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 1.5 yr old girl was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and we have amputation scheduled for Wednesday.
I am second guessing myself after reading up on this cancer and her having a bad day this weekend.
My primary goal with her is to make her as comfortable as possible with this diagnosis and I don't want to extend her suffering/pain for selfish reasons, It would be absolutely awful and I would feel horrendous if we did the surgery and it progressed to having to cross over the rainbow bridge a couple of weeks later
She is 120lbs and has already been walking on 3 legs for around a month, so no doubts she would adjust. She is an enormous cry baby though and I think she would be depressed for quite some time while recovering.
For those that have done the amputation and chemo route, if you were in my shoes and had to choose to do it again, would you? rn rnThanks
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Hi Ryan, welcome to you and your pup.
I'm sorry you are facing this situation. Please know that you are not alone and lots of us have been in your shoes. If it's any help, see our most recent Tripawds Quality of Life Survey Results so you can get some insights into how people felt about amputation (even when their dog didn't live up to the prognosis).
How does your vet feel about your dog's ability to be a Tripawd? It sounds like they are on-board with it? Yes she's a big dog but not the biggest we've ever had join us. See our Size and Age Matters Forum and our Giant Breeds news stories.
When it comes to recovery, our attitude really sets the tone. If your dog is sensitive, your vet can make sure to prescribe pain medication that will help take the edge off. But it's our attitude that they absorb so whatever you feel she will too. It will be hard to stay pawsitive at first, but you can do it!
Here's an article to check out:
https://tripawd.....very-hard/
On Wednesday we are having a group call on Zoom if you want to join us!
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When: Dec 11, 2024 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
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Even though you say she's a crybaby, she may surprise you with how well she does. Dogs tolerate amputation better than humans. They also tolerate chemo much, much better. As far as your question goes, I am a vet assistant (training to be technician) for the past 1.5 years. A big part of my job is helping to give chemotherapy. I've also helped dogs recovery after amputation. Hopefully you won't mind me answering.
I wouldn't hesitate at all on amputation. Yes, it's a big surgery and recovery. There is the small risk, that there will be some sort of progression or complication and she will have to cross the rainbow bridge fairly quickly. Even if that happens, in my opinion, it's worth it. That leg is such a source of pain for her. Dogs feel so much relief after surgery.
Chemotherapy has been my favorite part of my job because I really get to know those dogs. I've seen quite a few graduate. Is it worth it? It is a big commitment. You need to be willing to give up one day a week, the expense and deal with the uncertainty. It's also important your girl tolerates the vet visit reasonably well. There's been a few of my patients that get so stressed they get stress colitis after their visit, and I always worry about them and if we are doing the right thing. Most dogs (and cats) aren't like that and do ok. Please, please listen to your medical team. If they recommend trazodone to keep your girl calm, it's worth it for her. With chemo, there can be challenges. The toughest thing is deciding if you want to keep going in the hopes that we can fix whatever is going on and their pet stays sick and loses quality of life. Often times, especially if it's just GI issues, the meds can be tweaked and the good days come back. I do think sometimes the medical team and the owners go to far. They keep going out of hope, so trust your gut about your furbaby. Hopefully, I didn't scare you.
I am happy to answer questions, but I am also spread thin these days. Please be patient if you ask anything.
(hmmm... I don't think I have a signature, I should add one in, since I'm going to hang out here.
Topher
Vet Assistant (in school to be a licensed vet technician)
1.5 years Oncology department, moved to rehab & sportsmed December 2024
Tripawd Angel, Cora the Determined <3
blackdogcompanion said
Even though you say she's a crybaby, she may surprise you with how well she does. Dogs tolerate amputation better than humans. They also tolerate chemo much, much better. As far as your question goes, I am a vet assistant (training to be technician) for the past 1.5 years. A big part of my job is helping to give chemotherapy. I've also helped dogs recovery after amputation. Hopefully you won't mind me answering.
GREAT input, thank you for taking the time to share your expertise with us all! 
Hi Ryan,
We're so sorry you are going through this. We recently went through the same exact thing with our 6 yr old 95 lb doberman Kaiser. It was a very difficult decision for us for the same reasons as yours. Our worry of a large dog with a deep chest being able to adjust on three legs gave us pause and we were so worried it would change his personality and cause depression. We made the decision to amputate as that was the best decision to eliminate his pain and give him the best quality of life. We did not regret the decision and are so grateful to have him pain free. As everyone on here has said, the recovery is rough but it is short lived. It's been a few months now post-surgery and Kaiser is thriving on three legs! He is happy, nothing seems to hold him back and he has resumed all his activities with some limitation. We took the advice from this community to do canine rehab therapy with Kaiser and it has helped him build up strength, balance and has improved his mobility. We also decided to do chemo treatments. He has now had 4 chemo infusions of 6 and he has tolerated them very well! His last chest xray showed no lung mets and his blood work has been normal. We've been in your shoes and if we had to do it again, we wouldn't hesitate to amputate and go through chemo. We wish you best, you are not alone and hang in there!
