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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Hi all - my 13 year old mixed breed Shepherd has a big tumor on her front leg. She is healthy other than arthritis in her back legs. She gets around still pretty good and climbs stairs on her own. She is on Rimadyl, Gabapentin and an anti-biotic right now because the tumor is necrotic and all of her skin has peeled off (I know, gross!) Three vets have said they cannot save the leg. The diagnosis is pretty good if we amputate.
I am so scared - what if I do the surgery and she can't manage being 75 pounds and arthritic? She is such a great dog and her bloodwork was fantastic and her xrays were all clear.
Any advice for older dogs would be much appreciated!
Well I don't have much advice on bigger dogs but my girl, Shelby, was 13 when she was amputated. She was about 25 pounds so medium sized. She did great ... of course, the usual ups and downs associated with a major surgery.
What is her name?
Is she on anything else for the arthritis?
I am sure others will weigh in but sending you lots of positive energy!
Hugs,
alison, spirit shelby fur-ever in her heart (and little jasper too)
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Hi and welcome! Your future posts won't need approval so write away.
I understand completely how worried and unsure you are, all of us here do. It's scary enough when your dog is younger but having a senior dog is even more nervewracking. BUT, the good news it sounds like the vets you've talked to have said she's a great candidate for surgery and life on three legs? If so, great! That's awesome, you have that on your side and that's worth its weight in gold.
It's easy for us to imagine the worst but have you taken a look at our "Size and Age Matters" forums? There are lots of good stories and reality checks about senior dogs who've gone through with amputation. Many have been much larger than your girl, her weight sounds pretty good. With the arthritis, which is common in most Tripawds, you can manage that by keeping her lean and being vigilant about making sure she doesn't get too much activity. You want her active but not to the point where it stresses her joints. But you can learn about that later.
For now, check out Jerry's Requires Reading List and put your mind at ease about lots of questions. And meanwhile, have a heart-to-heart with your girl to see what she wants. We often get the answer when we least expect it.
Hang tight, this great community will chime in soon. Oh what's your pup's name? She is adorable!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Quite a precious mug in that avatar picture!
Sorry you have to be here, but it's a great place to be for support a d information.
This is such a difficult time...a time of fear, panic, uncertainty and a lot of tears! Yep, we understand! You are not alone, okay?
We do have seniors in here and WITH arthritis too who have done well with amputation. It is major surgery and it does have risks! So your vets feel like she is a good candidate for surgery? Is she already limping anyway?
Front leg amputees usually have a hard time going down stairs, and a bit easier going up (rear leggers, the opposite).. It maybe that you will need to help her with a sling or a harness. Hiw about to go outside...are there a lot of steps? Many of us built ramps for our pups in those cases.
Another senior in addition who comes to mind who had arthritis is Samson "Sam". He did very well and was 13 1/2 at the time of amp.
You know your dog best. If she is full of life and has a great attitude, and the surgeon believes she is fit for surgery, that's all a plus.
Pthers will chime k n and give you some great links. We do have a great thread "Size and Age Matters" where you can read about more senior specific cases.
Stay connected, do your research and develop a plan you feel is best for your pup.
Oh, and although my Happy Hannah (Bull Mastiff) wasn't exactly a senior (although 8 1/z yrs. Is considered mature for that breed), she did weigh a "fluffy" 125 lbs. at time of surgery and got along great on three legs.
((((((((((((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
My Franklin was 14 when we amputated his front left leg due to osteosarcoma. I was hesitant at first as well... and now I wish I hadn't been. We were diagnosed in September.. and I thought.. oh well.. he's almost 14 years old!!! We will just love him up and let him be a dog... by November, the tumor had gotten bigger and so did his love of live, and his attitude and goofiness. Gawd I loved his attitude and goofiness. . We amputated on December 4th. We should have amputated in September.. and you learn from your past.. any future dogs or kitts in my life that need it will have it done right away! Promise!
Anyhow.. his back legs were not as strong as they used to be either. But.. he did a-ok. We put alot of throw rugs down on the laminate floors, raised up his water and food bowl, and the walks weren't as long as they used to be.. but we did them. I had to adjust his diest a bit because tripawds lose weight a little quicker because they burn more energy with that tripawd hop.
We were fortunate, that everything was one level for us... going outside, ground level deck.. no stairs as all.. except going down into the bedroom which was one step. So we built a ramp...
Franklin did awesome on three legs.. he would even sit up on his haunches and still give you his one remaining paw!! If that suckass cancer hadn't of hit his lungs in 5 1/2 months.. he would have been with us much longer I am sure! But.. those were 5 1/2 months painfree.. his sparkle came back in his eyes.. and he was happy... as were we!
We're here if you have questions.... and we are definately here to cheer you guys on!!
