Rebaa (“Runs Even Better After Amputation”) is a rescued, 7-month old BMD puppy that has undergone a hind leg amputation. Her knee had been irreparably shattered at 5 months of age, allegedly from a fall down the stairs.  When the attending veterinarian told the owners that the puppy would require major surgery to amputate the limb, the owners initially opted to euthanize the dog.  Fortunately, the compassionate veterinarian, sensing that this puppy could make someone a wonderful pet, offered to perform the surgery gratis if the owners would surrender the dog over to him for placement.

When I heard Rebaa’s story I knew that I wanted to help this sweet puppy in some way, but how?  Initially I hesitated to foster a puppy dog with only three legs.  I had no experience with this type of disability.  Furthermore, I have a tri-level home, and even though we live on the main floor, I (and my dogs) use every level of our house.  I have 2 other dogs, one of whom is a high energy Terrier mix.  How would my two dogs integrate with a disabled, large breed puppy?  Could I manage the different exercise needs of all of my dogs, if I took on this special-needs, mobility-impaired puppy?  Because of the breed, dysplasia and arthritis are always concerns, so I naturally worried about the long-term orthopedic future of a puppy with only one rear leg.

I agreed initially to take Rebaa for only a weekend, then foster her long-term until a forever home could be found. In addition to the amputated right leg, Rebaa had a break in her left hind leg that required rest and healing for three additional weeks after the amputation healed.  As such, she came to me with severe muscle atrophy in the left hindquarters. When I learned of Rebaa and spoke to the vet he told me she was fully healed and needed training and time that his family was no longer able to give her. 

My initial fears almost made me give her up.  The added “burden” of caring for a disabled pup was too much – I thought.  In retrospect,  Rebaa has shown me she is not a “disabled dog”.  That is just the label I had put on her. “Disabled” is not in her vocabulary.  She is clearly an “enabled” dog.

When Rebaa arrived at our home, she could not navigate the three steps from the backyard into the kitchen.  Would I need to help her in and out of the house every time we went to potty?   She was quick to show me she could make it down the stairs -- once I put carpet runners on the slick flooring.  With enough incentive, she could make it up the stairs provided there was solid traction underfoot.  

Rebaa is a very capable dog and does everything of which she is physically capable.  She requires help going up the stairs, but has learned that she can run down stairs as fast as the other dogs if she leans against the wall for additional support.  She will go up the 3 steps into my kitchen from the backyard on her own if I don’t offer to help.  She and I are learning what she can do and when she requires help. 

Despite the absence of one leg, Rebaa has spunk and doesn’t let the other dogs push her around or take her toys when she is playing with them.  She let’s the other dogs know that even though she can’t run as fast, she can stand up for herself so back off!  She and my Terrier have become fast-friends, they play and wrestle and play a great game of chase in the backyard. 

After a few days with Rebaa, I had to give up using the label “disabled dog.”  Two days after I picked her up I came home after work and went downstairs to let the dogs out.  There are 12 steps up to the door that leads outside.  Rebaa and I worked very hard to get her up those stairs.  I helped place her feet, steadied her, and supported her weight as she struggled with each step to reach the top.  As she got to the landing and placed all three feet on the floor she and I were face to face.  She looked at me and gave a big "WOO WOOOO", her victory cry. "We did it!" She wiggled, kissed me and ran outside to pee.  At that moment I knew she understood the significance of "I can do this".  She was a dog “enabled.”

I see improvement in Rebaa’s strength and stamina every day.  When she got here two weeks ago we could walk for only 15 minutes with several stops for her to rest.  Now she is running a solid 30 minutes at the dog park with minimal rest periods.  Every night I give her hips a good massage, and check her paws for stress or injury.  I am starting to feel added muscle in the left leg, but it is very slight.  When we go for walks she will stop and sit to let me know that she wants a break.  Currently, she can walk about ¾ of a mile without much difficulty.  I expect that to improve with time. Rebaa has taught me a few things, too.  I have learned to take preventive action when and where I can and to address other issues when they arise.

The challenges I have with her are few, but they are real and we are facing them as we go.  One my challenges is how much do I to let her do and when do I step in so that she doesn’t overdo?  She runs so hard in the field I am very afraid she is going to twist that good leg or tear her cruciate lilgament.  As a foster mom I worry about another break in the good leg, but I realize I have to let her “be a dog” and give her the freedom to do that. 

A second challenge relates to diet.   How much does one feed a growing BMD puppy that is very active but has limited mobility.  Rebaa’s veterinarian wants to keep her weight on the light side.  Fortunately, at 7 months, she is naturally a small Berner weighing only 40 lbs.  Her coat is healthy and her eyes are clear.  She is thinner than most Berners that you see.  The veterinarian would like her to top out at 50 lbs.  I certainly don’t want her undernourished, so I keep a close eye on her weight.  I have switched her from 3 cups IAMS Adult per day to 2 ½ cups Natural Balance Fish and Potato per day.  She also gets a vitamin supplement daily.  I noticed a couple days ago that she is copraphagic (eats feces), I wonder if it’s because she’s hungry.  I have begun adding green beans to each meal to help her feel full without adding many calories.

By now, you have surely figured out that Rebaa has already found her forever home with me.  As any “mother”, I am concerned about her future and want her to do all the things that other puppies do.   I would like her to compete in AKC Novice Rally but have been told capable disabled dogs cannot compete in AKC trials as a “disabled dog”.  I am exploring the possibility of APDT Rally-O to see if they are more accommodating.   I expect there will be considerably more veterinary care as she ages, and knowing Berners, that is likely to be sooner than with my other two mixed breeds.  She’s worth it though.  Her spirit, gentleness and the love she gives deposits more into my emotional bank account every day.  Besides, that’s why God made Visa.

The fears that I had initially about taking a disabled rescue dog into my home were groundless.  This puppy has added so much to our lives with her loving heart and gentle soul.  She rarely gets frustrated; she just plays when she wants to play and lays down to rest when she’s tired.  She is more vocal than other Berners that I know.  On rare occasion, she will let our a howl to let me know if she is frustrated because she went downstairs and can’t get back up again.  She’s not insistent though; if I ignore her she’ll stop and find something else to do.   She is not destructive of the house; she is content with a toy resting at my feet.  She loves to cuddle and be scratched, especially behind the right ear, you know the one she can’t scratch herself. 

I plan to have her certified as an AKC Canine Good Citizen (curiously the AKC allows disabled dogs to earn an AKC CGC!) and a therapy dog in a few months when she’s a year old.  She will be a great testament to what one can do with limited mobility. 

By the way, please don’t tell her she has limited mobility – she doesn’t know it and I don’t want her to find out!