Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi everyone, I'm new here and just found this website and forum researching about amputation of a dogs back leg. I have a Beagle mix named Fred. He chewed his way out of our fence last month and ran into the road, getting hit by a car that was driving too fast. He has injury on both back legs, one just requires the skin to grow back and appears to be healing nicely. However, the other leg was broken and required a cast. The vet has kept him since we took him in after the accident in order to keep a close eye on his injuries and make sure they are healing properly. Unfortunately, today we received a call from our dogs vet letting us know that on the broken leg, the bone does not seem to be healing back together properly. He mentioned something to the effect of the bone having too much blood loss or the loss of too much blood for too long causing injury to the bone. I apologize, I don't remember the exact wording or context he was giving on that part - there was a lot going through my mind at the time! The vet said that the leg would actually just be limp and swing and drag when he walks, which could case further injury and bone to come through the skin. Due to this reasoning, the vet felt that taking the leg off at the Femur would be best. I have tried looking into other options, but haven't had any luck searching online. In the case that amputation turns out to be the best option, I have also looked into prostetic legs, but am not sure if this would be a good option, or if he would even be a candidate for it. I need to let my vet know a decision soon.
I have read a lot that dogs bounce back and are awesome on three legs, not even caring or much noticing the missing one! This helps me feel better, but I still feel very sad and emotional about the situation. I think it is much harder for me because I knew originally it was an option, but then I was thinking the past few weeks that the leg was actually healing okay and now learning that is not the case. It feels like a roller coaster. I am trying to remove all my human emotions from it as I have read a lot that dogs do not have these or think like we do! Cost is not a big concern for me, so please don't hold back on any suggestions you may have for that reason. I want to do what is best for Fred. After reading my information, is there any other options anyone knows of besides taking the leg? Are there any questions I should be asking my vet?
Thank you to everyone in advance for taking the time to read my story and help me out! It means a lot to me, Fred, and our family!!
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Tom, Fred and family, welcome. I'm glad you registered as a member in that other post we just approved. Sorry to hear about the accident and diagnosis. You'll see that when you browse "Beyond Cancer" discussions, many members have been in your situation, you're in good company here.
That's great your vet is taking good care of him. Fred's been through an ordeal and usually with car accidents there are many injuries that need tending to. The leg news is a bummer, we totally understand. Nobody ever expects their animal to lose a leg. I'll try to answer your questions:
I have also looked into prostetic legs, but am not sure if this would be a good option, or if he would even be a candidate for it.
He might be. But that has to be decided before surgery. Getting one made requires financial and time commitments on behalf of the pet parent. It sounds like you're up to it! Here is some information about prosthetic limbs for dogs and cats. If you want to go this route, having a board-certified orthopedic surgeon do the amputation may be a good choice, since today's ortho vets are well-acquainted with doing amputation surgery on prosthesis candidates.
is there any other options anyone knows of besides taking the leg?
There are several ways you can attempt to salvage a leg. Making an appointment with a board-certified orthopedic surgeon would be your best bet to find out what Fred's options are. Be advised though that we see many members join this community after spending thousands of dollars to attempt to save a leg, only to have to amputation later on. Not every limb salvage fails, but we see many here.
Are there any questions I should be asking my vet?
I would want to know how many cases like Fred he sees over the course of a year. I'd want to know if he is familiar with doing amputations for a prosthesis. If you decide to amputate, there's a whole list of questions but the three big ones are: I'd want to know how many amputations he does a year, if his clinic offers 24/hr care and what kind of pain management Fred would receive. I'd also get an orthopedic surgeon referral, just to explore your options, IF Fred is able to have his pain managed until then.
Hope this helps. Stay tuned for other insights from our pawesome community. Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh gosh Tom, you have really been through an ordeal full of ups and downs and a lot of uncertainty. You're doing a great job of holding it all together though and trying to find out the best lath for Fred!
And it sounds like Fred is a feisty strong willed Beagle...And all thst is working in his favor!!
I'm sure he's telling all the dogs at the Vet, "You think I look bad, you should of seen the car"!
As Rene has said, we see soooo many instances where efforts were made to save the leg (usually after accidents) and amputation ended up being the best solution!! It's a o e time surgery, the bum @eg ks gone s do dogs get on with living life to the fullest! Especially tough little Beagles!
