I'm glad your dog is doing better, but can I ask how you made the decision to do so? I was just told today that Toby's right arm has to be amputated and I'm so scarred, I'm lost right now…and don't know what to do.

Hi igalo,

   I have a tripawd Chloe who was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma cancer even though her blood panel came back with a clean bill of health. With that type of cancer, amputation was the best option since it made her cancer free immediately. I don't know what the circumstances are regarding your dog, whether it is cancer or an accident, but in just 13 days Chloe has progressed so much! If you read a few of my recent blog posts you will see that she has gotten her energy back, she plays fetch, she can go up 5 wooden stairs and gives me walks. I didn't hesitate with her amputation because animals do not have the same emotional attachment we do and as long as you act like everything is normal and give them lots of love, they bounce back sooner than you think.

This is a great site with so many people who will give you support and advice so keep using it!! Best of luck to you both!

-Chloe's mom

Hi, it is completely scary but I think most of us on this site, once we got through the decisionmaking and the surgery, feel confident we made the right decision.  I was very hestitant about amputation, I have an 8 year old lab diagnosed with a tumor of the cartilage.  It might possibly (low chance, almost experimental) have been controlled by radiation, so there is a chance we could have tried that and then amputated if it didn't work.  Ultimately, I had to concede what everyone here says – if amputation is orthopedically viable and will stop pain or disease, it is much  harder on the person than on the pup.  I was a total non-believer, but if you search all posts named "Ajax" you will see how well he is doing 3.5 WEEKS post amputation.  Also I had a long dialogue on this site about the decision; I think it is under the title "Questioning Amputation"

Good luck, you will make the right decision for you and for your pup.

Hi Igalo,

I'm sorry to hear that you're faced with this decision. I remember feeling exactly what you describe when our boy's vet recommended amputation. Max was a bit arthritic and I wasn't sure he would be able to function with three legs. He couldn't have proven me more wrong! We've never regretted the decision to proceed with the amputation. He was in so very much pain before the amputation and almost immediately after the surgery it was clear that he felt so much better. There were some adjustments that he needed to make in terms of stairs and such, but it was obvious that he was much happier without the leg because that meant he was also without the pain of the bone tumor.

Every dog's situtation is different, of course, and I don't know what Toby's situation is - but you'll make the right decision. You can read a lot of helpful stuff here at the Tripawds site about what to expect in regards to amputation and life after that – it made me feel so much more prepared to make a decision for Max.

Please let us know how things are going for you and for Toby.

Jeanette

Hi Igalo

So sorry about Toby. These are terrifying times for you right now. I remember being in the place you're at seven months ago when our Catie's right foreleg was amputated because of bone cancer. And I remember quite clearly saying to my husband before the definitive diagnosis: no WAY are we amputating her leg. 

I choked on my outburst very quickly when I realized not going through the surgery would leave her in incredible pain that even the pain medications couldn't totally control. I was approached the possible surgery from very human emotions, like, she'd be maimed, it would hurt, she'd never be the same, her life would suck. After consultation with the surgeon, after reading the other stories here, I realized that  loss of a limb was nothing compared to letting Catie suffer.

There are indeed a lot of resources here. I feel your pain and confusion and fear; I really do. Whatever decision you make – and I'm not aware of what Toby's circumstances are either – I'm confident you'll make the right one.

Keep us updated. Take care!

igalo said:

I was just told today that Toby's right arm has to be amputated and I'm so scared, I'm lost right now…and don't know what to do.

I went ahead with the amp & followed with chemo. (more chemo than I thought initially because Zak handled it so well) It's very personal but I took one step at a time.. First I did the amp then I decided about chemo. I wanted to give Zak every chance at a longer life so I went for it full-force with both guns blazing.

I wish you the best in making the choice that's right for you.