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, I have a wonderful 4.5 year old mastiff who was just diagnosed with OSA in his rear leg. I want to do anything I can to make him feel better... but I've not heard of anyone amputating the leg of a dog as big as he is. I know a few mastiffs that did fine with it, but they were all much lighter than he is. He is about 212 and NOT fat. Tall and muscular.
People keep sending me stories about great danes and bull mastiffs and how they did post amputation, but those are usually 75-100 lbs less than him. I am hoping maybe someone can ease my fears about a boy this large?
Thank you!!
Welcome to Tripawds, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
What is your boy's name? He is a big one!
I can't help you with size, my tripawd was a 17 pound pug! The biggest Tripawd I've known personally is a 150 pound Anatolian Shepard named Cemil. He is a front amp from OSA and is 5 years out from his amp! He gets around well, but the years have slowed him down a bit.
What is in your favor is that it is a rear leg- it is a bit easier for dogs to loose a back leg. We have had lots of Danes and Mastiffs here, not sure if any have been as big as yours.
What does your vet think? How healthy is he otherwise? Are his joints in good condition? How active is he?
I seem to be full of questions without too many answers for you. Other members can give you their big dog perspective.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Edited to add: One of our resident vet's, Dr. Pam, had a tripawd Mastiff named Tazzie. Tazzie was about 175 pounds and a front amp. Here is a Video Introduction.
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thank you so much for your reply!
His name is Tiberius, but he is known as Ti. I have been reading that the rear leg is better, and I can see why with the big heavy chest, why that would be so, but I still worry about his knee, without that leg. He is otherwise very healthy.
here is a pic of him.. he is a total angel and mama's boy.
Sorry I missed all of the questions... I was just so happy to get the photo sized right!
Well, the vet I am seeing is a brand new (to me) vet. I went to him for a second opinion after I didn't believe my regular vets diagnosis of arthritis.. I don't have a really good grip on what the vets think of him being ok with an amputation. They all seem to think that it is perfectly fine for me to put him to sleep...
He is not particularly active, he's definitely all mastiff. No catching frisbees over here. But his joints have always been good.
Ti is a beauty! What?! Put him to sleep without knowing if he's a good candidate for an amputation - perhaps there's another vet or surgeon who can clearly explain the options based on Ti and his abilities and health. He looks so strong in the photo you posted.
Others will chime in here about their large dogs. Today I saw a video on how well Sally's mastiff moved with a rear leg amputation, simply amazing.
Sorry I'm not much help since my pet is a cat not a dog. One thing I will say is that I'm amazed how well she's doing. She falls over a lot because she likes to rub her left cheek on the floor and then topples over. She's short so she doesn't seem to mind. I did take her to a chiropractic vet for a bit of rehab and I massage her daily to keep her joints mobile.
You're at the right place here to learn about other's experiences.
Kerren and Mona
Yes, I would consider asking a specialist what they think of him being on 3 legs. He is very large but most of that weight is up front and if he is strong, he may be alright.
He's beautiful!
Sonya & "Millie"--born Feb 1999, diagnosed with OSA 8/27/14, set free 9/27/14
(RIP baby girl)
He is a great looking dog! My Tazzie was 190 pounds pre-amputation and lost her RF leg at 6 yrs of age. She had both of her knees repaired prior and her hips were good and she did fine. I dd not let her go down steep flights of stairs since she was a front leg amp but otherwise she did fine and lived almost 1 1/2 yrs after amputation with chemo. If your dog has good hips he should be okay since it is much easier in general to lose a rear leg.
Pam
Wow, what a total hunk of a handsome guy you have there !! All those Mastiff breeds are gorgeous, lovable dogs......!! I really can't be of too much help, my Tripawd girl was a 60 lb Lab, however, others here have already given great advice regarding giant breeds....I would get as many opinions from vets as possible, and not just give up and put him to sleep.
Keep us updated on Ti, and hopefully a good resolution will happen very soon for him. I also will be keeping you in my thoughts.....
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Wow Ti is a beautiful big hunk of Mastiff. The way it was explained to me is that dogs put 60% of their weight on their front limbs (30&30) and the hind legs carry 40% (20& 20). If you look at it that way Ti will still have 80% of his weight supported. Good news is that he is not a Frisbee catcher, but a couch potato, and that he is not full of arthritis. Please hook up with Sally aka Bennie- she is mom to mastiff's and can shed some light. Again what a beautiful giant.
Ohhh Ti you are such a handsome pup!
I'm sorry you're both faced with this, it's so hard but I am so thankful for Dr. Wiltzius who chimed into offer her perspective. Thanks Pam! We had the pleasure of meeting her sweet mastiff Tazzie after amputation and she did great! Here are a couple of posts about Tazzie so you can learn more about this amazing girl:
http://tripawds.....very-tips/
If you are not happy with your vet, if your instinct is telling you that he can do fine on three, then see another vet. What part of the globe are you in? Maybe we can refer you to one?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I don't have much advice since my girl was a rear amp but also about 25 pounds! But I wanted to chime in and say welcome and that Ti is one beautiful, regal dog! WOW... truly stunning.
Hugs,
Alison with the Spirit of Shelby fur-ever in her heart
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
Yep...fire those vets!!! Unless they can give you valid reasons why Ti would not be a good candidate for amputation, continue your search!
HE IS GORGEOUS!!!! I want to jump through the screen and hug him!!!
Yes, my Happy Hannah, a 125 lb. Bull .astiff at time of rear leg amp. did slendid on three legs!!! I understand she's not the 212 lb. ..Mastiff that Ti is,but Tazzie and Cemil are!
I know this is sooooo scary and you feel like you don t know which way to go. There are no guarantees regardless of size. This is major surgery and it has risks. Rarely is the inability to adapt to three legs one of them.
I would imagine some surgeons may just simply be fearful.of operating on such a large dog....aybe even feeling a little bit out of their comfort zone.
Where do you live? Maybe there is a teaching school who can give you a recommendation. I would even google on line for Mastiff Rescue groups, perhaps they can provide some insight.
Please stay connected and let us know whate going on.
LOVE THIS DOG!!!
Hugs to all!
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!
Basically they said "well your first option is to just put him to sleep". I believe the new vet is willing to do it... but I will know more tomorrow when we do chest X-rays and the bloodwork there.
The biggest and supposedly best pet hospital around is the one who just did my friends mastiff (175lbs) and they were a little unsure that she could handle it, but it was her front leg. (side note, she handled the amputation but died 6 weeks later from the cancer spreading to her lungs. She just passed Tuesday.)
I am hoping against hope that the X-rays are clear and that he is a candidate for amputation.
Thank you all for your kind words about him... his love and spirit are even bigger than his body.
Oh, he is beautiful! I love his name
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.
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