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-my lab mix had right front leg amputated January of this year due to osteosarcoma and pathological fracture. He has done well. Last night he started favoring his left rear leg. He doesn't seem to be in pain except for some alteration in his gait and trying not to bear weight on it. He weighs probably between 80 and 85 lbs. He is 9 years old. It is not easy to get him to vets-just getting in & out of car. Should we restrict activity and watch him for a few days or take him immediately to vet for xray? I sure don't want him to go through the pain and suffering he went through in January with the fracture but it is my understanding that unusual to have recurrence of osteosarcoma in a different limb?
He had one spot on his chest x ray but could not determine for sure if it was lung met.
Thanks
It is possible for OSA to spread to any bone but that is rare and usually doesn't happen this soon after amputation. More likely your dog has a soft tissue/muscle injury and rest for a few days is reasonable. Tripawds have to develop a unique gait to get around and the larger dogs do put more stress on the remaining leg. It is also possible that your dog has an ACL (cruciate ligament) injury but that would require a trip to the vet.
If your dog stops eating or is unable to stand or has obvious pain then you should not wait to take him in for an apppointment.
PAM
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