Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives

Hi folks, 

Sadly my beautiful big boy Fionn was diagnosed with an osteosarcoma on this front leg last week, he's 9 years old and otherwise had always been such a healthy boy. We had further x-rays and tests with the vets this week and found thankfully that his chect and abdomen looks clear, so the vet is confident chemo will be an option for him. We are just waiting for a referral to local oncology specialists (we are in Northern Ireland) who are due to call us today or tomorrow, to start discussing options for our boy, but our own vet had mentioned amputation as a way to reduce pain and help slow spread. 

We are concerned as it feels like such an extreme surgery, and we just aren't sure what to do really, it's all been such a shock. This community has been so helpful so far and I've listened to the recent podcast about greyhounds and amputation, but I just wanted to ask if anyone has any experience of a large greyhound with front leg amputation? Will the reduction in pain outweigh lifestyle changes for him? Will it slow the cancer down significantly? Does anyone have a grey or another big dog who has managed well with this? 

He's a big boy (38 kg and his head would be right up to my hip), will this make managing any more difficult for him?

We will literally do anything our Fionn needs or anything that will help him, it's just so hard to make these decisions especially as we can't just ask him!