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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after diagnosis I did some searching on this disease. Seems like there is not a lot of hope. Please is there any hope here my heart is breaking.
Hi Linda, welcome. I am in the chat room for a few more minutes and you can also call the helpline 844-TRIPAWD if you want to talk. More in just a sec . . .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yep, we know this is a depressing diagnosis, but you came to the right place if you want hope 🙂 We started Tripawds as a way to show the world that cancer is not a death sentence, that dogs and cats can do great on three legs and that animals don't die from cancer, they LIVE with it and they live to the max! This is a great learning opportunity, as hard as it is to believe that right now.
Well, my first tip: check out Jerry's Required Reading List , you will get the lowdown on why we really feel that even an osteo diagnosis has hope. Then, hop around here and check out everyone's blogs, you'll see that life does go on and in a big way even if there's a cancer dx.
Tell us more about your pup. Which leg is it? How do the docs feel about her or him being an amputation candidate? Have you seen an oncologist yet?
What a young pup! Do tell so we can better help you OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you so much. It's low in his right rear leg like what would be his ankle. The vet didn't seem to like the idea of amputation because he's a large breed and she said they typically don't do well in mobility after. My gut feeling is to amputate to get rid of the cancer but from what I've been reading it seems that most cancers have spread by the time you get the diagnosis and your are lucky if you get 3 months after amputation. If that is so I don't want to put him through all that I would opt to keep him out of pain as long as possible and then love him enough to let him go. I will read Jerry's Required Reading List and thank you for your wise words. I truly hope we can beat this I am going to work on staying positive.
I'm so sorry you've had this diagnosis. But you'll find so much hope on this site, from people who have had young dogs and old dogs and little dogs and big big dogs (look for posts about Louie, a 172 lb mastiff!) and nearly all of them can adapt to life on three legs. Sure, the big guys seem to take a little longer getting over the surgery but if your GSD is otherwise healthy, size alone shouldn't keep you from considering amputation.
Of course, amputation is major surgery. But amputation gets rid of the pain of OSA, which is horrible. And nobody knows how much time you'll get after amputation (we got 10 months) but whatever time you get will be pain free.
I'll try to write more later, but please know it isn't hopeless!
Bill, Denise and Angel Ellie.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
Thank you so much. I have been reading posts all afternoon and you are truly right. There is so much hope here. And as I deal with my sorrow I am realizing that getting him out of pain is the most important part. This is actually my son's dog but he's truly a member of my pack too and I am furface sitting this weekend while he is out of town and since he has been limping for about a month and I saw a swelling on his leg I felt he needed to be seen today by the vet and took him in myself. I never expected this diagnosis though and it has crushed me. We will discuss as a family what we need to do going forward but I have a feeling we may be moving forward with amputation. I wish the vet was more supportive of that. I know he's a big boy but as I have read here there have been many bigger than he and have coped just fine. Getting the dog pain free will be my first option and we will have to go from there. Thank you all for your words of encouragement and hope and common sense.....you have helped greatly!
Hi Linda ~
Murphy didn't have osteo, but a different bone cancer - histiocytic sarcoma, which is highly aggressive. He had been limping for over 5 months before his surgery because of an initial misdiagnosis (pretty common problem). He was 7 years old at the time and otherwise perfectly healthy. He's a golden retriever mix and weighs about 50lbs. His prognosis was 12-18 months, IF we were lucky. Well, it's been over 2 years and he's still hopping around! His lungs are still clear and he chases squirrels, digs for mice and jumps on the furniture just like before.
Each dog is different and no one can guarantee anything. But I've seen a lot of miracle stories on here. Several of the dogs on this site have been larger breed dogs than yours. Where do you live? Is there a teaching hospital nearby that could offer information? They oftentimes are less expensive, too.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Howdy and welcome!!!
Awww . . . this place is chock-full of hope, comfort and common sense! AND, a lifesaver to boot!
I'm definitely no expert, but have you thought about getting a second (or third) opinion? In the long run, it's money well spent for peace of mind. And as you can see throughout the posts here on the forum and all the blog entries, no two cancer experiences are the same. Whether we're talking about littles to bigs (pups that is), there is no standard. All you can do is get as much research under your belt as you can so you can make the best decision on behalf of your fur-baby.
