Missing Limbs In Dog Essay

Our dogs are an important part of our lives. They come running to us after we come home from a long day of work. They follow us around everywhere we go. Their energy and excitement puts a smile on our face. For dogs that are missing one or more of their legs, a lot of these basic activities are hard to accomplish. They are not able to move as easily as a dog that has all four of its legs. While many dog owners may choose to opt out of any treatment, the use of prosthetic legs and limbs in dogs is an option to restore normal movement back for dogs that are missing single or multiple limbs. Prosthetic legs are a pricey option, deterring many dog owners from buying them. However, the benefits the dog gets from this treatment are plentiful.

What Are Problems Dogs That Have Missing Limbs Face?

Research done on dogs with missing legs highlight the numerous problems these dogs face compared to dogs that have all four of their legs. A recent study showed that in tripedal dogs (dogs that walk on three legs) there is a vast change in the activity of muscles in the dog when compared to quadrupedal dogs that walk on all four legs. Researchers looked at

After implementation of the prosthesis to the dog’s leg, the dog needs to go through physical rehabilitation to “[provide] the link between patient and device.” Such rehabilitation requires that the animal patients must acquire a wide variety of skills, “[including] transitions (sitting, lying down, and getting up), stairs, getting into and out of vehicles safely, managing on different types of surfaces (ground, carpet, hardwood floor, etc.), and managing dog doors.” Paralleling similar techniques used for physical rehabilitation in humans, rehabilitation in dogs utilizes both land and water therapy done by the owner at home and by a veterinarian who specializes in