As Rene said, there are many .embers here who ultimately ended up doing amputation after many efforts, surgeries, infections, etc to save a leg. Even IF a prosthesis is a possible option, it takes many Vet visits, adjustments, many adjustments and possibly even a painful "stump" unless everything is done perfectly. Of course amputation surgery can have unexpected challenges too.
Obviously, any surgery has a risk. Certainly unforseen issues can arise and we've seen that happen.
Managing the pain after sjrgery can be a bit trickly sometimes. Recovery is no picnic for the first two weeks (or less, or more). Fred will have to rest and just take potty breaks a dd then rest some more. But when his sparkle starts to come back a d you see how happy he is to get on with liviw @ife to the fullest, you will be thrilled!!
MEG's Mom Clare, will see this and share her amazing story that will surely inspire you and amaze you!
Wait til you see video of Meg having a blast!!
Rene has pretty much covered everything a d has given great input as always.
It's not that we are pro amputation here ler se. It's just that we've seen it take away a painful leg, whether it's from disease or from an accident, and it restores quality once recovery is complete. Obviously Fred is probably used to walking on three legs by now so that's a plus!
How long has Fred been at the Vet? Is it possible you can bring him home for a few days until he can have his surgery, if that's the route you decide to take?
I know this is very stressful and full of uncertainty. It is scary. But once you decide on a plan a d move forward, you will actually feel some relief a dd get some sleep!!
Can't wait to see photos of Fred!
Have you had a chance to see some of the videos of tripawds playing and running?
Best wishes to all!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Hi Tom,
I am so sorry to hear about this situation, and I absolutely get how stressed and desperate you feel.
As Sally has said, I am someone who went the repair route with my dog, Meg, and after nine operations in the space of eight months, she ended up losing the leg anyway. The cost was enormous. I ended up spending more than £40,000/$50,000, trying to save her leg, because I believed, because I'd been told, the only alternative for Meg was euthanasia. This was money I had to borrow, money I am still paying off and will be for a very long time, paying for a leg that isn't there. But the main cost wasn't even financial. Meg was put through an immense ordeal. Months of hospitalisation, endless procedures, hopes raised and then shattered, again and again (talk about roller-coasters), not able to do any of the things she enjoyed. I cannot begin to describe just how awful it was.
I wrote a very full account of our experience in a post on this thread . I won't repeat all the detail here because much of it probably isn't relevant to Fred's situation, but suffice to say I'd be EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS about continuing with attempts to save Fred's leg. Even if you were able to do so in the short term, there is a strong likelihood of complications further down the line.
In terms of a prosthesis. I researched this too, and my understanding is that Fred would need to have a minimum of two functioning joints to be able to use a prosthetic. In other words, the amputation would need to be below the knee. Check this by all means, but if Fred needs an amputation at the femur, then I suspect this wouldn't be an option.
This all sounds rather negative, I know, but my main message to you is a positive one. A great life on three legs is eminently possible, even for a very active dog. Yes, there are adjustments, of course. Both mental/emotional (for you) and physical (for Fred). There is some risk to every surgery and a period of recovery (though vastly less than after salvage surgery), but then you're done and Fred can get on with enjoying his beagly life and doing all the things he loves doing (no more chewing through fences, though, please Fred...).
Ten months after an amputation which wasn't supposed to be possible, Meg is LOVING life on three, swimming daily, catching rabbits, giving the deer a run for their money... You can find out more about what she gets up to by clicking the link to her blog below. This little video was made to celebrate six months post amp...
Good luck with it all, Tom. Stay connected, and any thoughts, concerns or questions, share them here and we'll do our best. This is a fantastic resource, and you've done well to come here at this stage. I only wish I had done the same.