None of us have a working crystal ball, but the more informed you are the less you'll question yourself later.
Lastly, our fur-babies' life spans are a fraction of what ours are. When we say the vet only gave us so much time, remember how much that translates to dog years. If we as humans got a diagnosis of an addition 6 months to a year, we would be devastated. But in dog-time, for them, it's a life time of spoilage, snuggles, dog rides and puppy lattes (Sally will explain).
Stick close, we're always here. {{{HUGS}}}
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Online
As you can tell, you are not alone AND "hope" is our drug of choice around here!
And yes, please get another opinion. Not al l vets are up to sleed on the benefits and real.purpose of amputation. You need to find one who is. Your new vet will do xrays of the lungs and an overall evaluation to see if your pup is a good candidate for surgery.
It IS major surgery and it does have risk...just like any surgery for humans. The unforseen can happen and, on rare occasion it does happen. Obviously, all of us here decided ro take that risk.
As far as your vet's comment about size......waaaaay off base on that comment! This whole site was started by Jerry, a GSD, who did beautifully on three legs for two years! My beloved Happy Hannah, a very " fluffy,Plus Sized Model" who weighed in at 125 lbs. handled three legs as though that was how she was born! Gosh, the post could go on and on of dogs over 100 lbs. who got along beautifully on three legs! Great Dane Atlas had osteo AND Wobblers. His vet suggested euthanasia. Fortunately, Atlas had a second opinion...got the amputation...had TWO more years of loving and spoiling and living life to the fullest!!
We certainly understand your fear and how upsetting this whole process is. I was pretty much hysterical and felt like I was stuck in a nightmare that would never end! I went from no way I woukd amputate my dog's leg to sooooo glad I did! Once I made the decision to proceed, I actually cancelled her first surgery appt. Recovery was AWFUL for her! Every dog is different, but she was one of those with a tough recovery. But once her sparkles came back and that painful le was gone, she was able to enjoy life like a young puppy! And she was 8 1/2 yrs. "mature"!
Amputation isnt for everyone. You have to take in all the factos that are specific to you and your dog. Any decision made out of love is the right decision. Look into your dog's heart and soul...have a "conversation"...he will guide you.
For me, my Happy Hannah was sooooo full of life. For several weeks I was able to manage her lain with lpw dose of pain meds. That way I was able to stay in denial a bit longer and not make a decision......until she started holding her leg up off and on one day and I knew increasing the pain meds were no longer give her quality.
As everyone will tell you, sure, we all "hope" for longevity, but extra time without quality is not living...it's existing. Quality, lpving, spoiling is all your dog cares about. Calendars mean nothing to them!
Take deep breaths, do your reseq a d switch vets! Oh, and eat lots of chocolate !! It helps!
Love and hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
PS...There is a "fu " side to all this, believe it or not. For me, it's fun to figure out more ways to spoil my dogs today than I did yesterday! So heah, I take Merry Myrtle to Starbucks every Tuesday for a Puppy Latte and then to visit staff at Petco.
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!
Thank you all for all your support and great advice. We live in Wisconsin so there is a teaching hospital in Madison that has some things going on and that was one of the vets suggestions. One good thing is I retired in May so I am home all the time to do whatever needs doing. My son who owns the dog is not married and Max is his baby but hopefully as a family we can all help wherever it is needed. Believe me we will get a second opinion if needed. None of us is ready to let Max go yet and we will fight for quality days however many he has. Hopefully like some of you have experienced it will be many more. Our next step will be to get a lung x-ray to make sure it hasn't spread there and go from there. I am disappointed that wasn't done yesterday already and if I had known then what I know now would have insisted it happen. Little did I know how much I would learn in one day. So in hindsight maybe a different vet is needed. Vets don't have all the answers either. He seems to be happier today since he is on Rymadly for pain. Moving around more and more relaxed although I'm sure he was also playing off my mood yesterday too. Today I'm ready to face this and move forward. Again thank you to all of you. You have made this journey easier and just knowing we're not alone helps tremendously!
