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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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.
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Welcome iqalo! I hope you do not mind that I moved your post. I thought Toby needed a topic of his own so we could welcome the two of you and answer questions you may have specific to Toby.
This is a frightening time for the human - remember, Toby doesn't know anything is wrong. Making the decision is the hardest in the world. I highly recommend a second opinion, particularly if there is ANY question in your mind.
There is a ton of informative reading here, if you just want to browse and learn. If you have questions, fire away, someone (or more than someone) will jump in and give you their story.
All these dogs are different. All recover at different rates, and all have different reactions to the medications. Good thoughts to you and Toby.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
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
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Hi Igalo - So sorry to hear about Toby. This is such a scary time. We found Tripawds when we were faced with the same decision.
The first time we heard the word 'amputation' for our golden Honey, it may as well have been a foreign language. We couldn't imagine having to make this decision. Honey has osteosarcoma and her left front leg was removed 3 weeks ago. I like to say her 'pain' was removed!
I don't know what Toby's situation is - cancer or something else, but we wish we had done amputation sooner. We waited 3 months. Honey was in a lot of pain and on a lot of medication. Our vets didn't push us and told us that everyone's timing is different. We have no regrets about the amputation. Honey is still recovering - she's taking a little longer because of an infection - but she's getting back to herself. We've never been so happy that she's back to her annoying food-begging!! She loves toast!!
You'll find lots of helpful advice and support here. It helped me to look at pictures and videos here of other happy tripawds. You and Toby will get through this time!
All the best to you and Toby. Keep us posted.
Dx Osteosarcoma 3/31/10. Amputation 7/21/10. Honey put up a valiant fight and lost her battle 9/22/10. Missing her and treasuring 9 years with our Honeygurl.
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.
i can relate to your situation as i was in it about a week or two ago. We got to our place by talking with the surgeon, our vet and seeing how successful dogs recover from this site.
Our decision was pretty straight forward - if we did nothing, the leg would be useless in less than 6 months, debulking wasnt an option because of where it is and as someone else mentioned - with Caesar's type of cancer - he would be "cancer free" instantly with the leg removal.
It was still hard to imagine and comprehend, but once you process it you will make a decision that is right for you and Toby.
We brought our dog home today from the vet (had surgery yesterday) and he is doing better than i thought possible. We still have a long road to recovery, but he is off to a good start.
Ryan
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
Proud mother of Max, an 11-year-old Border Collie mix who was sure he was a Real Boy.
Diagnosis of osteosarcoma of the left rear leg and lymphoma in February 2010.
That annoying leg was removed April 7, 2010 and was never missed.
Max left for the Rainbow Bridge on July 29, 2010 and is now running free. We love you!
Hi Igalo;
I know I'm not alone when I say that even though it's a hard decision for you, it's the right decision! When we heard those words applied to my babydog Nikki, I couldn't even imagine what we were going to do. I conjured up so many bad ways that it could go, and really just wanted to hide and not think about it.
Nikki is now cancer-free and you frankly wouldn't even know she's a tripawd most of the time. She moves around great, plays like she's a puppy again, and pretty much lets me know every day that we made the right decision.
If you read her blog here, you'll find that the journey is a tough one, especially in the beginning, but it's SO worth it. Without treatment, Nikki wouldn't have lasted 2 months (She had Osteosarcoma and the docs said that the bone was ready to fracture, and when it did the cancer would transfer throughout immediately) and now we're enjoying our time together as if nothing's wrong at all.
There's an incredible group of people here who will help you through every step of the way.
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!
Catie -
Birthday – November 4 2003
Amputation – January 13 2010
Crossed the Bridge – June 2 2011
Hi Igalo,
This is a terrible time you are going through. When I heard the horrible news over a year ago that Tasha had bone cancer in her front left leg and should have her leg amputated to get her out of the terrible pain of bone cancer I was shocked and my first reaction was a huge NO! as I left the office that day heartbroken before I even reached my car I looked at Tasha limping, hurting with pain meds in my hand for her I knew I had to help her get rid of the pain and give her a chance at life. Today Tasha is still with us, she is happy girl loving life. She will be celebrating her 11 month ampuversary in a couple weeks. Every dog and situation is different but for us amputation was the right decision, whatever decision you come to will be what is best for Toby. Good Luck with your decision, It is a very hard one to make.
Jo Ann & Tasha
Tasha 8 years old, First cancer diagnosis 6/26/09, Last cancer diagnosis 9/26/09, Amputation 10/01/09, Loving our girl moment by moment.
Tasha lost her battle and became my Angel on May 4 2011. Forever in my heart….
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 know how scary it is.. I remember it very well. I was a total wreck! I didn't know if I was going to do the amputation at first.. was it for Zak or me? But this was because I was uneducated about it. This site & others helped me tremendously..
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.
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