Puppy with front leg amputation

[Adriann]

I work at an emergency animal hospital and late last year a puppy who had been hit by a car was abandoned there. He recovered from most of his injuries except for extensive nerve damage in his right front leg. For various reasons, the best course of action in those cases is to amputate the leg so we did. He recovered well and is doing GREAT and was adopted by a friend of mine in Manhattan who named him Gizmo. He runs, plays, jumps on the couch, etc without any problem. But he does get uncomfortable if he is sitting upright so he usually lies down rather than just sit. Unfortunately we have had a very cold winter and that means cold sidewalks! If my friend stops to buy a newspaper or talk to someone on the street, Giz ends up lying down and I feel bad that he has to rest his chest/shoulder on the cold ground.

Any ideas for sweaters for a male dog with one front leg? It would need to be made from a thicker/tougher yarn. I'm not a great crocheter, to be honest, and am not clever enough to figure out a way to alter a pattern to fit him. (Actually, I'm not even sure I could MAKE a nice looking doggie sweater, let alone an asymmetrical one!)

Thank you for any suggestions you might have. I wanted to post on the charity list, thinking that maybe someone there has done one before, but my membership status is too new.

Sorry for the long-windedness, and thanks again!!

[funkyreporter]

That's so sweet of you to want to help Gizmo. I wouldn't know how to personally help you but I appreciate your dilemma about not being sure how to alter a pattern. I forward a link to this thread to one of our members, Shelle, who has published patterns specifically for dog clothes and asked if she could suggest a way to alter it and also a yarn suggestion. She's a wonderful designer and also a super sweet person.

Here's her link while we wait and see if she has any suggestions!

http://www.crochetcabin.bravehost.com/

And one of her published pattern booklets:

http://www.infiniteyarns.com/product.asp?P_ID=303

And I bet you're a better crocheter than you think!

[Shellybrook]

Bless your soul! I KNOW its been a cold NY winter. I can't offer you any pattern suggestions, but I would think that any sweater pattern with a sewn shut Rt. Front leg would work.

I just wanted to give you a :hug for caring so much about our four legged friends!

[Shelleden]

If you can send me a picture of him, I will make him a sweater myself. Or at least send me his measurements. Measure his chest right behind his front legs, and the length from his neck to his rear-end. What color do you want? Probably brown so it won't show dirt? I can have one made in no time! :hook
p.s. send the pic to crochetqueen1@verizon.net Thanks

[Adriann]

Thanks Paulette for your quick response -- I'm interested to see what Shelle has to say!

Thanks Michelle for your quick response too. I can't offer you any pattern suggestions, but I would think that any sweater pattern with a sewn shut Rt. Front leg would work.

Most of the dog patterns I've found are cape-like: they close at the top and across the tummy only and don't even have leg holes. In the ones with leg holes, I'm just afraid that if I sew it shut it will be too much of a weak point to put up with the wear and tear a happy teenage puppy will put it through, don't you think?

You know, when I think about it, I think that I probably am not skilled enough to do this anyway and at the very least it would be a ton of work for someone at my level ... and if he tore it or something, I'd have to cry!

I love giving homemade things but I wonder if I should just get some already-made cheapo dog sweaters and sew the arm shut. If it pulls open, I'd just be out $5-$6 bucks. Would that be too lame?

I just wanted to give you a :hug for caring so much about our four legged friends!And the three legged ones too, right?? :D

Take care
Adriann

[Adriann]

Hi Shelle!

We posted at the same time--didn't see your post before I put my reply.

Thank you so much for that offer, I was feeling a little discouraged as you can tell from my last post :blush Did you have a certain price in mind?

He's a brown dog (with cute helicopter ears), medium size but I'll get his measurements and grab a photo. Any darker color would be perfect.

Thanks again -- you're awesome!