You are approaching this with a great attitude and are clearly strong and a great advocate for Max!
We now have BROCHURES from Tripawds.com we can send to your vet. He may be interested in placing them in the reception area as a "treatment option of hope"!
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!
I am so sorry you are facing this diagnosis with Max. I makes me really sad to hear your vet's opinion. I have been a part of this community for years and I find it difficult to believe that there are vets out there who still think this way but I know it is true! You can direct your vet here to see the brochures or give us their address and we can send a few 
I am so glad that you have already been reading and learning about life on three. And you have gotten such good advice from everyone already. Sounds like you could probably educate your vet on the subject at this point 
Your attitude is great and on point. When it comes down to it all the decisions we make for our furry ones are based on quality of life. I would highly recommend a visit to the teaching hospital in Madison for your second opinion if that is possible for you. We take our dogs to UC Davis here in Northern CA and they are awesome. Any teaching hospital will be up on all the latest and greatest techniques and will give you an objective assessment of Max's potential for life on three. Plus they are often, if not always, cheaper than private practice specialists.
There are a number of Tripawd GSDs around here. I share my home with three of them, Codie Rae, Travis Ray, and Austin Ray. And Wyatt Ray, the Tripawds Spokesdog is also a GSD. Ok, none of these 4 became tripawds due to cancer but they are all rear leg amps and each is a testament to how well GSDs can do on three legs! Check out their blogs for some more inspawration! Codie Rae is 10 and has been a tripawd for 9 years. She has developed some dysplasia in her remaining hip but she is still a firecracker. Nothing keeps her down. Travis and Wyatt are both 6 and they are BEASTS! They have both been tripawds since they were about 8 or 9 months old and are both now in their prime and so fit and strong. How big is Max? What sort of condition is he in other than the osteo? One thing that is critical for all tripawds, no matter what their size, is to keep them as lean as possible. For example, Travis is our biggest dog (27" at the shoulder) and he weighs between 75 and 78 pounds.
It is typical and smart to get the chest xrays to look for metastasis. Since Max is a GSD you might also consider having xrays of his left hip done as well to check for any signs of dysplasia as part of his workup. If present, that should not necessarily be a deal breaker though. Codie Rae and Wyatt both have mild dysplasia and they are doing great in spite of it. Austin has bad hip and elbow dysplasia but he is still a very happy dog.
As others have already said, each dog is different and there is no predicting the outcome for any individual. Some dogs with cancer live for years after amputation, others, sadly, are not with us that long. As Sally said, it is a risk, or if you will, a leap of faith, that you and your family will have to take with Max if you make the decision to amputate. Each situation is different and you will know what is best for Max once you have all the facts and diagnostics at hand. Whatever your decision, please know that this awesome community has your back! All Lucky 13 paws at our house are crossed for clear xrays and smooth sailing for Max!
xoxo,
Martha, Codie Rae and the Oaktown Pack
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
The doctor who did Murphy's surgery went to Wisconsin! He was a resident at Michigan State but now he's at Fox Valley Animal Referral Center. His name is Dr. Ryan Demianiuk. I really liked him.
I'm so glad that we've been able to help some! Keep us updated on Max!
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
You guys are just so awesome!! Again thank you! I would love for you to send my vet some brochures. It's a vet that has 3 or 4 vets and they also do and go to farms. That is how we got hooked up with them because at one time we raised dairy heifers here in central WI. Their name and address is:
Wisconsin Valley Vet
1605 Bovine Lane
Wausau WI 54401
I will keep you all informed on Max's journey as we continue this into the next week. He is a big GSD about 110 pounds and in very good shape. Very trim and muscular. Hopefully this will help him going forward. Again, Thank you!!
Well my son is now home and we have decided to get a referral from our vet and go to the UW in Madison for our second opinion. I feel good about this decision and think this will give Max his best chance. I only hope we can get in soon because every day counts. Hopefully at this teaching hospital we can find out exactly what we are dealing with and conquer it head on. Again I thank you all for all your advice and support. You have helped more than I can say in this awful journey. I will keep you all posted!
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