Prosthetics for hounds

[bob baldwin jr]

I had a friend that called me last night from the VA hospital due to health reasons he is a retired Houndsman .He was relating a story about a former co-worker that was a houndsman . Apparently 2 years ago he and his pack came upon what turned out to be a bayed bear .In the process of " Pulling Hair " the bear bit almost the bottom half of 1 hounds front leg off .Ended up having the VET completely remove it . So what my buddy is telling me the owner went to quite an expense to have a prosthetic device made to fit the hound . Turns out last year the same hound was on 3-4 chases yet obviously the last one to make the tree.

Has anyone heard of this being done before I guess with modern technology anything is possible .But I have Never seen or heard it having been done .If that was one of your hounds ,WHAT would you do

[tedsmith]

your friend obviously thought alot of that hound or it never would have left the vet office if you can afford a dog bear that cannot produce then take it with you otherwise find a kid that wants a coon dog I have seen some pretty good 3 legged coon dogs

[pegleg]

?? it's possible but doubtful unless the vet had a machine shop at his disposal. I don't know that a hound could be encouraged to use a prosthetic much. the initial pain of using one is severe. and dogs get along well enough on three legs i don't see them enduring the pain long enough to become proficient in its use. I have seen a Game cock that lost his foot that a prosthetic was made for fortunately he still had his natural spur and it was designed like a knife to attach to the spur and leg with the spur carrying the weight then bent downwards with a piece of flat plastic screwed to the bottom as a foot. he lived for three or four years. didn't seem to hamper him although he would loose it scratching sometimes. Not long ago someone on here said they had a prosthetic made for a horse. I don't know how well that could work with the sensitivity horses have for pain. I guess live and learn.

[cat and bear]

Pegleg, i know you have delt with this, i would only like to add. Everytime i get a dog busted up, the vets will say, anything other then a hound, it should be dead or will never recover. They just shake their head in amazement of a hounds pain tolerance, and recovery
Ron


This is true. the pain tolerance of human beings is a strange thing. I've seen people suffering unbelievable pain with dignity and strength. yet I've also seen "tough guys" screaming and crying over relatively minor damage. there's four types of wounds that stand out for me as the most painful. any type of "gut shot wound" they hit everyone hard where they live. crushed body parts, large deep burns, and then explosive injuries which can include all of the above. sometimes you see someone die from the shock of a wound and it makes you wonder why the person laying next to them in far worse agony lived? whats the difference that makes it possible? game animals are the same some can live through anything it seems, while the nervous system of another species cheats them with death at the most modest attempts at their life. I have been led to the conclusion that intense fear is deadly in itself.

[BAYDOGG]

On a somewhat related note I saw that a vet out in L.A. had developed prostecics testicals for dogs. They were custom fit for the dogs size and personality. The vet also stated that it was necessary for the k-9's identity and feeling of self worth !! Owners then stated that ol' so n so had more-- swing in his step. Seriously.

[pegleg]

guess there really is a use for old ball bearings, wonder if they make musical balls?

[kordog]

dogs usually chew foreign objects attatched to their body .that would be the luck to pay thousands for a prosthetic leg only to see it looklike a chew toy.

[bob baldwin jr]

Personally I don't know if I would keep the hound as a pet and let him live out his time on 3 legs or put him down . The compassionate side of me tells me to give him a chance . The practical side says see how he is doing after a few months ,if there is any sign of stress and hardship then put him down . Guess it boils down to how much we OWE our hounds

[cat and bear]

I got into a bad bear last summer, and a nice 2.5 year old dog, which stepped forward, and was my cold trailer, got his shoulder busted up. The shoulder blade is fine, but the bone running up his shoulder is broke in 7 places. Looks like someone took a handful of one inch bones, and threw them in a pile. The vet said we could try and piece and skrew it back together, but would never be the same, and may have bad arthritis problems. I will cull in a new york second, but also respect and refuse to put down a warrior. I thought I would just let it heal, and a friend in the south was going to take him as a pet and coon dog. The friend is fighting cancer, and the dog is here. He has healed over the winter, acts like it never happened, and lost his limp running. What do you do?. He is not the complete dog he once was, but i would rather let him hunt, as long as there isnt pain, then cull him or die on a chain wishing. If nothing else, he can ride around and rig bear, and sit on the tailgate and listen to the race with me But my point, never, never under estimate a hound. My vet of 30 years, still shakes his head, in amazement.
Ron

[Paul Conway]

I trapped a 3 legged bear when I was working for the PA game commission back in the 80's. I figured car accident- It was a stump just after (no knee joint) on one front leg with hide grown over it and sparse hair around the stump. After processing it I pulled out my lunch and sat down not to far away to watch it come out of it's drugged stupor and leave. Eventully it wandered off a bit ,before running away. had you seen it running through the woods you'd swear it had all 4 legs. Plump and healthy going into winter as well. You never know. Keystonepaul

[artrodex]

google prosthetics for dogs and you will see some good pictures