Hi all, I found this resource while searching for information to help me make the tough decision about whether or not to amputate my puppy's deformed leg. I would love to hear from people who have been in a somewhat similar situation and how things went for you.

His name is Nemo and his is a 9 mo, 23 lbs chihuahua mix. He was born with a deformed leg, the ortho we went to when I adopted him at 4 months diagnosed him with muscle contracture, the leg is straight all the time except for when the hock hyperextends (bends in the wrong direction) while he is walking or standing with weight on it. He sometimes flips his paw while walking and steps on it upside down (knuckling). When I first got him, both our regular vet and the ortho said that amputation is an option but at that time not necessary because he didn't seem to be in pain and we might be able to manage the leg with daily stretching.

Now 5 months later he is 9mo and the hock hyperextension has gotten much worse. Daily stretching isn't enough to combat him constantly walking on it and making it hyperextend. He injured the leg back in October just running in a yard so after that the vet said no more off-leash running and no playing with other dogs except small ones. The vet brought up amputation as an option again but said it was up to me, didn't advise one way or the other whether it was better to keep or amputate the leg. Then, just the other day I took him for a 30 minute walk and when we got home he started carrying the leg and didn't seem able to stand on it. Then he went to curl up in his blankie and got it stuck and yelped. So, clearly the leg is causing him some trouble and pain.

I am so torn because clearly the leg hinders him at times. He can't run around and play like a normal dog because of risk of injury to the leg. He can't walk on pavement because he drags the paw and wears the nails down to the quick, but the boots I have tried make him flip the paw more and create friction which makes his hock hyperextend more. He can't come hiking with me because there are too many things he can get his leg caught on. He can't play with his doggy friends anymore because it is too risky. 

So for those reasons I feel like amputation would give him more freedom and better quality of life. But I am scared that the amp site/stub will be painful for him and he will be in more pain than he is with the leg. I also worry because he does use it to walk and balance most of the time, even though he carries it sometimes like when going down stairs or when it is bothering him. 

I have an appointment with a vet who does surgeries to get more information, but in the meantime, I would like to hear from other dog owners and what your experiences were like. Thank you!