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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi everyone,
So pleased to have found this forum, I don't know where to turn for advice.
I have 2 lovely rescue pups Oscar and Harley and although they are both 8 now they still bounce around like giddy pups at walkies, treats, anyone who dares walk past the house...
Oscar started with lameness in his right hind in November last year..We have had 2 sets of xrays 2 fine needle biopsies and those showed 3 masses one big one above his knee and 2 by his ankle. Other than that he has no symptoms of anything. The vet said it's bone cancer but not 100% sure and the biopsies show nothing. The vet is sure he got the centre of the mass
All they found was narcrotic bone so something is killing bone. The outside of the bone is still really hard and there is some regrowth from a potential pathological fracture.
We chose to have a CT scan and vet still wasn't sure. So now it's gone to an imaging specialist who says it's cancer and the 2 little ones are infarcts..
But...Oscar is using the leg, not full weight but he is, he is happy and bouncy and eating and I just can't believe it. It took 3 months for diagnosis so if it was aggressive surely he would be ill? The specialist has only seen scans so wouldn't know this.
They recommend amputation which after reading I'm okay about but what if we amputate and it's not cancer? I'm do confused.
Has anyone had a similar challenge? I love him dearly and certainly won't have him Suffer but he seems so happy.
I just don't know what to do, does anyone have any advice? Should I get a second opinion?
Thank you
Hi and welcome. Your future posts won't need approval so post away.
I'm so sorry to hear about what you're dealing with. Yes, that potential diagnosis is a shock and difficult to wrap your head around when your dog isn't showing obvious signs. The thing is, dogs and cats don't show pain the way we do (we are wimps!). They will do anything to hide it. Truth is, a slowly disintegrating bone is a horrible pain that only animals can hide so well. When they do show signs, it's bad, really bad. So while Oscar isn't showing too many outward signs (yes, even a slight limp is a sign). now is the time to get moving, which you are doing, so yay! For more info about recognizing pain signals , see: http://tripawds.....utee-pain/
The reality is, it sounds like that leg needs to come off anyways, even if it isn't cancer. Ask your vet, will the leg need to come off no matter what? Is there a chance of saving it? It can't hurt to ask. If you proceed, once the leg is off they will determine the exact type of cancer. Your situation is not unusual, many of us were in the same exact spot when the vets couldn't get a 100% diagnosis without amputation. Even afterward, sometimes a 100% confirmation isn't possible, but that's the exception.
Take a deep breath and know that you aren't alone. Check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books library, you'll find lots of answers there.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
HI There,
Your story sounds a lot like ours ... except my Shelby did break her leg. There was a mass on the bone but they couldn't 100% diagnose as osteosarcoma so we fixed her leg and thought it was a fungus. Only to have her spleen almost rupture a few months later and with that removed ... the dreaded cancer - hemangiosarcoma.
Months later, when Shelby simply refused to use her leg, I removed it and only then - after 2 biopsies on that leg - did we find traces of hemangiosarcoma. Do I regret not taking her leg when I had the chance? Maybe ... but I do know that I did everything in my power for Shelby with the info I had at the time and her vets would have done the same.
But like Jerry said - that painful leg should probably come off and dogs can hide pain really, really well.
I am sure others will chime in but wanted to share our story as one that we couldn't find that bone cancer either but indeed was cancer.
Hugs!
alison with spirit shelby in her heart (and little jasper too)
PS - Shelby did really well on three legs and lost her journey when the cancer moved to her brain.
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
Thank you for giving Oscar and Harley such a loving forever home!
Sorry you have to be here but, as you can already see from the input of Jerry and Alison, there is no better place to be for support and information. We understand like no others can, the shock and panic and uncertainty when you hear this type of news.
My Happy Hannah was treated off and on for a couple of months for a "sprain" with Rimadyl. It helped. She wouldn't limp, and then she would. This was before I found this site. I would have asked for xrays sooner knowing what I know now ablut this stupid piece of crap disease. Happy Hannah showed nomother signs of anything being wrong whatsoever...other than that darn limp.
In fact, because everything else about her showed me that, once that painful leg was gone she woukd be fine, I knew I needed to proceed with amputation.
