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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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Mississippi
Member Since:
7 October 2015
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7 October 2015 - 3:51 pm
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Ziva has a bad leg. I have to decide what to do. Do nothing and she is in pain, remove it for a few hundred or fix it for a few thousand and hope it works like it should. I have the money (inheritance) but no way to replace the money once gone as I am disabled.

She is a small dog. Weights about 10 pounds. She is 1 year old. Something happened to her leg at birth and it is just getting worse the older she gets.  Damaged growth plate.

Thoughts from people that have dealt with this would be helpful. I still have to see the specialist for more info on fixing the leg.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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7 October 2015 - 4:10 pm
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Welcome! Your future forum posts will not require moderation. As a young small dog, Ziva should recover quickly and adapt well to life on three legs.

Depending on what is wrong with her "bad leg" you may be able to address the issue with rehab, or reparative surgery. But too many times, we hear from members who end up proceeding with surgery, even after multiple attempts to "save the leg."

Others will likely reply soon with more feedback. In the meantime, bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for LOTS of helpful links. You will find most questions answered by searching the forums above, and you can search all blogs here .

Good luck! Please keep us posted.

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

Mississippi
Member Since:
7 October 2015
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8 October 2015 - 10:34 am
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Well I guess no one has had to do this.  aw-shucks

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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8 October 2015 - 10:48 am
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Hold on...we are right here by your side!

Unfortunately, deformities, etc. Do happen with young puppies and amputation is often the best choice.

And yes, seeking the advice of an orthopedic surgeon and a rehap specialist will really help you get to the best decision for Ziva...Ziva Joy. Love her name!

The fact that she is one year old and just ten pounds all works in ner favor. I'm certainly no vet and am just offering an unprofessional opinion, but many dogs here end of getting amputation after going through countless and expensive surgeries, ot to mention a lot of pain. It just seems that in sooo many instances here in the site, amputation is the best solution. It's one operation and the pain is gone instantly and a dog like Ziva will be up and walking within 24 hrs. Obviously, recovery from the surgery itself is no picnic for about two weeks, but we can give you lots of first hand experiences with that.

I'm gonna go and see if I can find some specific examples fornyounof young pups...younger than Ziva, who have ultimately gone the amputation route with great success. Depending on what your research shows you, my guess is the specialist will tell you to proceed with amputation.

I'll be back!! I know this sounds scary and "extreme", but it will definitely take her pain away with one surgery and she will be free to start living lifet to the fullest!

Can't wait to see pictures!

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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8 October 2015 - 11:33 am
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Agree with the other folks so I won't repeat that.

Get at least two opinions before doing anything, one from a board-certified ortho vet is critical.

Do you live near a veterinary school? If so, that's a great way to get an expert opinion from an orthopedic specialist at a very reasonable cost. Here's an article about finding a school:

How to Get Affordable, Awesome Veterinary Care for Your Tripawd

Also, be sure to check out "Beyond Cancer" and "Hopping Around" for others who have been through this exact same situation, it happens a lot unfortunately.

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


Member Since:
8 October 2015
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8 October 2015 - 3:31 pm
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My dog Tyson has soft tissue sarcoma in his front left shoulder. He seems healthy otherwise ; (had X-rays and ct scan) but he is 10 yrs. old and is a German shepherd mix. The vet said we could just remove tumor and risk it coming back or amputate and have better chance at living longer. My son seems to think he would have difficulty using a dog door to go outside. I would like to ask others if u have experience with this? Is it too awkward once they lose a leg? Or do they not have the strength? 

On The Road


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8 October 2015 - 3:57 pm
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Hi Tyson and family, we're in the Chat, Hop on over!

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

On The Road


Member Since:
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8 October 2015 - 4:01 pm
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Tyson and family, please consider starting a brand new topic in "Presentation and Diagnosis" so we can follow your story and give you the attention you deserve OK?

Meanwhile, take a look around our community (your son too!) and you'll see that most dogs, even 10 year old ones (we've had much older members) do very well on three. How does your vet feel about his candidacy for being a Tripawd? If your dog is overall in good health he would probably do just fine after recovering from surgery.

Hop over to Jerry's Required Reading List for some basics on getting started with learning if it's a good choice for Tyson. And again, start a new topic so we can better assist. Thanks for joining!

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

Mississippi
Member Since:
7 October 2015
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8 October 2015 - 5:50 pm
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Thank you for the replies.  I well be seeing a specialist soon as they call and I can make an appointment.  They are only here a few days a month. But from everything I have been reading I think we are going to go with amputation of the leg.  Which my vet of over 20 years can do.

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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8 October 2015 - 8:04 pm
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zivajoy said
...I think we are going to go with amputation of the leg.  Which my vet of over 20 years can do.

Best wishes for a perfect procedure and speedy recovery!

While you surely trust your vet, you may just want to consider a few things before deciding on where the surgery is done...

How to Choose a Veterinarian for Amputation Surgery

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

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