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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Hello,
I stumbled on this site a few days ago after my dog's diagnosis. Honestly it was the last thing we were expecting. My Australian shepherd Dixie is 12 years old, and had still been competing in agility up until January. Her last trial was MLK weekend, and she had a great time. In February she seemed to be injured after a practice session, so we took some time off. When she didn't seem to be improving we went to vet. X-rays taken on 3/10 indicated nothing but arthritis.
2 weeks later and she wasn't putting any pressure on her left leg. So off to the vet again, and they recommended we see an orthopedist for a possible miniscus tear. We were recommended to a highly regarded orthopedist. X-rays again, one month later. The last thing we were all expecting was to hear bone cancer. Even the Dr. was thinking groin pull or deep muscle tear. But instead we were told bone lesions, indicating cancer. He recommended an amputation, even at her age, but said to meet with oncologist to discuss all options.
We met with the oncologist this past Monday. He evaluated her, took a couple more chest X-rays-lungs are clear, and encouraged the amputation as well. She is otherwise in good health and is still in good spirits, has a strong core from her athletic life, and is pretty much walking on 3 legs now. She rarely puts her left rear down. He also said that given her breed it may turn out to be a different cancer than osteo. The type won't be known until they biopsy and samples will be sent to lab from the amputation.
I'm resigned to the surgery, and have been trying to prepare myself for the aftermath. Reading the blogs and guides here(which helped me come to the decision to amputate). I'm most worried if she has a tough recuperation. Yes I want to rid her of her painful leg, but I am hoping the recovery isn't as bad. She is 12, and we still don't know what she has. Any advice or tips to make her recovery easier. Or just some plain old-fashioned reassurance. This isn't my first go around with dogs and cancer, but it is the first time I have had to decide to treat or not and I can think of nothing else, pretty much all day, every day.
That was a bit long. If you made it to the end-thank you 🙂
Sue
Hi Sue, welcome. We are in the Tripawds Chat room right now so hop on over if you're able to.
I'm sorry about your pup. The diagnosis is such a shock, especially when a dog gets to 12 without any issues. Yeah, it leaves you reeling. Her pain indicators (holding the paw up) are signs that she's hurting so good for you for moving quickly on this.
It does sound like she is getting great pre-op care and will have wonderful vets looking after her recovery. What kinds of questions do you have for us? We are here to help you and Dixie however we can. Thanks for joining.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Sue and Dixie 🌹🐶
We are very sorry you find yourselves here but now that you found us we are holding your hands and paws all the way!
It is always a terrible, terrible shock to hear cancer news and when it involves an amputation it is seriously difficult to digest...
But thruth is Dixie is no longer using that painful leg so he is ahead of the game in his tripawd training!
AND he is terribly fit and energetic.
Also he is small (I have a huge Great Dane) and generally the smaller the dawg, the easier it is for him/her to bounce back.
Plus, he is loosing a back leg which is easier to handle than a front leg (about 70% of the body weight is carried by the front legs, if my memory is not failing me)
Finally, he is 12 and statistically speaking and for whatever is worth, the older the dog is the slower the progression of the disease.
And as you mentioned, it may be another type of cancer than nasty osteosarcoma.
So, a lot of pawsitive points, hey?
Be confident and make your boy confident too, you can both do this!
And don't forget to update us and ask any questions, big or small, we're all here to help!
Sending you a big bear hug and lots of cuddles to your cutie pie 😘😘😘😘😘💕🐶💕
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Thanks Eurydice,
We are one day from surgery. Her harness and new bed have arrived. The harness seems pretty small, although I measured according to the instructions. My husband is better with expanding those things than I am so hoping we can get it to fit. (Not mechanically inclined at all, lol)
I have to start writing stuff down. I have some post op questions but they are all gone for the moment. Probably gonna pop back on chat after work if I can remember what I was thinking about.