Matt, Kim & Kaiser
Just catching up on your magnificent sweet Mastiff
Update us when you can and ask any questions you may have regarding the recovery. As you can see from the great feedback of others, we are all here to support you in any way we can.
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!
Hi I just figured I would update you all on her.
We proceeded with the amputation and it went very well, after about 2.5 weeks (once she was off the gabapentin) she was back to her old self and running around full of joy and energy.
When we did the amputation her lungs were clear, it took us quite a while to get into an oncologist because of the christmas break and everyone being on holidays. We finally got an appointment for yesterday and they re-xrayed her and her lungs are just absolutely filled with mets, they said "the nodules are too numerous to count with the largest being 6cm in size, and they would be surprised if she makes it to the end of the month". It has only been a month post amputation and everyone seemed shocked it has spread this badly
They recommended we don't do chemo because they don't believe it would have any effect considering how bad it is.
This is just absolutely awful for her being 1.5yrs old, she is still full of energy and hasn't shown any signs of slowing down and the vet even stated she is not showing any symptoms of the spread yet, as I said in my original post, we want to ensure she doesn't suffer at all, so we are going to closely monitor her and make the call when we think the time is right.
Thank you for all your kind words, its unfortunate she won't make it to her 2nd birthday and it seems like she has been one of the worst case scenario's of all the posts I have read here.
Thanks
I am so sorry you got this devastating news.
Remember that you made the best decisions you could for your girl, and you made them with love. She is lucky to be part of your pack.
Sadly, we have sometimes seen here that OSA can be very aggressive in younger dogs. I don't remember seeing any hard data on that, but I can think of a few younger pups who ended up where you are. I don't think the delay in getting into an oncologist is much of a factor, lots of people have had to wait a few weeks for a consult.
Cancer is a nasty, unfair beast. Sometimes it is extra unfair.
Sending peace and strength for you and your family. I know you will make every day her very best day.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls and Boy
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
My heart hearts for you guys, I'm so sorry for this awful news. Yes, statistically very young dogs have lower odds with this cancer, but you just never know. In this case, your girl got the short end of the stick and I'm truly sorry.
As Karen said, you guys did the best thing to help her be free of the pain she was in from that tumor. Love her up, spoil her rotten, and remember she is still 100% your girl. It's so tough knowing what she doesn't, but you are also in control of how you project your emotions. Try to do your best to stay present, focusing on her beauty, her companionship, her love for you. These moments are all such a gift. One day you will be full of tears but now isn't that day OK? You can do this. It's the toughest time, I get it completely. Lean on us.
One way you can find some guidance during this tough time is to talk to a hospice vet right now, before things get bad. They can help you monitor her quality of life, and be there when you sense that it is no longer there for her. If you'd like some help finding one, ask your oncology team, or just let me know and I'll try to find one for you.
Lots of hugs and love headed your way from all of us.
Shocked to read this is an understatement. Just stunned.
Remember that you made the best decisions you could for your girl, and you made them with love. She is lucky to be part of your pack.
You absolutely did what you needed to do to give your girl a chance at a pain free quality life. To not have tried, to not have given her that chance, would have haunted you. She wanted that chance. Based on what you said, she has been able to enjoy being her Happy self fairly quickly after surgery. and continues to enjoy life full of loving and spoiling.
she is still full of energy and hasn't shown any signs of slowing down and the vet even stated she is not showing any symptoms
To me, that's the silver lining in this turn of events. No symptoms! You have removed her pain and that in itself is a healing therapy. Dogs have gotten good extended quality time even AFTER symptoms have started showing up.
There are some things that can be done if symptoms do start showing up. You can ask your vet about prednisone, or IF coughing shows up cough meds, also maybe metronomics , Palladia, etc.
FWIW, Generally, not always, but generally the Mets are not painful per se. Extreme exhaustion, lack of energy shows up more often than not and, while may be "uncomfortable ", not painful.
Sorry if I missed your name, what is it? Also we would love to see some pictures of and this sweet girl. Here is a link to help adding images . Let us know if you have any trouble getting them posted, okay? We would love to see her!
((((((((((((((((((((((((((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!
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