All best to you and Fred,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
My Otis broke his leg due to cancer, so there was really not option to save the leg. But he did just great on three legs. Much shorter walks, but everything else was the same. He chased cats and squirrels, stole food off the counters, played with his sister Tess, and generally lived life to the full.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
A couple more thoughts, Tom, as I'm worried I may have seemed a little gung-ho. I have just got back from a walk with the girls, during which Meg attempted to round up some hares, chased a deer through a hedgerow, went for a swim and then rolled in something so disgusting, she still stinks to high heaven after a bath... and anyway, I was thinking about you and Fred and your situation. What I was asking myself was what I would do were my quadpawd, Elsie, to break her leg, would I attempt to fix it? And the answer is absolutely yes, of course I would try to save her leg. Many breaks can be fixed quite straightforwardly and that is absolutely what I would do (I'd have pause for thought if the break involved a joint, but that's another issue). But... if the attempt was not successful, that for me is when the alarm bells would ring. It is so, so easy to get sucked into an endless and extremely costly (in every sense) quest to save a leg, because the alternative seems so catastrophic. It doesn't have to be.
Anyway, here are a couple of links to dogs who lost a rear leg due to trauma and are living fantastic lives on three.
http://tripawds.....ver-stops/
http://wyattray.....ipawds.com
All best to you and Fred,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
We also came to Tripawds after our Lab/Chessie was hit by a car. Murphy lost his rear leg after spending three weeks in the hospital while they tried everything possible to save his leg. He also ended up having a total hip replacement on the other side.
You can see his story in the Beyond Cancer forum and check out his YouTube channel (Murphy the Three Legged Dog) for videos of his recovery.
http://tripawds.....mputation/
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Thank you to everyone who so lovingly took time to reply and give their honest experience and advice. You have given us so much to think about and questions to ask our vet than we would have ever thought of on our own. That is invaluable to us and we can't thank you enough. Let me introduce myself, my name is Tammy and I'm sitting here with Tom (my fiance). He wasn't sure how to express the gratitude and love we feel for all of you, so he asked me to type today! Along with Tom, we will reply to your questions and comments as best we can!
To Jerry - Thank you for the warm welcome and for taking the time to reply to each question. The information you provided, along with the questions we should be asking our vet are very helpful and we will be sure to ask these important questions when we talk to the vet next.
To Benny55 - Thank you for your kindness in your reply! You have given us some great information as well as comfort in knowing what to expect and that ultimately, it will be more than okay! To answer your question, this is week 3 that Fred has been at the vet. It is currently best for him to stay at the vet and they suggest he continues to stay there until his other leg is healed enough (not the broken one - his other leg which had an injury as well). They need to open the bandage every day to check on it and assess how it is healing and then rebandage it. Yesterday, they told us that leg appears to be doing well so far! We want him to have the best care, and we know the vets there are doing a fantastic job - definitely better than we could do at home. As much as we want him home, we know it is best for him to continue his recovery there for now where he is surrounded by amazing vets taking great care of him. Tom did a suprise drop in the other day and found Fred in a very nice and comfortable pen with blankets, plenty of food and water and room to move/walk about. It was very clean and Fred was very happy! He isn't in a regular vets office, he is at a veterinary hospital. They allow us to come and go as we please to see Fred as well.
To Megstamum - Thank you for your initial and follow-up reply! It's very sweet of you to be thinking of us! Your post provided a lot of comfort and I'm in love with watching Meg and Elsie play. It is very inspiring to see how happy they are and it looked like she cared more about that stick than anything else!! It seems to not bother her or slow her down one bit that she is on three. To answer your second post, from the way the vet is talking, it does sound like the leg is broken at the joint and from my understanding it is the knee joint. The vet did say he though it best to take the leg at the femur. After talking to everyone here, I am now wondering if that means above or below the femur. I'm also wondering if this means there is a break around a joint or area higher up that is not healing properly or if he wants to take it at the femur for comfortablity reasons. The vet said the bone is not coming back together properly. I feel now that I need more clarification on this after talking to you and everyone here. If it is true that the break does involve a joint, is then removing the leg the best for Fred? I have heard so many talk about their dogs doing great after the procedure, running and chasing and doing all sorts of great stuff every dog loves to do, just as yours do - but I also read about things like walks may be shorter and playtimes need to be cut short and don't allow your dog to get too hyper. Is this really the case or, can we expect Fred to continue getting on with his normal doggie life as he always did?
To Otisandtess - Thank you for sharing your story, it provides comfort to know Otis lived a regular doggie life and the fact he was on three didn't get in his way one bit!