How large is Oscar? Recovery is a little rought for about two weeks (or less...yeah, or longer!) and sometimes larger dogs need a few extra days to master mobility adjustments.
Remember, Oscar doesn't give a rip about any ole diagnosis and isn't worrying about a thing!
Looking forward to hearing more about Oscar, and Harley too! Would love to see pictures.
We jave a TRIPAWDS HELPLINE if you'd like to speak with someone who jas been through the whole amputation process.
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!
Your story sounds so similar to many here. A lot of us have proceeded with the amp without definitive diagnosis because like in our case the treatment would be amp even if it wasn't cancer but a fungal infection. They said about 95% it was cancer in our case. I think a lot of us went ahead with amp because our primary purpose was to get our dogs out of pain. And bone cancer is so painful. So the way we looked at it was we needed to do this for quality of life. Our boy too showed no symptoms of being ill only the limp. We know the heartache this diagnosis brings. We know the amp probably won't cure the cancer but may bring many more months and even years for our furfaces. And however much more time we get after recovery it's quality pain free time to enjoy with them. As Sally said please call the helpline. There are angels there willing to talk to you about your fears and concerns. Sometimes it helps to have people around that know how you feel. You've got that with all of us we'll all help you one step at a time in this journey. Much love and hugs to you, Oscar & Harley.
Linda, Ollie, Riley & Spirit Mighty Max
Same here, just a limp. He would run, play and fly onto the porch without using the steps.Ty had hardware from an accident at a year old. We all thought at almost 8, it was giving him some trouble.He was being treated for a YEAR.....:-( for arthritis. I still wonder, what if. What if we had realized it was cancer then?We even had the pins and plates removed. He still limped. I changed vets and was referred to a specialist. By that time, he had also been through a synovial draw which basically changed my dog. That is when I noticed him get " sick" I now know that the pain was getting so bad that he couldn't hide it. His diagnosis came back as Histocytic Sarcoma. Removing his leg removed his pain. I still do not regret that. we had also checked for fungal infection, Lyme etc. Nobody mentioned the c word until the specialist. You have come to the right place for answers and support. Lori, TY & 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.
Hi everyone,
Thank you for all your wishes and thoughts, it's really comforting to hear that we aren't alone in the confusion. We have taken a week at the beach with the doggies whilst we decided, so we could spend lots of time with Oscar and see if he is himself. He seems fine but I understand that they are tougher than us, he has enjoyed his week and I think it's helped us.
We have decided to book in for the amputation as i hate the thought kf him being in pain
He's a big dog as he is a lurcher cross but the vet thinks he is a good candidate to do well. I am lucky to be able to work from home so will be home on hand through his first couple of weeks.
I'm sorry to all those who have lost their furbabies through this and really appreciate you sharing your stories to support.
🐕🐶 xx
Thank you for the update. So glad you were able to have that time off to enjoy and able to come to a decision. Please keep us posted on Oscars journey and we are here to help you however we can. Hugs,
Linda, Ollie, Riley & Spirit Mighty Max
For me, I actually felt a small sense of relief once I decided to proceed with Happy Hannah's amputation, although I cancelled the first appointment because I freaked out! This was before I found this site.
You'll jave the whole Tripawd Universe sending lots of positive energy to Oscar. Jwrry jas given you links to great I fo on how to prepare and care for a tripawd during and after recovery.
My Happy Hannah was somewhat of a "fluffy" 125 lb Bull Mastiff and handled mobility pretty much right off the bat. She had a rpugh recovery though. It took me three weeks before I could finally say I did this FOR her and not TO her! EVERY DOG IS DIFFERENT! EVERY RECOVERY IS DIFFERENT! We've had a lot of dogs, large and small, who took several days to start getting up on their own and walk a few steps.
One thing I wasn't prepared for was how much fur that shaved off my sweet girl! Just letting ya' know!
Stay connected. Let us know if you have any questions. We've all got first-hand knowledge and are here to help.
Hugs to all your pack!
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!
Really glad to hear you were able to clear your head and do some bonding together at the beach. Whatever we can do to help during your journey please ask, that's why we're here.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