Christine.. with Franklin in her heart♥
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!
It really does depend on the fur-baby. Some age so much better than others. My Harmony was in great shape, except for the cancer, at age 9 and she was 65 pounds. Respectively, our Meesha, who is around 3 or 4 at rescue, looks much older than our Harmony did (70 lbs.).
My point, if your vet is confident, and it sounds like you've done all the checks and balances, don't let the decision making process steal valuable time away from your little (big) precious.
Remember, we're here for you no matter what.
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
Greetings. Molly J was just shy of 13 when she had her rear leg amputated because of a mean tumor. She dealt with arthritis for several years before that. But her love for life kept her going throughout the journey. She had ups and downs during recovery, but slowly started acting more and more like herself. Within a couple of months, she was back to digging in the yard, swimming in the creek, hiking on a mountain trail, playing soccer, and generally running amok. She took ramadyl for the arthritis, as needed. We also added glucosamine. I never regretted my decision to amputate, because I knew that she wasn't finished playing on Earth. It gave us 9 more months together, and she loved every extra moment. Let us know how your pup does. This group helped me through every step. You are not alone in this.
jerry said
Hi and welcome! Your future posts won't need approval so write away.I understand completely how worried and unsure you are, all of us here do. It's scary enough when your dog is younger but having a senior dog is even more nervewracking. BUT, the good news it sounds like the vets you've talked to have said she's a great candidate for surgery and life on three legs? If so, great! That's awesome, you have that on your side and that's worth its weight in gold.
It's easy for us to imagine the worst but have you taken a look at our "Size and Age Matters" forums? There are lots of good stories and reality checks about senior dogs who've gone through with amputation. Many have been much larger than your girl, her weight sounds pretty good. With the arthritis, which is common in most Tripawds, you can manage that by keeping her lean and being vigilant about making sure she doesn't get too much activity. You want her active but not to the point where it stresses her joints. But you can learn about that later.
For now, check out Jerry's Requires Reading List and put your mind at ease about lots of questions. And meanwhile, have a heart-to-heart with your girl to see what she wants. We often get the answer when we least expect it.
Hang tight, this great community will chime in soon. Oh what's your pup's name? She is adorable!
Her name is Maggie Simpson! Named after the mute child on the Simpsons. Thank you Jerry! I need all of the support I can get. Her consult with the specialist and her surgery is tomorrow. We are doing this.
Hi mom2shelby
Maggie Simpson is her name (after the animated character, of course!) She is on Rimadyl, Gabapentin and right now Simplicef to combat any infection. She actually bit half of her tumor off Monday night. I think she is telling me TAKE THIS LEG OFF! So we are scheduled for surgery tomorrow at 9. I will keep you posted. Thanks for all of the advice.
mom2shelby said
Well I don't have much advice on bigger dogs but my girl, Shelby, was 13 when she was amputated. She was about 25 pounds so medium sized. She did great ... of course, the usual ups and downs associated with a major surgery.What is her name?
Is she on anything else for the arthritis?
I am sure others will weigh in but sending you lots of positive energy!
Hugs,
alison, spirit shelby fur-ever in her heart (and little jasper too)
I cannot thank you enough! She is limping and has told me she wants it OFF. She bit half the tumor off Monday night... Vet says her blood work is beautiful and this is not likely cancer since her Xrays are CLEAR. The one thing he mentioned is the arthritis in her back legs can pose an issue. We don't have a ton of steps out to the yard so that is good. This dog is so full of life still. I cannot even imagine putting her down. If it was her time, I wouldn't hesitate to put her out of her misery. But she literally bit half her tumor off the other night and came bounding down from upstairs like, "Hey Mom - look what I did!" So in my heart I know its the only option. Her surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. I will not hesitate now that I found this site and have done a lot of research on the topic. Thanks!
benny55 said
Quite a precious mug in that avatar picture!Sorry you have to be here, but it's a great place to be for support a d information.
This is such a difficult time...a time of fear, panic, uncertainty and a lot of tears! Yep, we understand! You are not alone, okay?
We do have seniors in here and WITH arthritis too who have done well with amputation. It is major surgery and it does have risks! So your vets feel like she is a good candidate for surgery? Is she already limping anyway?
Front leg amputees usually have a hard time going down stairs, and a bit easier going up (rear leggers, the opposite).. It maybe that you will need to help her with a sling or a harness. Hiw about to go outside...are there a lot of steps? Many of us built ramps for our pups in those cases.
Another senior in addition who comes to mind who had arthritis is Samson "Sam". He did very well and was 13 1/2 at the time of amp.
You know your dog best. If she is full of life and has a great attitude, and the surgeon believes she is fit for surgery, that's all a plus.
