canine prosthesis- WA State

[dogmom192]

I'm looking to have a prosthesis made for my dog's front leg.  I found a great company that does this, but its in NY, and I'm in WA State, so I'm trying to find a prosthesis company within driving distance.  Can anyone recommend someone out here?  T

[franciscozaragoza544]

Alicante 11 de mayo de 2011

Hola, estaba buscando ayuda y agradezco de antemano cualquier información que me oriente sobre prótesis delanteras de perros, ya que tengo una perra muy querida a la que tendrán que amputarle una pata delantera, debido a un “Swanoma”, y que después de siete intervenciones para extirparlo, no hace más que reproducirse, con el consiguiente problema de que ya no se puede intervenir más. Estoy utilizando todas las posibilidades que tengo a mi alcance, antes que proceder a sacrificarla, ya que según el veterinario esta perrita no se aguantaría con tan solo tres patas.
Se le ha practicado microcirugía en las tres últimas intervenciones, pero continua reproduciéndose. Llevo gastado mucho dinero sobre todo con las de microcirugía, pero albergaba la esperanza de que conforme se fuera haciendo mayor, tardara más en reproducirse. Pero es justo al revés. Ahora tan solo han pasado cinco meses desde la última intervención.
Cualquier información al respecto que me pudiesen facilitar, sería bien recibida, y por supuesto, les estaría eternamente agradecido.
Un saludo muy cordial.

Francisco Zaragoza
***@****

[dogmom192]

Thanks for the suggestions- I have ordered some things from tripawds before, (great site) and will also see if WSU has any links on their website.

'Not worried about "self-image", just function.  My dog loves to swim, and I'm concerned that without a 2 front legs, she'll be swimming in circles-  I have a vest for her, but would feel better if she had some sort of appendage/attachment to manuever- maybe I'll have to come up with some sort of make-shift flipper (Ha)  Oh, well.  Thanks

[Ghilly]

Unless there is some type of issue with your dog having actual difficulty getting around, it's pretty much not necessary for them to have prosthetic devices when they lose a limb.  Dogs and cats have no sense of body self-image in the way that humans do, they don't know that they look different, and they usually learn very quickly how to adjust to moving about on three legs instead of four, so easily, in fact, that many times you can look at a tripod animal running around and not even realize at first that anything is amiss.  

If it's something that you would rather have for your own reasons, that's one thing, but don't feel that you have to get it for your pet's sake, because they just don't worry about things like that in the way that we do.  :)

Ghilly

[peekawho]

Go here:

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/

Call and ask them if they know of anyone doing anything in your state in regards to canine prosthetics.

Is your dog having trouble getting around?  Most dogs do very well on 3 legs, admittedly they do better with a missing back limb than a front.  But even those with a missing front limb do pretty well, eventually.

Here is a great link, full of information, discussion chats, links to harnesses and equipment...see if there is something you can use from here:

http://www.tripawds.com/