Murphsmom - Thank you for sharing your story. It sounds similar to my situation. Our Beagle mix, Fred, has been in the veterinary hospital for 3 weeks this week while they have been keeping an eye on his injuries. His broken leg has been in a cast and they were hoping it would heal, but they told us the bone is not wanting to join back together. I read the story of your journey in the link you provided and it is very inspiring!
Overall, at this point I am feeling so many emotions. I'm scared and worried he will be in a lot of pain, that he will feel sad or depressed, and worry if I will be able to take care of him. It seems through everyones stories here, that dogs on three are just as normal and happy as those on four. This is an unknown to me personally, and although your stories bring so much comfort and help, I still feel uneasy and scared. My vet is trying to get ahold of us as I write this, and I ignored the phone call because I am scared. What do I say? What do I tell him? Do I tell him to continue to wait because I'm not ready to make a decision or is it time to move forward with this? I read somewhere on this site that it is important to make the best choice for the dog and not for the human. It is so hard to put our human emotions aside, even knowing that our dogs don't share them with us! But I do, more than anything, want to make the best decison for Fred. I will probably talk to my vet today, so any further suggestions or advice before I do will be appreciated. Thank you all again so much!!
With love,
Tom, Tammy & Fred
You might want to get clarity on where, exactly, they would amputate. We have had situations here where a 'stump' is left, and often that is not beneficial to the dog. It gets bumped or injured as they try to use it. In some cases, a second surgery has been required to remove the stump. So, just another question to ask.
And ask the vet - does the decision have to be made today? What are the pros and cons of making it today v. waiting. Can you make it tomorrow? Or Thursday? This was an unknown to every one of us when we started down this path - don't feel uneasy. It is a very hard situation to be in, and a hard decision to make. But if you make the decision out of love, then it is likely the right decision. And I guarantee you that our three legged dogs do not sit around thinking about the missing leg, nor do they consider themselves disabled in any way. They just get on with figuring out how to do whatever they want to do.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Hi and welcome Tammy. I've responded to Tom's PM- please let me know if I can help in any way.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls (& Elly the Tri-puggle hit by a car survivor)
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi Tom, Tammy and Fred,
I SO understand what a frightening and emotional time this is for you. We all do. We've been there. You are not on your own with this, okay? We are family now.
I agree with OtisandTess in questioning why the decision needs to be made today. This is a massive decision, one you will all have to live with whatever you decide, and I don't think adding time pressure is helpful. This is not, as I understand it, a crisis situation. We are not dealing with an emergency and Fred's pain/discomfort is being managed. Something clearly needs to be done, and soon, but not today or tomorrow, unless I am missing something.
So here's what I think in your position I would want to do. Bearing in mind of course that we are all different, our dogs are different and my opinion is obviously coloured by my own experience.
First, I would want clarity on what exactly the problem is. I would want to know where exactly the break is, and what, in the vets opinion is the reason it isn't mending. I would want to know exactly what treatment Fred has already had. Does he have an implant/plates/pins/wire etc?
I would want to know whether it is possible that Fred has a chronic infection. Bear in mind that a clear swab does not mean he doesn't have an infection deep in the joint/bone. I would want to know if they have tested for this, and if they think it is a possibility, especially given the nature of the trauma. Did Fred have an open wound? An infection might explain why the bone isn't knitting together properly and healing. If he does have an infection and he does have an implant, then you will not be able to eradicate the infection without getting rid of the implant. It may be possible to suppress the infection, but it will not be possible to get rid of it completely and this may lead to all sorts of problems down the line.
I would want to know a lot more about your vet. Is he a board certified orthopaedic specialist? If not, I would certainly take Fred to see one. In fact I would take him to see one whatever. You need a second opinion. At least, if not a third. Meg saw four different specialists in total at four different hospitals. If she hadn't done, she wouldn't be here now. That's not a hunch, it's a certainty. If at all possible, I would take Fred to a teaching hospital.
If anyone suggests salvage surgery, I would want to know exactly what procedure they are suggesting. What exactly is involved. How many have they done? What is their success rate and how do they monitor former patients? What is involved in terms of recovery and rehab? What are the major risks? What can go wrong? And most important of all I would ask yourself how they strike you not just as a specialist but as a human being? Do they strike you as decent? Do you trust them? Do you have any reservations? Be honest with yourselves and listen to your gut.
