Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Everyone! have a 3 year old Italian Greyhound who broke his leg at 10 weeks old. The break was very simple and I chose to have it splinted in a cast. He was extremely active and the bone did not heal correctly. The patella is luxated permanently to the inside of his leg and the leg is somewhat twisted around.
He uses it maybe 10% of the time- when he is running, playing, or for balance. I think the main reason he doesn't use it more is because of a loss in the range of motion with his knee being deformed. When he is just walking he does not use it and holds it up. I can manipulate the leg and it does not cause him any pain from what I can tell. He is very vocal about even minor pain so I am pretty convinced it's not painful for him. I do know that dogs are adept at hiding pain.... I also know that Iggy's are particularly skittish and apt to complain. For example- he will yelp in anticipation of pain if you almost step on him when he gets underfoot.
My question is... I had a vet recently recommend amputation as an option. Is this really advisable for a limb that he uses to some degree and is not painful? Her exact words were "It could be devastating for him to carry the leg around for the rest of his life". Is my happy dog really capable of that kind of self reflection? This is the first vet who has brought this up. I certainly wouldn't hesitate if he was in pain and know that dogs are perfectly happy with three legs and adapt well. I just want to do what's best for him... albeit hard when I can't outright ask him what he would prefer.
So I'm hoping all of you wonderful pup owners can guide me if you've been in a similar situation. Thank you!!
torpedo4 said
I had a vet recently recommend amputation as an option. Is this really advisable for a limb that he uses to some degree and is not painful? Her exact words were "It could be devastating for him to carry the leg around for the rest of his life". Is my happy dog really capable of that kind of self reflection?
My guess- and this is purely a guess - is that the vet meant physically devastating rather than emotionally. Tripawds (which is essentially what your dog is since he is only utilizing three legs) learn to balance/walk/sit differently and it may be that she believes the 'extra' leg will cause him difficultly in the long run because it forces him to balance differently and puts stress on the spine, other legs, etc. Also, it is usually advised to keep tripawds lean in order to avoid the stress of extra weight on the remaining legs. She may be considering the weight of the extra leg causing other body issues (e.g. you often hear of large-busted women complaining of back pain - forgive the terrible analogy here but it is the one that comes to mind).
It might be worth a visit to a rehab vet to get their thoughts...
Good luck!
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Hello there, welcome! I've never heard the word "Iggy" used to describe an Italian Greyhound, I love that!
I agree with Zeus' Mom, it might be physically devastating later on in life. It sounds like a drastic description, but we have been told by rehab vets that when dogs carry around a spare leg that they cannot use, their bodies will compensate for it and it can throw their gait off, cause spinal problems, etc. Usually we see this in larger dogs, and folks who have had older dogs with a deformed limb have told us that they wished they would have removed the bum leg while the dog was still young.
Being that your pup is so small, getting around on three shouldn't be a problem at all. But my recommendation is to get another opinion, preferably from a certified rehab vet (see this blog post for details on how to select one), who can analyze his gait and make a good analysis as to the extent that the bad leg could affect him.
I hope this helps. Let's see some pics of your Iggy!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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I am a firm believer in a second opinion. Not because you don't trust or accept what you've been told, but because a second opinion can often bring to light things you may not have considered. Or even things your primary vet did not mention. I had an awesome relationship with Trouble's diagnosing vet, but it was the second opinion vet who made us understand exactly what we were dealing with and the many things we should consider.
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.
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