[Shelleden]

HI! I know - that was weird - we must have it Submit Reply at about the same time! Yes, I had a price in mind. $0.00 How's that? :lol What are helicopter ears? I can't wait to see a picture of him. Bet he's a sweetie. I love dogs (have 5 of my own) and would love to do this for him. I have some brown, black, and rust Wool-ease Chunky. It would be sturdy, machine washable, and nice dark colors. I'll see what I can come up with. Meanwhile, PM me an address where I can send it in a few days. :manyheart

[funkyreporter]

Wow! Shelle, you are amazing - one of the most loving people I know:manyheart . That is so incredibly loving and sweet to want to help Gizmo to be warm. I know you have five dogs and of course your cussing bird:D but I never realized how much love a dog could give until we got Chelsea. She's the first dog I've had as an adult and I'm just amazed by her every day - that's why Adriann's dilemma on a three-legged dog sweater warranted your expert design input. But that you would actually custom make a sweater for him is incredible! Wish I could give you a big 'ol hug right now!:hug

[Shelleden]

:D you just did! :hug thanks!

[creativepassage]

Dont' forget to get a picture of him wearing the completed sweater! I know I'd love the see the sweetie ;) I've never been without a dog these past 42 years on this earth and I'd be lost without them :yes

[RoseRed]

I want to see a picture of Gizmo! Shelle that is just so wonderfully sweet! Right now my little Pooky is lying by me feet.

[Adriann]

Ok Shelle (and everyone), I'm going to see Giz this weekend so I will photograph him and take his measurements. Then I have to figure out how to post photos on here, I haven't read the stuff on bandwidth theft yet. (I don't know what it means and don't want to do it by accident.)

Stay tuned!!!

[Shelleden]

Well, I already started on it. Just guessing at the size. If it turns out to be way off, I'll just make another one. Winter's over anyway, so he won't really need it now until next winter, right?
To post a picture, you first set up a photobucket (free) account, then after you get your pictures loaded into Photobucket, you click on the yellow box above (that looks like mountains) and enter the image code or whatever you call it.
It'll start with i33.photobucket.com/albums/........etc.... It's really pretty easy once you figure it out. :think
I anxious to see Gizmo. He can be the Crochetville Mascot! :dog :manyheart

[Her]

If you can send me a picture of him, I will make him a sweater myself. Or at least send me his measurements. Measure his chest right behind his front legs, and the length from his neck to his rear-end. What color do you want? Probably brown so it won't show dirt? I can have one made in no time! :hook
p.s. send the pic to crochetqueen1@verizon.net Thanks

You are the best! How sweet of you. :hug

[Shelleden]

Adriann, do you have Gizmo's chest measurement? I have the sweater done. I just need to know how big he is around his chest so I know where to put the buttons. Thanks. Oh, and the address where I can send it. :hook

[thebratfink]

Shucky darn, now ya'all have me crying with all that sweetness and stuff going on here. :cry :cry :cry

You guys are just THE BEST! :manyheart :manyheart

[Adriann]

Hi Shelle

I will PM you my address; Gizmo and his dad just moved at the end of March and everything is still in shambles at their new place. I'll get him to give me that measurement, too!! Thanks again :)

[Shelleden]

Okay, that's great. We are planning a move soon, too, and I'm afraid things will get pretty hectic around here in a week or so.
I wish you could have seen my Maggie trying on the sweater and pretending to have one front leg missing. I said "Now pretend this leg is missing" as I tucked it in. She kept falling over. She looked pitiful, but it was funny at the same time. It's amazing how dogs adapt & learn to walk, run, & play on 3 legs. I seem to remember a dog once that had only two legs - one left front, and one right rear, and he got around okay. :yes

[thebratfink]

I seem to remember a dog once that had only two legs - one left front, and one right rear, and he got around okay. :yes

Was that the dog that the owners helped walk [in the beginning] by using a towel or something around its' middle? Then one day they lost their grip and found out the dog could walk on his own???

I cried so hard... happy tears... animals are just terrific. :manyheart What would we do without them?



