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Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat

Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.

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Amputation after a break
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Member Since:
3 May 2013
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1
3 May 2013 - 12:05 pm
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I have an 18 month old terrier cross puppy called Cain. We moved into a new apartment at the beginning of February and that first day he went tumbling off our second floor balcony sad It was late on a Sunday night so we went to the emergency clinic where they splinted his leg and gave him pain meds to last until Monday when the vet opened. The initial x-rays showed a very clean break in his front right leg. Both the radius and ulna look like someone took a knife to them, it's that clean. The x-rays also showed that there was a big overlap in the broken bones, almost an inch of overlap. Our vet tried his best to pull them apart and wrapped his leg in a splint.

 

For the first two weeks he had his leg in a splint and was on cage rest. When we went back to the vet the bones had slipped and the overlap was back. There was no way the bones were going to heal with that much overlap, so the vet put on an external fixator to hold everything in place. 

 

We went back for checkups every week. After 6 weeks they took an X-ray and it shows that the bone has not healed at all and there is bone deterioration. He's lost bone mass all along his leg. The vet took off the fixator and put him back into a splint. 

 

For the past three weeks it's been splinted up with weekly checkups. The vet seemed fairly positive. This week though we went in and he just came in shaking his head and saying we'd done everything that could be done, it's time to amputate the leg sadoh-my

 

Yesterday we went to see an Orthopedic vet specialist who said she her next action at this point would be to plate the leg internally, but that's likely to cost $5000, and would leave one leg shorter than the other. I don't have $5000! We borrowed the money for the first surgery and definitely can't afford this. Additionally, given that the external fixator caused bone loss, there is the possibility that the plate may do the same and then rather than having a slightly shorter leg he would lose several inches of leg, basically making it useless. 

 

I guess I understand that amputation is the best thing at this point, but I could do with some reassurance that he is going to be okay as a tripawd. He has been getting around just fine for the past three month, holding up the bad leg most of the time. He's already learnt how to jump and play with just three legs, but the fourth was always there for support. 

 

Am I doing the right thing?

 

 

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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3 May 2013 - 1:54 pm
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Ohhh poor Cain! I'm really sorry to hear about the accident and all you've been through. I'm glad you found us though, because you'll see here how well dogs and cats can get around on three legs. Cain's size is a BIG advantage when it comes to being a Tripawd, as you've already seen he's getting around pretty good so far right?

When it comes to amputation only you can decide what's right, but I can tell you that based on what we've seen here, many people have been in your situation, spent thousands on trying to save their dog's leg, only for amputation to be the end result. It's not uncommon, and if you decide on amputation rest assured that you aren't the only one who's been down that path. And if it's any comfort, I can't think of anyone in your situation who ended up regretting the decision. It's not an easy path to take, and the recovery can have its ups and downs, but when all is said and done Cain will amaze you with his resiliency and ability to move on with life. It's the people who have the most trouble with that part!

Be sure to look around our community, talk to others and read Jerry's Required Reading List for more answers. And if you have any questions remember we are here to help.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

krun15
3
3 May 2013 - 5:14 pm
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Welcome to Tripawds.

If you do choose amputation Cain has lots of things going for him: he is small, he is young, and he has been a virtual tripawd for several months.

I'm guessing that even though he is using the fourth leg for balance it is causing him pain when he puts too much weight on it or bumps it.

I had a rear amp pug who weighted about 17 pounds.  Maggie hopped happily though life for almost 4 years.  She took some time getting used to her new normal- longer than most- but she came around on her own schedule. 

If you do choose amputation the first couple weeks of recovery can be rough.  But again, Cain is young and has had some practice.  We often see here that the young pups sail right through recovery.

 

Let us know what you decide to do.

 

Karen

Fort Wayne, IN
Member Since:
25 January 2013
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3 May 2013 - 5:59 pm
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It is your decision, but I'm going to offer my opinion and say "yes", I believe you're doing the right thing.  Nobody judges anyone's decision here so you do have to decide what is right for your situation.  

I can only echo what Jerry and Karen have said...Cain's got a lot of things going for him and he should do very well.  Not all dogs recover the same but from the time I've spent on here, dogs in similar situations to yours have adjusted very well.

Good luck with whatever you decide.  We are here to support you either way.

Liberty (Libby) was diagnosed with OSA on 1-22-13.  Right front amputation on 1-31-13. No IV Chemo. Metronomic Therapy started 2-19-13 along with supplements and some home cooking. Lungs clear until 1-06-14.  She's still her happy, hoppy, bossy self.  Living the dog life to the fullest and a proud Winter Warrior. :) RIP my Libby 4-21-03 to 3-19-14

hhackett
5
3 May 2013 - 6:47 pm
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I just want to let you know that you have already gone above and beyond in your attempts to save Cain's leg. Many people would have opted for amputation after the first splint didn't work out. You shouldn't have any feelings of guilt about choosing amputation now.

I honestly think that you are going to be dealing with about the same amount of pain with a bone plating procedure as with an amputation. Also, the recovery time for the bone plating is most likely going to be longer and more involved than with amputation due to the cage rest that is involved and the increased possibility of complications.

As others have said, Cain has many things going for him. From an outsiders point of view, amputation seems like a good decision, but it all comes down to what you think is the best thing for your pet.

Member Since:
16 May 2009
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5 May 2013 - 6:46 am
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Oh, dear .. sounds as if you two have been through a lot already.  :(

 

Bone loss with plating is a big problem for a few dogs, it seems.  They are still working on finding a way to do it without porosis developing.  I'm sorry to hear that it's happening to Cain.  You're right: you could go ahead with this very expensive surgery and still need to amputate because if he has necrosis/porosis with external fixation, it might very well happen with plates and pins, too! 

 

How much do you want to put him through + how much can you afford, bearing in mind the potential gains and losses ... it's got to be your decision, taken with the advice of your vet/s.  If it were me?  I can't know, until I'm in the same place you're in now.  I think I'd probably go with the amputation, once I was sure there were no more realistic options.  And you have to remember that financial constraints do have to be taken into account.

 

Good luck with your decision.  It's not easy.  You will know from reading here that most dogs do extremely well as tripods!

Member Since:
22 January 2013
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5 May 2013 - 7:53 am
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I really have nothing to add to what the others have said. I was just wondering how you and Cain are doing.

Southwestern Ontario, Canada
Member Since:
22 November 2012
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6 May 2013 - 7:42 am
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Is he going to do well as a tripawd??  of course he is!!!  My Franklin is 13/14 and he had his front leg removed on Dec 4, 2012.  We were amazed at how well he did... and he just got so much darn cuter!!!!

They do adjust very well.. and I would do it again if it could save the life of my dog, or make his pain go away.

Good luck with the little guy!  Let us know how he does!!

Christine & Franklin

 

Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012.  Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013.  Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack...   You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!

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