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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
We have an 8 yr, 8 mth female amazing Berner, with cancer in right hind leg. We found out last week and have our first appt with oncology next week. She was managing well on gaba and metacam but yesterday was in terrible pain. Today’s X-ray shows that her bone has broken.
She’s in pain and we need to decide tonight about amputation or saying goodbye tomorrow, as we can’t let her be in pain. We thought we would have time to talk with the oncologist but we don’t.
Like so many of you here she is near the top of her expected lifespan and we have no idea how we’re going to make this decision tonight. We will know tomorrow if it has metastasized (waiting for CT results, X-rays were clear). For those of you that with elderly pups where the cancer has not metastasized, how long did your pups last after surgery? The thought of putting her through surgery and a couple weeks of tough recovery to only lose her in a couple of months is heartbreaking. Is the quality of life worth it?
We have stairs she needs to navigate to go outside. We have an almost 2 year old Berner as well. She loves walking and running and playing in snow. How to make this decision so quickly??
so if anyone is online tonight, I’d love your thoughts. Thanks for reading.
Offline
Hi Christine,
I'm glad you started a new topic, thanks! Here is what I said where you posted in that old topic:
ChristineDogMom said
Older Berner - we need to decide about amputation tonight and need some advice.We have an 8 yr, 8 mth female amazing Berner, with cancer in right hind leg. The bone has a crack today (6 days after we found out while still waiting for oncology). She’s in pain and we need to decide about amputation tonight as we can’t let her be in pain. Like so many of you here she is great at the top of her expected lifespan and we have no idea how we’re going to make this decision tonight. For those of you that with elderly pups where the cancer has not metastasized, how long did your pups last? Is the quality of life worth it? (We will get CT results in the morning). Thanks in advance
I know you feel overwhelmed and pressured to make a decision, so I'll share my thoughts here, but do start a new topic OK?
For those of you that with elderly pups where the cancer has not metastasized, how long did your pups last? Is the quality of life worth it?
That number can vary from dog to dog. Everyone gets a prognosis of 6 months to one year if the dog has osteosarcoma. That number is not based on YOUR dog however, so while it's important to consider those stats, it shouldn't be the deciding factor.
The best vets tell us that neither size nor age should impact a dog's eligibility for amputation if they are otherwise healthy. The most important thing to do right now is treat that horrible pain. The vast majority of our members who decided to amputate mostly say that they are glad they did it, even if their dog did not live up to the prognosis.
To get a feel for the community's thoughts about quality of life, see:
Amputee Dogs Quality of Life Survey Results
And also, see these posts about giant breed Tripawd dogs who lived happy lives on 3.
When it comes to this disease, it's not about quantity of life but quality of life. Every day is icing on the cake once that pain is treated.
Your oncologist will lay out all the options when you talk to them, but here are questions to ask an oncologist so you can get some together.
Thank you - Maggie had surgery this afternoon (once we got the clear CT results) and she’s doing great. I saw videos of her up and moving around tonight and the difference without the intense pain, even a few hours post op is amazing. Glad I found your site. Thanks!
Wheeee! So happy to hear surgery is behind you both. That's so nice the clinic sent videos!
Keep us posted!
Our beautiful berner, Maggie, came home the day after surgery and is doing great. She lost her hind right leg (cancer) - was amputated Friday afternoon. She's been resting on her dog bed, and gets up to go outside to the bathroom a few times a day. I can't believe how well she is doing. We've been lucky, surgery recovery pain under control with gabapenten, metacam and a fentenyl patch. To date she hasn't cried out at all. Today she pulled me down the driveway and down the sidewalk a couple of houses, thinking she was going to the park. So every day getting stronger. I can't believe the difference - she was in agony with the bone pain, and the broken bone, and this is such an improvement.
Maggie is wearing a onsie and it keeps her from sniffing her incision. We put the cone on when we are giving the onsie a wash.
She perks up the most when visitors come to see her. Her little sis (2 year old berner) is staying close and dropping toys on her bed for her.
So grateful we still have her 🙂
I have a pic and video I'd love to share but can't figure out how to attach....
Hi Christine! Thanks for registering. Your future posts won't need to wait for approval so post away.
That's pawesome Maggie is doing so well! Her pain control sounds excellent, and she's definitely on the mend. Isn't incredible what a change you can see, for the better?
It's still early though so keep her activity to a minimum while she is healing. Also consider taking advantage of the Tripawds Rehab Reimbursement Program so you can have her evaluated by a therapist. They'll tell you what here strengths and weaknesses are, and how to help her stay injury free. The Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit too so post away!
Also please start a new Topic in Treatment and Recovery now that she's graduated from the Diagnosis phase. I'll look for your post there.
OK this is how adding images works in the Forums.
Basically you need to:
- upload a photo somewhere like your own Tripawds blog, or a public image hosting site like Imgur.com
- then copy the image URL (or just tap the image and copy it if you're on a mobile device)
- return to your Forum post, and paste the image into the typing area.
Hope that makes sense. Let us know if you'd like help! See you in your new post!
1 Guest(s)
