Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I was just wondering how they decide where to take the leg off whether at the knee or hip or any other joint? Like my dog for instance got hit by a car and broke the tib/fib and they amputated her leg at the stifle (sorry I don't know if that is the right dog terminology!). So I was wondering why they leave the femur and not remove the entire leg? Is it because that bone was good and it is less traumatic to the site? Does it help her balance? Or does it just depend on the vet? I am going to ask my vet as well when we get the sutures out. I would call and ask but I have already called there about 3 times a day and don't want to keep the line busy for questions that can wait lollol
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Hey Kirby, you've touched on a popular topic here and one that has lots of answers.
As far as we know, it really depends on the location of the tumor or injury in addition to how the surgeon was trained. We talked about it on our Tripawd Talk Radio Show last Sunday, check it out.
Some physical therapy vets believe that leaving as much of the limb as possible helps with balance, while others have told us it doesn't matter.
While some dogs do fine with part of the limb left, other do not and some have had to go in to have an amputation re-done to take the rest of the bone. This typically happens with front leg Tripawds though, rear leggers seem do to fine with partial amputation.
I know, I know, no easy answers on our end but I'm betting Dr. Pam has some good info!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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Hi, just to weigh in, our vets (Animal Medical Center in NY) who amputated the right rear leg of my lab said they always prefer to take it at the hip ...
It depends on surgeon preference and location of tumor. Most vets like to leave a small part of the femur and the surrounding muscle to act as a little pad so the dog can sit easier and most think this is the most cosmetic. However if a tumor involves the femur or if the leg is being removed for a hip fracture then the entire limb is often removed. Dogs seem to do well and adapt easily no matter which procedure is performed.
Pam
Radar is a front leg amputee and his tumor was around his pastern. The Vet's initial suggestion was to amputate at the elbow. We had read about sores on the elbow (from the dog trying to use it to get up) and also read about the need to go back in and redo the amputation.
It was at our request that they went all the way to the shoulder - I think this was a good choice as maybe we headed the spread of the desease off and have added to his longevity.
Oh this is funny, but the vet told my pawrents that some vets leave the upper thigh on a male rear leg Tripawd because the stump hides a boy dog's wee-wee!
Isn't that funny?
Wyatt Ray Dawg . . . The Tripawds Leg-A-Cy Continues!
Read all about my adventures at my Tripawds Blog
Wyatt Ray Dawg said:
Oh this is funny, but the vet told my pawrents that some vets leave the upper thigh on a male rear leg Tripawd because the stump hides a boy dog's wee-wee!
Isn't that funny?
Percy's vet said that! I thought that was the craziest reason for making a decision like this, but he also said it would help his balance.
Maggie lost her left rear leg, she had a mast cell tumor in her knee. Our surgeon left a little of the femur and then wrapped the muscle around it for pad as Dr. Pam said. But I remember the surgeon telling me that he did it that way because it was easier to cut the femur than dis-articulate the femur from the hip.
Karen
Oh wow! I didn't realize there would be such a vast array of answers lol! Here I thought it would be more of a cut and dry answer.... I am going to see the vet tomorrow (thankfully none of mine are going this time lol my sisters is!) so I am going to pick her brain about it!
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