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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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Member Since:
26 June 2020
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26 June 2020 - 3:44 pm
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Evening everyone.

Never thought I would find myself on a forum for this subject. However, on the 15th of April our eight year old son caught one of our five dogs our toy poodle Olive at the time only ten months old in the patio door breaking her right front leg in two places. Olive was admitted to a referral centre and had surgery on the 17th of April.

Her post operative scans showed the operation as having gone well albeit being a bit tricky. The leg looked straight. Upon discharge on the 20th of April the leg was showing to have a valgus malignant and Olive was not wanting to put weight on her leg. Discussions were had and the vet felt that the valgus malignant would more likely be cosmetic rather than a functional problem and that to re operate would most likely not make it any better and so Olive came home to recover.

Olive was on complete crate rest. Then on the 21st of May Olive was walking ok (as ok as she was doing on a healing broken leg), she squatted to go for a wee in the garden and when she got up she was limping. I rushed her back to the referral centre and x-rays confirmed that the plate in her leg had broken. She came home again on a further six weeks crate rest.

We are due back at the referral centre on July 6th for rescan x-rays and on this day some big decisions will need to be made. As it is at the moment Olive's leg is very disformed and she uses it very little. Having four sisters that she is desperate to play with it is breaking my heart listening to her crying in her crate.

I have always had a dog buggy for my five girls so have no problem at all using this for Olive. I also have a dog sling carrier as this means Olive can come out and about with me and her sisters and there is no weight on her leg at all. Olive is booked in for recorrective surgery on July 20th to be confirmed on July 6th at the rescan review.

I have been talking to my husband and the vet from the point at which the plate broke about the option to amputate Olive's leg. No one wants to choose this but with Olive having many years ahead of her I feel that if her leg just isn't there for us all to be worrying about that she will be able to play with her sisters again which is all she wants to do. My husband and I feel that with how disfigured her leg is that no recorrective surgery will be able to make it so she can run around like she was able to.

I just wonder if any of you lovely people who have gone through what we are going through might have some advice for me. I'll try to figure out how to attach a photo. Thanks

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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26 June 2020 - 5:23 pm
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Hi and welcome! Sorry that you are thinking about joining our club, but we are here to help. Olive is sooo young, but in a lot of ways that's good. She has a small size and youth on her side so if you amputate, she has a great shot at a good recovery.

So it sounds to me like her leg does not have cancer but it is broken in two places that have not healed?

If it is a break, has the surgeon discussed the possibility of a prosthesis? If she is a good candidate for one (i.e, the breaks are lower than the elbow joint), and you are willing to invest the necessary time and money into a prosthetic, an artificial leg could make a tremendous difference in her mobility over time. Just wondering, it's always something to consider before amputation surgery.

Otherwise if she has to lose that leg, rest assured that she can be very happy on three. As long as you are proactive about managing her activity so that she doesn't overdo things, Olive can be just has happy as before. Yes, a buggy comes in very handy for longer walks with the pack, so it's great that you're already invested in one!

I hope that she doesn't need the amputation but if she does, we are here to help OK? 

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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26 June 2020 - 6:27 pm
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Geez, so sorry you have been through so much with sweet Olive.  BTW, Olove and your  tire pack are very lucky to have you as their caring hooman!!

Not that it helps, but we often see cases where fractures require surgery, and then a other surgery, and maybe even some infections  on top of everything else.  In fact, we have another member  who jist joined with a similar scenario  of surgeries,  long recovery and additionally infection.

You are smart to check out your options and to also consider  amputation  as a aolid, viable solution.

I know the word "amputation " sounds scary at first.  The thing is, amputation  is ONE surgery, ONE recovery from the surgery that is approximately  two-ish weeks.  Of course, ANY surgery has a risk and not saying recovery is a picnic, but once the sparkle starts to come back and you see Olive FINALLY getting to be Olive again, you will be over the moon happy!  No more pain!  No more surgeries! 

So for about two weeks recovery  consists  of rest, short leashed potty breaks, more rest.  Non slip scatter rugs for traction   if you have hardwoods.  No horsing around with her siblings for first two-ish weeks.  Definitely  don't  want her ripping out stitches!  

Shhh.....don't  tell the big dogs, but usually  the smaller dogs adapt to three pretty quickly.  And clearly  Olive is already basically  a tripawd...but with pain.

Anyway, whatever route you take, we are here for you, okay?

Hugs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie 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!


Member Since:
26 June 2020
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27 June 2020 - 12:58 am
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And so here come the questions. Been awake most of the night thinking everything over.

As Olive's malignant and break is about 2 inches above her wrist joint what would people's view be with regards to whether to remove her limb right back to her shoulder socket ie leave her with no limb at all or as this is about injury and not disease would it be better to leave as much of Olive's leg as we can?

Thanks in advance for your advice

Olive's mom 



Member Since:
27 July 2014
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27 June 2020 - 11:40 am
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Olive's mom,

Having the break just above the wrist may be good news. In his post Jerry brought up the idea of a prosthetic: "If she is a good candidate for one (i.e, the breaks are lower than the elbow joint), and you are willing to invest the necessary time and money into a prosthetic, an artificial leg could make a tremendous difference in her mobility over time. Just wondering, it’s always something to consider before amputation surgery."

Here's a blog you might find interesting: https://tripawd.....ics-worth/

One thing I noticed on this site is that some pets left with a partial leg or nub and no prosthetic sometimes have problems with further damage and sores on that remaining joint because there is no protection. Surgeons could advise you on that.

Virginia







Member Since:
22 February 2013
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27 June 2020 - 2:45 pm
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y,Okay, so I screwed up!   Helena sent me some pictures to post for he of Ollie and pack  late last night.

And post them I did.on so every else thread. 

So, for now, please hop over to R's thread to seeictures of Ollie and her pack!  I'll straighten it out later...hopefully!.

https://tripawd.....i-do-post/

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!

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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27 June 2020 - 3:53 pm
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Oh I see Sally shared the pics that you sent to me too! I'll share them here so everyone can see:

Screenshot_20200627-000709_Gmail.jpgImage Enlarger

Screenshot_20200627-000657_Gmail.jpgImage Enlarger

Screenshot_20200627-001803_Gmail.jpgImage Enlarger

Screenshot_20200627-001025_Gmail.jpgImage Enlarger

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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27 June 2020 - 3:57 pm
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would it be better to leave as much of Olive’s leg as we can?

Thanks for sharing that link Kerren.

Helena, also see:

Top 10 Questions to Ask Vet Before Amputation Surgery for Dogs and Cats (Part 1)

Partial vs. Full Leg Amputation for Pets, What’s Better?

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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