An orthopaedic specialist will also want to assess Fred thoroughly and check his other joints etc. to see if he is a suitable candidate for amputation. Most dogs are but occasionally for whatever reason the odd dog isn't.
When you have all this information, then you will be in a position to make an informed and loving choice as to the best way forward for Fred. And of course, we'll be here to help. Whatever you decide, there is always a chance that things won't go according to plan. But knowing you have made the best choice you can, having researched Fred's options thoroughly will help give you peace of mind.
In answer to your other questions: Meg's walks are shorter than they used to be. She is an extremely active dog, who used to do three hours a day at least. Her walks now are about an hour, but that includes a good break in the middle for swimming etc. In terms of what she does on her walks, I do not limit her at all. She chases squirrels/rabbits/hares/deer/you name it, goes wild in the woods, plays with other dogs as she likes (she's not a hugely playful dog in that way). I don't throw balls for her on land because the repetitive action, sudden stopping, twisting etc. is very hard on the joints, but that's true for all dogs, whether they're on four legs or three. I do throw a ball for her to retrieve from water though, so she gets her fix. She's a bit of a ball obsessive.
I also do a lot of core strengthening work with her, physio exercises, games etc. She loves these and they are tiring and mentally stimulating, so although she doesn't have the length of walks she used to, she does get as much/more stimulation and fun. I can say with absolute hand on heart sincerity that Meg is every bit as happy on three legs as she was on four (and considerably happier than when that fourth leg was giving her problems). In fact I'd say she is one of the happiest dogs I have ever known.
Should you decide to amputate, Fred will not feel sad or depressed about losing his leg. This much I feel I can guarantee you. Dogs just don't work in that way. He may well pick upon your emotions, so it's important that you provide him with strong and positive leadership, but he won't even think about his leg. It should also be perfectly possible to manage any initial discomfort both from the surgery and from the adjustment to life on three (though it sounds as though he may be well on his way already). When you meet the orthopaedic specialists, this will be one question to ask them. What is their pain management protocol, before during and after surgery? It is also worth bearing in mind that the recovery from salvage surgery is a lot more protracted than after amputation. Different dogs respond differently and many have a tough initial couple of weeks but perk up dramatically when the stitches or staples come out, if they have them. Meg's recovery was at the extremely straightforward end of the spectrum and far less traumatic than that from her elbow replacement, for example.
Finally (and apologies, this is turning into an IMMENSE post...), you asked if it would be best to amputate if the break is through the joint. Obviously I am not a vet, and I certainly wouldn't want to be categorical about it. The reason I mentioned the joint thing myself, is that Meg's break was an explosive fracture of her elbow and any break involving a joint, and therefore a number of surfaces, brings added complications, most especially with arthritis. For us, it was end-stage arthritis developing after Meg's initial break that led to all her subsequent problems. This is why I would be cautious, but this is just my experience.
Enough! I shall physically remove myself from my computer at this point for fear of typing a book.... Suffice to say we are thinking of you and please come back with and questions, concerns, anxieties, whatever.
Lots of love,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
PS She doesn't look too unhappy, does she....
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Yep, as Otis's Mom mentioned, if much of a stump is left "generally", not always, but generally it lends itself to srapes, injuries, open wpunds,infections, etc. Again, every dog is different and we are not Vets. We've seen a couple of occasions here where another surgery was so emuch to remove the srump and the dogs were so much happier!
Knowing none of us have a crystal ball, what else would you need to know in order to proceed with amputation? Or not? When all your questions have been answered and you can think of no more, then you may be able to confirm your decision, whatever that may be.
Yes, it is major surgery and, it does have risks. And yes, you want to know that his remaining legs can amply handle the adjustment. Discuss all this with the vet.
As far as how a dog will handle adjusting to three legs, again, every dog is different!! My adopted front kegger tripawd Frankie, plays full out, non stop. Not so much because I "let" him, but because I can't stop him!! He's a Coonhound. My Happy Hannah was a rear legger Bull Mastiff. She coukd care less about running around or how far she walked. She DID care about lounging around getting tummy rubs and snuggling and sunbathing or laying under a shade tree.
