday. He's already sprained his sinkingfeeling Mar 2013 #5
This is where she got the cart TexasBushwhacker Mar 2013 #7
Thank you very, very much IrishAyes Mar 2013 #8
Share away TexasBushwhacker Mar 2013 #9
Yes, the carts are a blessing IrishAyes Mar 2013 #10

2theleft

(1,136 posts)
3. That is awesome! Shila is amazing!
Thu Mar 28, 2013, 09:09 PM
Mar 2013

I love how excited she is to see "Ryan"...He must be a super special human to her.

ceile

(8,692 posts)
4. why does she need the cart?
Fri Mar 29, 2013, 11:15 AM
Mar 2013

I don't anything about 3 legged animals- is it harder to get around if it's a missing front paw?
SO cute! She sure loves Ryan- that's some serious "body wagging"!

TexasBushwhacker

(20,043 posts)
6. She was having trouble with her remaining front leg
Fri Mar 29, 2013, 02:47 PM
Mar 2013

Shila's front leg was bowing and she had some stress fractures. Being a naturally active, it would start to hurt and she would have to take pain meds. She loved playing and going for walks, but her front leg would sometimes give out and she would have to be carried. She met a woman with a dog with a walking cart that didn't have use of its hind legs. Rose saw how active and happly the dpg was and discussed the cart option with the vet. The alternative was to put Shila on permanent pain management and watch her get more and more disabled. So the cart is to help keep her active, happy and pain free.

She can still swim 3 legged though. Here she is in her glamorous bathing suit.



sinkingfeeling

(51,274 posts)
5. My tri-paw may need one of those someday. He's already sprained his
Fri Mar 29, 2013, 12:10 PM
Mar 2013

remaining front leg, but the heat pad and pain meds did the trick. I worry about harm coming to it. Looks like the most difficult part would be learning they have a new 'turning radius'.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,043 posts)
7. This is where she got the cart
Fri Mar 29, 2013, 03:00 PM
Mar 2013
http://eddieswheels.com/

The owner is a mechanical engineer by trade. The carts are custom made to the dog's measurements and weight. The alternative is stress fractures, pain mads and early arthritis.

Here's a wiener dog cart race.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,043 posts)
9. Share away
Fri Mar 29, 2013, 10:32 PM
Mar 2013

I know that a lot of larger dogs lose use of their hind legs because of hip dysplasia and dachshunds often have back problems that affect their mobility. These carts can save them from a lot of pain and probably extends their lives because owners don't feel like the dog has to be put down.

IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
10. Yes, the carts are a blessing
Sat Mar 30, 2013, 09:24 AM
Mar 2013

Sadly that was not an option for my old Chows, Joy and Freedom. At the advanced age of 16 they suffered slowly worsening paralysis. Well, Freedom had been senile and deaf plus half blind for at least a year too. For months I'd had to lift them to their rear feet, then they could walk. The last 3 months it got so bad I had to lift them to their front feet as well. Six times a day, then we'd all take a very slow outdoor walk around the house twice. They didn't seem to be in any particular pain, but when they stopped eating I had to let them go. Thank God I had more than enough room to bury them in the back yard, and a kind neighbor with a backhoe. It damned near killed me.

So I'm always glad when an animal and its human family don't have to be separated any sooner than necessary. It's almost laughable the way we still use the term 'owner', which always applied more to them than to us anyway.

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