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 everyone! For the past 2 years Jedi, my 12 yo husky, has dealt with a single soft tissue lump on his left front paw, pinky toe to be exact. After 2 removals, aggressive radiation and now chemo, for a third time the lump is growing and has ulcerated! It's decision time, but he's 12! Ask your questions and I will answer. But in the mean time, how do I make my 12 yo a tripawd w/o feeling guilty, hurt, etc!!!
Hello - I am Mom to a soon to be 12 year old Mal x Greyhound who became a tripawd on May 4. His soft tissue sarcoma was in his armpit and very painful. Oddly enough, it all started with a toe and a growth in the toe, but that was not cancer (we amputated the toe over a year ago and had full histopathology - no neoplasia).
Personally, STS is usually locally aggressive (recurring in the same location), but can become higher stage and metastasize. Pofi's was in a lymph node and wrapped around a rib by the time of leg amputation. And large - very large.
But he bounced back beautifully - he is happy to be without that pain. We have had a glorious summer after a year of other surgeries and procedures and pain. I can only speak to our own experience, but I wish we had known sooner and had removed the leg sooner - your circumstances are not, of course, the same.
See our blog (in the signature) to see how well he has done. There are some videos and pictures. Every dog's recovery is different, but most end up doing very well.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
As a Husky, I'm sure Jedimis stil spunky and spry! They are so resilient!
I know the word "amputation" sounds scary. We all understand struggling with making a decision to amputate.
Have you had Jedi evaluated by an Orthopedic Surgeon! Do they feel he Is a good ccandidate fort the surgery? Other than that bum foot, is Jedi in good shape? Is his Onco on board?
Is Jedi in pain...on any pain meds? Is he limping now, holding his paw up?
The one thing that amputation does for sure is remove the pain! Recovery is no picnic for about two weeks, more or less. We have TONS of information here about recovery and helping keep dogs strong on three legs.
Removing a pai ful leg and giving Jedi a pain free ife is nothing to feel guilty about! Jedi wil be GRATEFUL the pain is gone and he can get on with living life to the fullest! You are giving him more quality time dor loving and spoiling!
Check out all the Tripawd videos. Check out Size and Age Matters. You'll see so many dogs over 22, over 13 plus. We just had a 15 yr old dog have an aamputation a bit ago and she did splendidly well! Around nere, age is just a number!
Hang in there! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Love!
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!
Hi there and welcome
My situation is different as I've got a 5 year old Great Dane who weighs 150 pounds and has osteosarcoma.
She got her right front leg amputated 3 1/2 months ago and is doing really well, hoping around confidently on 3 legs.
As Sally says, recovery is no picnic and the first couple of weeks can be difficult but generally after stitches come out everything gets better and better.
There are lots of older boys and girls here who went through amputation, I am sure you'll hear from them.
You can do this and so can Jedi, if your vet thinks he is a good candidate for amputation.
Our best friends deserve to have a pain free life so please do not feel guilty for a moment, you are a great Mom and are trying to do what is best for your sweetie
Sending you a big hug and cuddles to Jedi
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Other than this foot, how is Jedi's health? Is he overweight? Any other health issues that could affect his being a tripawd? There are many examples on here of dogs who were seniors when they had their surgeries. You can always search forums & blogs for "senior." Most dogs who are in good health do well as tripawds. The first couple of weeks are rough - that's the recovery period. But after they get through that, they do great.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Hi and welcome. Everyone here has offered such great advice. I'll add: Have you seen our "Size and Age Matters" Discussion Forum topic? There are many examples of older dogs on three legs there.
More questions for you:
What does your vet think of your dog's candidacy as a Tripawd?
Does your dog have any other health concerns?
What is your gut feeling about how he'll do?
So much of a Tripawd's recovery depends on the person's attitude. If you believe he will do fine and you project pawsitivity, he will follow your lead. If you feel depressed, sad and upset the whole time, guess what? Yep. He will too. So if you can set a solid example of confidence and optimism, it can make all the difference in how it plays out.
We're glad you're here! Let us know how we can help.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you to everyone. To answer some of your questions...Jefi us in perfect health! Body size, hips, legs, back, he is strong! My vet and the oncologist believe this is the next step. We are taking him to Penn Vet in Philly to discuss all options. Everyone has said that this is the right thing. We know we cannot determine the unknown and the what ifs, all I know us I don't want him in pain. While he is limping on occasion, I have his paw wrapped because the cancer is ulcerated and he continues to go after it. We are also to the point that every time we leave the house, he gets the cone! I believe we know what we need to do, and there will be tears, as they pretty much have not stopped!!! But I know we can do this. I will check out senior Tripawds!!! Thanks again everyone!
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