You are playing fetch with your 2 year old Chihuahua when all of a sudden, he cries in pain and you notice that he starts to limp with his lower back leg.

He skips on the other three legs for about 2 to 5 strides and then starts to run normal again as if nothing happened.

This incident occurred two to three more times in the last couple of months, but is becoming more frequent...

Should You Take Your Dog To The Vet?

The answer is yes, definitely! Your dog may be suffering from luxated patella.

Of A Limb – Can Your Dog Live With A Prosthetic?

Is your dog facing the possibility of having one of his limbs amputated due to an accident or a disease? Such a surgery is not uncommon, especially when dog owners have pets that experience a terrible car accident or bone cancer, which typically calls for an amputation process. We call these amputated canines “tripods” which is a lovable description known throughout dog lovers for these animals that have to live with three limbs.

Should You Get Your Dog A Prosthetic?

Just recently my wife and I adopted a brand-new dog from the local rescue shelter. It is a mixed breed, the exact type unknown, but all we knew is that this lovable canine needed a good family with lots of love and affection. He was friendly and without a trace of aggression. However, there is one interesting aspect of our new dog that separates him from the rest of the shelter animals - he only has three legs.

When this dog was rescued, he had just been in a terrible car accident which left him badly damaged with a leg that had to be amputated from the top of the thigh. Although we had no idea how differently to treat this dog due to inexperience with raising a canine that is missing limb, my wife and I researched and discussed the scenario with experienced veterinarians.

Bringing home a new puppy is the equivalent to adding a new member to your family, literally. With this new edition comes lots of love and excitement, as well as new responsibilities, especially in his first few weeks at the house. These responsibilities include feeding him well and providing the pup with necessary supplies such as a crate, blanket, toys, etc. Most importantly, you need to make sure that he is healthy and will stay that way throughout his life.

Finding The Right Vet

Since you do not have much time to spend researching for the ideal veterinarian once you have your dog, it is a good idea to do your search ahead of time, before you bring the puppy home. But before you reach over for your phone book, check out for other resources and find out what you can get “through the grapevine”.

First, see if your breeder can recommend you to his or her vet. Also ask for recommendations from other dog owners that you can trust. You can learn a lot from their experiences, but use your own judgment because their opinions are going to be subjective and may not necessarily be accurate.

When calling to set-up a meeting with a brand new veterinarian, let him know right away that you have a new dog and that you would like to meet with the vet and his staff. Inform the receptionist that you would like to get to know his practice before they examine your dog. Do not apologize or feel bad for this type of visit. The receptionist knows that you deserve the right to get acquainted with the vet before you decide to give them your money for the caring of your dog.

You could say something like “Hi, I have a new dog and I am calling to make an appointment for a visit. Right now I'm in the process of selecting a veterinarian and I would like to know if I could see the office and get more information about the doctor and his practice”.

Your First Appointment

On the day of your dog's veterinarian appointment, get there about 10 or 15 minutes early to make sure that you have enough time to fill out all the paperwork that needs to be filled out before the examination. When you are done filling out the paperwork, look around the reception area. Record your observations and compare them to the results of your other appointments.

It's important to choose a veterinary hospital before you need one. Ask family, friends and neighbors for recommendations. Once you find a hospital, take some time to check it out. Ask for a tour of the facility, and use your eyes and nose to detect cleanliness. Also check if the facility is well lit. Does it have laboratory equipment? If it doesn't meet your expectations, turn around and leave.

What to Look For?

• Is the facility clean, comfortable, and well-organized?
• Are appointments required?
• How many veterinarians are in the practice?
• Are there technicians or other professional staff members?
• Are dog and cat cages in separate areas?
• Is the staff caring, calm, competent, and courteous, and do they communicate effectively?