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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Hello! New here 🙂 We have a playful 4 year old Catahoula who about a month ago developed a terrible infection (still unclear how...) which impacted various parts of his body - chest, back, and leg. The chest looks like it will eventually heal on its own, and the back has gone through surgery, but the leg continues to be an issue. He's lost all of the skin, and a lot of tissue and muscle from the infection. This has been a month of daily bandage changes at the vet, spiked fevers, sedation to continue to clean it, etc. We are presented with two options and I'm just feeling incredibly overwhelmed, both financially and emotionally.
1. We can continue to try to heal the leg via skin grafting, bandage changes, etc. The leg is looking better than before, but it may not heal correctly due to loss of skin/tissue/muscle and it's unclear how long this may take. It may eventually end up amputated.
2. We amputate now
I've read all of your thoughtful stories and just want to do what is right. I feel immense guilt about if we are making the "right decision" for him given it's possible somewhere down the road the leg could maybe be saved, but not guarunteed. And while I worry he will miss his leg if we amputate it I also worry about months and months of cone, meds, surgeries not to mention the financial costs which we are already deep into. He is already such an anxious dog! Any advice would be so appreciated. thank you.
Hi and welcome! We are sorry you are in such a tough situation. Your poor pupperz! What's his name? Catahoulas are such fun dogs, and active too, so I can see how this medical crisis is extra tough with a young'un like him.
I'm curious, and this has probably been done, but did the vet send out the lab cultures for other opinions like at Texas A&M? They have one of the best labs in the world for diagnosing rare conditions like this. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
When it comes to amputating now versus possibly later, consider what one of the world's best orthopedic vet surgeons told us once: amputation gets rid of the problem in front of you, but creates more problems later down the road. In a nutshell, Tripawds are more prone to osteoarthritis and joint stress, much earlier than four-legged dogs. Pet parents also need to be more cognizant of the dog's activity throughout the lifetime of the animal, to minimize the impact of living with an altered gait. Ideally you want to avoid amputation, if at all possible. That's where second and even third opinions are so important.
Have you gotten opinioins from other vets? I'm guessing you have but again just covering bases here. Vet teaching hospitals are one of the best resources at a time like this. Also, what kind of timeline does your current vet think it might take to heal the leg.
Sorry for more questions than answers but hopefully we can help you feel better about whatever it is that you decide. We'll support you either way.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you, Jerry! That's good advice on A&M - we sent it out to be cultured but the results were not conclusive enough to try and pinpoint where it could have possibly come from. I have my guesses (an ally cat scuffle about 4 weeks ago...) We've gotten three opinions which are all pretty much aligned but I've not checked in with teaching hospitals in the area yet. They are saying 3-5 months of recovery which won't be a full recovery but will at least give enough time to see if it's healing correctly. Thank you for listening!
You are so welcome. Which schools are near you? A&M's diagnostics lab is world renowned.
Three to five months of recovery isn't technically that long but emotionally and financially I know it feels like an eternity. I don't envy you but am so impressed at how much you have done for your pup.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi there, I just joined hoping to find a similar story -- and this is it! My hound Miso had a similar severe bacterial infection and the vet has presented us with pro's and con's of amputating her back left leg. I'd love to know... what did you decide to do? How is your dog doing now?
Hello Hannah and Miso, welcome. We are so sorry you are dealing with this situation, such a ruff time!
We are also curious about what happened with the OP. I'm glad you asked, but am not sure they will see this. Please consider posting a new topic here so we can help you better. You will also find some examples of similar situations there too. See you over there!
hi I have a similar story with my Drakey. He got an infection from TPLO surgery. After 9 months of trying to save his leg we decided to amputate. It is a really hard decision, but like you his leg had deterioarated from the infection and they told us even if it does clear the infection, he may never walk on it again. Then he may attack his own leg. We could have continued for another 6 months of bandage changes, antibiotics, xrays and vet visits, however I could not bathe him or let him really go anywhere. And he was in constant pain. We felt he would have better quality of life if we amputated.
On the flip side he is now fighting an infection on his stump. He is back in the hospital. I like the idea of you getting opinions from vets who specialize in infectious disease. I feel like these cases are rare and definitely need to think outside the box.
THis site has helped me cope and not beat myself up. Whatever decision you make , it will be the right one because you love your dog.
Michelle
Here’s a link to Drakey’ blog so you can read the backstory of all the challenges he and Michelle have had. Ikistsaw another post from her under Ask AVet where she visited Drakey today and he ate some treats 👏👏
We’re all cheering for you Drakey! Onward and upward,
https://drakey......TAuMC4wLjA.
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
PS Michelle Not techie enough to tell you how to fix it, but my posts are awaiting moderation and that’s why you were seeing me do duplicates sort of. Anyway, just want you to know I was checking back in. SoIm glad I saw your update under Ask A vet. PEOGRESS!,,
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!
Thanks for the feedback and support Sally and Michelle! Hannah and Miso, hope to see you start a new topic so everyone can follow along withy your story.
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