Dogs do NOT care how far they walk, or how fast they run. That's more of a human thing. If a dog sits down on his walk, he is already tired and has enough sense to know it. Does ne feel "deprived"? Heck no! He is thoroughly enjoying sniffing the scents of nature and just being with his humans! They very much teach us to stop and smell the roses!! And he can absolutely be hyper and silly! There are ust certain things that cause a lot of stress kn the joi ts, like coming down after jumping up in the air to catch a Frisbee. So, you just "modify". You simply throw it lower to the ground to avoid those hard stops and jumps. TRY not to project ahead too much. You'll develop a rhythm and learn not to hoover too much and still develop a "subconscious sense of caution". It'll become second nature.
And no, Fred will NOT be depressed or sad.He may be druggy and lethrgic while recovering for.a bit. And he will get more spoiling than you, or he, ever imagined possible!!
Whatever decision you make and however you lroceed, we are 100% behind you. Any decision made out of love is ALWAYS the right decision!
Love and hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Does he just have a cast? Have they considered putting in pins and plates , or is the bone too damaged for that. Our Lab, Ty was hit by a car when he was 1. That is how his leg was repaired. Keep in mind, though, his was a clean break between his knee and ankle. That being asked, I now own a 3 year old Tripawd from injury. We are not real sure what happened to him, but his leg was useless and he walked on the knee. His amputation was complete when he came home to us. Let me tell you, nothing stops him ( and he is missing his front leg). He runs, jumps, rides in the truck, tractor and Gator. He chases the cows and certainly has no problem getting on to our bed.😊 He is quite happy! I know it is a hard decision to make. My first one was easy, as he had cancer. Getting the 2nd pup with 3 legs seemed so natural. We go places and it takes people awhile to even notice. They are so busy admiring his friendliness. Go with your gut, ask plenty of questions and , know that when you make the decision it will be the right one for you all. Lori, Ty and gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
I don't have much info to add....this site and the users are amazing and so very knowledgeable! All I can say is my own experience with Lorax. He had his right rear leg amputated at the "hip" a month before we adopted him from the Humane Society, so most of his initial recovery was handled beautifully by an amazing foster-mom. We were told that he had previous surgery by the Humane Society to try to save his leg, which was injured because of an untreated kneecap slippage that went on and on, broke and still wasn't treated. I'm so glad he was finally surrendered to them so he could get the care he needed.
His recovery from the amputation surgery is amazing. I guess he had been hopping for most of his life (he's almost 2 now), so that was nothing new, but his lack of a leg doesn't appear to have slowed him down. He really MOVES and loves going as fast as he can. The procedure did leave a small stump at the hip, but so far we haven't had any problems with it. In fact he loves having it "scritched".
I myself had a broken hip and replacement done a few years ago, and I honestly think his recovery is far better than mine 🙂 I look to him for inspiration.
One thing I've had to deal with that I don't think many others have touched on, and which I will add in a separate post, and which I hope you don't have. Lorax is extremely reactive and anxious about having anyone touch his remaining legs or paws. And not just to get his toenails trimmed, but I avoid even petting them casually unless he is very relaxed. He instinctively and instantly growls and BITES. HARD. He's a tiny dog, but it still hurts! I believe it is because he was in pain from his injured leg for so long. It will take time and patience to get him over it. To begin with he didn't want to be touched at all, especially by men. Now his favorite thing, next to running, is snuggling.
So, be aware that every dog is an individual and reacts in different ways, but being a Tripawd is NOT a disability. Most dogs seem to just automatically adjust and go about the business of being a dog.....which is giving love.
Very sorry to hear about Fred, my pup Nala just came home from a full back leg amputation after being hit by a car and also being under treatment for over a week. It is a very tough and winding road, and I was very reluctant to take the whole leg. After talking with specialists and surgeons for a very long time, it was the only option for her. I know they say they spring back quick and it is SOOOOO true. Day two of being home, Nala is up and wagging like a champ. I am relieved to have her home and on the road to recovery. After having her hospitalized for so long, she was so happy to be home and with me. It will take a lot of recovery and love, like it will with Fred, but you guys will get through it and be stronger from it. Great support system on this website and lots of info. Ask lots of questions, too many is better than not enough and be sure to have a number to reach someone around the clock once he is home for peace of mind. - Michelle & Nala
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