:devil

[Shelleden]

Did you see the dog on Oprah that had no front legs? It was born without front legs, and this family adopted her & taught her to walk on her hind legs. It was amazing. Talk about a tear-jerker! I love dogs! :manyheart

[Adriann]

I visited Gizmo and his "sister" Kia this past weekend (I happened to see their dad, too, an old friend of mine). He is such a wonderful, wonderful dog--if he could pick one phrase to be able to say, I'm sure it would be "this is great!". He loves going for walks, he loves staying home. He loves getting in the elevator, and getting out of the elevator, and being in the elevator. You get the idea ;)


Here's a pic of him and his sis, and then one of him that showcases his goofy helicopter-style ears :)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t130/earldom/th_IMGP1432.jpg (http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t130/earldom/IMGP1432.jpg)

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t130/earldom/th_IMGP1427.jpg (http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t130/earldom/IMGP1427.jpg)

Finally got measurements, too ... chest is 23", length is also 23". He's a long noodle-dog.

You are all so great to have taken such an interest in this little guy!!!!

[losingmymind2]

ohhh that is such a sweet face. And those precious helicopter ears! His sis is a beauty too.

[Shelleden]

Oh, he is so sweet!!! He and his sis are beautiful dogs!! I'm sending the sweater out right away. He might not need it now, but next winter it'll sure feel good to him! Thanks so much for posting the pics! :manyheart

[Adriann]

After a nice back & forth with the post office (they left me a note that no one was home and to pick it up there, then I went and they said the carrier had it, the carrier came while I was out and left a note that it was at the PO, etc) I finally got Shell's package and came home and ripped it open :) The sweaters are BEAUTIFUL! And each has a nametag of sorts :D I do think that Kia's may be a little too small as she is, ahem, a rather big-chested dog, whereas Gizmo is much more noodle-like. But we'll see. I am working all this weekend (work 4pm-12am) so I can't get over to his house to stick them on but I will get there ASAP and take pics! Here they are straight out of the package:
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t130/earldom/th_IMGP1440.jpg (http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t130/earldom/IMGP1440.jpg)
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t130/earldom/th_IMGP1439.jpg (http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t130/earldom/IMGP1439.jpg)

I really think, Shell, that you should post the three-legger on your site once we get pictures of Gizmo modeling it! There are definitely other hop-alongs out there :P

Whooo hooo! Thank you so much Shell, can't wait to get some modeling pics. These patterns (your own designs!) are just wonderful! :ty

[RoseRed]

How sweet. Gizmo's gorgeous! I love the ears.

[Shelleden]

I'm glad you like them. I sorta figured Kia's will be too small. It's one I already had made up & thought maybe it might fit her. Maybe it will stretch a little. If it doesn't fit, just give it to some other worthy dog that needs it. I can always make Kia another one later on.
Doesn't Millie look cute pretending to be a 3-legged dog? :devil No wonder Gizmo lays down - it's hard for them to balance with just one leg in front. When I tried the sweater on Maggie, she kept falling over and I couldn't take the picture! I was laughing so hard at her. She looked at me like "what are you trying to do to me?!" So then I put it on Millie, and she kept sliding/laying down. I finally got her to stay propped up so I could take the picture!
I can't wait to see Gizmo in it. It'll probably make me cry. I'm so utra-sensitive to dogs. I cry over cute dog food commercials. I'm a sap! :cry
Here's Millie trying on Gizmo's and Kia's sweaters:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d51/Shelleden/Gizmossweater.jpg
A 4-legged dog pretending to be 3-legged :lol

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d51/Shelleden/Kiassweater.jpg

[funkyreporter]

Ah, Shelle, you're so sweet... Millie looks so funny in those pics, like "Mom, what are you DOING to me???":( And Gizmo is adorable - what a face! And I must say that they did some excellent surgery as the fur is grown over and you can't tell that a leg was ever there. I can definitely see where the chest would be cold lying on the snowy cement and I think it's wonderful that you would make this sweater! Can't wait to see Gizmo's modeling debut!:lol

[fuzzy ferret]

Oh My goodness! They are alll gorgeous! And Shelle, god bless you for making the sweet little thing a sweater! That was very generous of you!

Krystal