This has been the longest week of my life. I am just hoping for relief of the pain. I'm trying not to stress the diagnosis, and for now focusing on the fact that she will not be dragging around an appendage that is making her life miserable. And yes, I keep reminding myself that just like older people who get cancer, the disease moves slower 🙂
This is my 3rd experience with cancer, but the first time I had to really decide how far to go. My first girl had an inoperable brain tumor. She lived 6 months with drugs, teas and herbs. My 2nd one had hemangio and it was over by the time it was discovered.
Every time I wonder if I'm doing the right thing with Dixie she runs out to the yard to play, wags her little nub at me as if to say-yeah-I'm still here and still fighting. She's not feeling all that well today though. The weather here has been up and down and we have another cold overcast day looming. I just keep asking her to hang on and now the day is almost here. Gonna be a long night.
Time to get myself to work and try to put this on the back burner for a few hours.
Sue
Hey Sue and Dixie!
Good luck with the surgery and recovery: we keeping all fingers and remaining paws crossed for you!!
You're right about writing stuff down. Make lists! Not just for here, but especially for after surgery, when you pick her up. it's all going to leave your head once you're picking her up so go prepared. That may save you from a few desperate phone calls. I am speaking from personal experience here 🙂
also make sure you cover the new bed with some washable fabric. My dog has not used his fantastic orthopedic bed since recovery, apparently I can't get the "recovery-smell" out of it...
all the best, keep us updated!!
tina & Manni
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
Hi Sue and Dixie (boy she's a pretty dog),
So sorry you are going through this tough time. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I am new to Tripawds too. Bella had surgery 13 days ago and she's getting her stitches out tomorrow. She'll be 10 next month and she too, was in otherwise good health. She was already walking on three legs though as the pain in her front left leg was very difficult for her. You are being very brave and loving and this will go a loooonnnng way. We backed out of our first appointment and then came to our senses. Everything you read here is so valuable and compassionate. Good luck tomorrow and please reach out as much as you need to.
- Brenda and Bella
Online
You've gotten great feedback from everyone! Just want to add my support and best wishes.
And to remind you to eat CHOCOLATE during recocery! It helps!
And whn yij go lock up your adorable Dixie, don't even look at the incision or adraw atte tion to it. Dixie just wants you to look into her eyes and tell her wh4st a good girl she is and that she's going home!
STAY CONNECTED!!! Yiu are not alone!
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!
Thanks everyone for all your words of encouragement. I was finally able to get back online, although it seems I'm too late for chat. Had to spend my whole evening at home working. And now it's past midnight and hitting me like a ton of bricks. I am so scared for all of us, but my Dixie especially.
Brenda, at first I refused to consider amputation too. How is your Bella doing? Is she feeling better that you can tell? The ortho suggested it right off the bat and I shot it down right away. Thankfully once the weekend passed and I met with oncologist and started doing research I changed my mind. It's only been 2 weeks since the diagnosis so I am hoping I didn't delay too long. That is my biggest fear right now. That her X-rays are going to show lung mets. Then what do I do? I really need to stop obsessing.
Getting up at crack of dawn tomorrow to drive to vet. Then to work or I'll be bouncing off the walls. I doubt I'll be of any use, but at least I'll be there.
Sally I've been eating almost non stop for 2 weeks. I had oral surgery last week and 2 days left of antibiotics, so haven't been able to have a drink. That went out the window about 20 minutes ago, lol. And the soft food restriction is not helping. No chocolate, just a lot of carbs. 🙂 mashed potatoes are good, but they aren't chocolate!
Sue
Gosh Dixie is a beautiful gal!!! You are doing an amazing job hanging in there even without the chocolate;although Sally is right about that...so, mmnnnn, maybe chocolate chip cookie dough?!? The night before surgery is always the toughest so maybe chocolate chip cookie dough AND ice cream?!? Also, as TriPawds Nation is international, there will always be someone who is up at our late but their early hour which, at least for me, is very reassuring.
Still, would be nice to have one forum category called Day of Surgery:) We will be thinking of you and Dixie and wishing her a speedy recovery. Given her immense agility talent, we are gonna go with she recovers exceptionally well:) Phooey with the age thing: Dixie sure isn't mentioning it;)
Best wishes today, hugs, and PyrPaws all around!
