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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my 3 year old dog was just diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, and has a mass on his rib cage. I am wondering if anybody out there has went through the surgery where they had to remove a rib or two and how their pet faired afterwards, please help
Hi Valerie, welcome. I'm sorry to hear about your dog. What's his name? He's so young, what a terrible shock to hear that diagnosis.
We have had other members' dogs lose limbs to osteosarcoma, but I can't recall any who had ribs removed. To me this sounds like a slightly easier surgery and recovery than amputation but I'm no surgeon. What did your vet say about it? I would recommend a second opinion in a situation like this, just to be comfortable with whatever you decide.
Meanwhile here is some information about chrondrosarcoma you may find helpful:
Canine Chondrosarcoma and Chemotherapy
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Bruno (Rob's dog) has been diagnosed with this. He has many threads, including under Ask a Vet.
Hi, Valerie:
Not chondroscarcoma related, but wanted to offer that my boy did have one rib removed in addition to a full front leg amputation as his cancer had wrapped itself around the rib. Initially they thought they would take part, but decided to take the whole rib when performing the amputation. The missing rib did not seem to bother him at all.
Pofi's cancer was STS - a Nerve Sheath Soft Tissue Sarcoma - and it had impacted the functioning of diaphragm on that side of the body, but that was because of muscle atrophy related to the nerve tumor. Probably not a factor for your boy and I am not sure it actually was that impactful for Pofi.
Sending very best thoughts for you and your pup.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
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