Pthers will chime k n and give you some great links. We do have a great thread "Size and Age Matters" where you can read about more senior specific cases.
Stay connected, do your research and develop a plan you feel is best for your pup.
Oh, and although my Happy Hannah (Bull Mastiff) wasn't exactly a senior (although 8 1/z yrs. Is considered mature for that breed), she did weigh a "fluffy" 125 lbs. at time of surgery and got along great on three legs.
((((((((((((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))))))
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
Sorry Jim - I just realized Jerry wasn't your actual name 
But I thank Jerry too in Heaven for helping me find you!
deepett said
jerry said
Hi and welcome! Your future posts won't need approval so write away.I understand completely how worried and unsure you are, all of us here do. It's scary enough when your dog is younger but having a senior dog is even more nervewracking. BUT, the good news it sounds like the vets you've talked to have said she's a great candidate for surgery and life on three legs? If so, great! That's awesome, you have that on your side and that's worth its weight in gold.
It's easy for us to imagine the worst but have you taken a look at our "Size and Age Matters" forums? There are lots of good stories and reality checks about senior dogs who've gone through with amputation. Many have been much larger than your girl, her weight sounds pretty good. With the arthritis, which is common in most Tripawds, you can manage that by keeping her lean and being vigilant about making sure she doesn't get too much activity. You want her active but not to the point where it stresses her joints. But you can learn about that later.
For now, check out Jerry's Requires Reading List and put your mind at ease about lots of questions. And meanwhile, have a heart-to-heart with your girl to see what she wants. We often get the answer when we least expect it.
Hang tight, this great community will chime in soon. Oh what's your pup's name? She is adorable!
Her name is Maggie Simpson! Named after the mute child on the Simpsons. Thank you Jerry! I need all of the support I can get. Her consult with the specialist and her surgery is tomorrow. We are doing this.
Alrighty Miss Maggie Simpson, you have made it really clear you want that bum leg off!!! So off it goes!!
I think for many of us, and it's a very individual thing, we feel like we must "try". If we didn't "try", we would be second guessing like crazy. And make no mistake, it is majore sjrgery and it does have risks, just like any surgery with humans. But we still take that risk because we can't stand to see our dogs in pain.
During recovery she may not want to eat for a few days and she may not poop for a few days. My Happy Hannah NEVER missed a meal though and pooped accordingly!! Shell just need to rest a lot. The pain meds are a balancing act. Some dogs get whacky in them and some don't. But being kn pain is a miserable thing!
The vet will keep her overnight...maybe even two. When you go to oick her up don t even look at that ole incision site. Just look into her druggy eyes and kiss her mug and tell her what a good girl she is!
Stay connected! We are all cheering you and Simpson on! Grab a bag kf chocolate, take lots of pictures a d eat more chocolate!!!
Love and hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Wow...Maggie bit off part of her tumor. I'd agree she's like "get this thing off me." I'm glad her surgery is tomorrow...I'd hate to see what sort of issues would come up if Maggie kept chewing at her leg/tumor.
You've gotten lots of good advice and there's plenty of folks here willing to lend support. We know this can be a scary time but once you make it past recovery you'll be like "what was I ever worried about?" And sweet Maggie will be so happy no longer dealing with a painful leg. Don't hesitate to ask questions here and most definitely don't hesitate with the vet. I know some folks may feel like they're pestering the vet with lots of questions but that's what you're paying them for.
Can't wait to see some pictures of sweet Maggie Simpson!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
Oh wow, she does want that leg off. Poor girl, that sounds so icky and painful. You sound fantastic though, much more sure of your decision now. I'm happy to see that.
Whatever we can do to make your transition easier just holler OK? check out Jerry's Required Reading List today and make sure your house is Tripawd-proofed for her return.
You're both in our thoughts and hearts, we are sending you and Maggie all our love and well wishes for a speedy recovery. Keep us posted and if you have any questions just holler.
P.S.
Jerry = me, Rene, Jerry's Mom
Admin = Jim, Jerry's Dad
Sorry for the confusion!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I saw your post. And yes, I remember these feelings so well. Tommy's amputation was just last week and let me tell you that the expectation and waiting was the hardest part. Tommy is not quite 13 yet but he's 9 so a little on the older side. He is as playful as he ever was as a puppy so I thought I should try to give him a chance to keep living.
It was the hardest decision I ever had to make and I second guessed myself like crazy! But honestly, Tommy has never seemed like he's upset. He's exactly the same as he was before, he didn't become depressed or aggressive, which was my greatest fear. Honestly, it seems like it bothers me more than it bothers him.
Just read the information on this site, watch videos, take everyone's advice and you and Maggie will be fine! This community is so sportive I really couldn't have done it without them.
Good luck! Prayers for Maggie.
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