I hope today goes great!
I was finally able to get back online, although it seems I'm too late for chat.
It doesn't look like you ever popped in there yesterday. If you did but never said anything, nopawdy knew you were there because they didn't hear you 'bark'. To bark, just type a message. Most of us keep the chat open but tab over to multi-task until we hear Jerry's bark.
When you pop in to the chat, be sure to bark or meow to let folks know you want to talk. If you don't see anyone there at first, say something, but start a new tab work online from that tab. Listen for a bark because that means someone noticed you are waiting to talk. As charliebear said, we have members all over the world and you never know who will stop by. Oh and sometimes the chat will freeze up so do hit Refresh occasionally.
Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh gosh! I did not know that about chat!!! Well, then, this brings a whole new meaning to my insomnia;) Thanks for the tip!
Heh heh! Glad to be of help!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Update: There was no surgery today. 😢 After her X-rays that were taken under sedation for original do she started holding her neck funny. We put it down to the changes in her walking and getting around with the bad leg. The oncologist called me last week to say it was degenerative disc disease. Didn't seem too concerned and said we could deal with after surgery.
I met with surgeon this morning and he had a completely different take on it. Said anesthesia makes all muscles go limp, and that she ran a pretty high risk of either further neck damage or complete paralysis if we went forward. I just couldn't do it. It would have been a full leg plus ball /socket of hip joint. That would have been tough enough. But to throw in the possibility that we would do even more harm-I just couldn't sign the paperwork. Considering how her neck is after the X-rays with sedation, it seemed too much to do to my poor girl. The surgical team was relieved I didn't make them do it.
Of course I called the oncologist and he said he would still go ahead, and also said even if I wanted to do radiation treatment for pain she would still need sedation, so I may not even be able to do that. Came into work late and have been a zombie all day. Heading home soon, just wanted to give an update. You have all been so kind and supportive. I just don't know what to do next, or if I should do anything. Will follow up with oncologist tomorrow for any alternative treatment-oral chemo (like we did for our dog with brain tumor).
If anyone has any suggestions I would welcome them. The diagnosis was awful, but I really had hope in the surgery prolonging a good quality of life. To find out that it wasn't possible without serious risk has just been a double punch to the gut.
I am just heartbroken all over again.
Sue
You are doing an AMAZING job!!!! Right now deeeeeeeeeeep breaths. Maybe not the news you were expecting but Dixie does not know that! She just wants to be with you!!!
There is SOOO much to process that maybe ( and I know it sounds counterintuitive) just taking the night to have Dixie Time may help this evening...You were up kinda late, ahem;) And then get back to the many questions at hand in the a.m. with a fresh set of eyes?
We at Da Bear HQ are very familiar with complications and holding patterns and no clear answers. The good news is, honestly, neither Charlie Bear nor Emma Rose really is paying attention to my anxiety and obsessions and concerns. They really are just happy doing what they have always done: even if it is modified. (And, Emma Rose, who has NEVER been sick a day in her 14 1/2 year old life, was beset by a) neuro issues which turned out to be a brain stem tumor b) incidental finding of thyroid cancer c) heart mass and arrthmymia and now ( due to all of the above) d) heartworms ( she is more susceptible and was unable to take her heartworm med this winter due to all of the above). All of this happened within one month. And, guess what? Despite the continued roller coaster, she is doing okay! She is still a working gal in the pasture. So...one step at a time until a clearer path forward is obvious.
Are you at a teaching hospital?
Deep breath, chocolate chip cookie dough and ice cream. You and Dixie take the night off! You both deserve it!!!
Best wishes, huge hugs, and PyrPaws all around.
Gosh Sue, I'm sorry.It's so hard already to make the decision to go through with surgery and then not be able to do it must be gut-wrenching!
i think your very right to explore all other options. after all, this is all about the quality of life for our dogs. Da Bears have a valuable point in asking about a teaching hospital - maybe that's another option to explore? There's a lot of info on metronomic chemo on here, too.
Big hugs from over here and if there#s anything we can do, please reach out!
tina & Manni
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
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