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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Okay, so now I'm in love 
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Yay! Hello, Diesel!
So glad you went to the teaching hospital. Though sizable, that is still a decent and even lower quote than many get or have paid. Look into Care Credit if you think that might be an option. If you take the 6 month no interest option, though, you MUST pay in full before that 6 month date or cost is considerable. There is a 4 year financing option also.
Glad they don't see spread to lungs.
Will be interested in fungal test results.
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.
Just throwing this out there since we went to a Vet teaching hospital too (California) and cost was a HUGE issue for me (single mom, no pet insurance etc). We were offered 2 ways to do the surgery, a specialist or a student. The student price was $1200 compared to the specialist at $3000-3500. They are supervised by a qualified vet the entire time. I met both students and the surgeon before Fionn's surgery and the surgeon stays with them and steps in as needed. This surgery has a lot of "bits" to it, but honestly, it isn't brain, chest or abdominal surgery which would make me more nervous. The students (there were 2) did a great job and didn't even use staples. Fionn had very little bruising or swelling. I work in the medical field and doctors need to learn somehow and, honestly, it was this route or euthanasia. I just could not afford the more expensive surgery. I felt this was a relatively low risk surgery and, when I asked them how it went, they both said it was "neat!". That right there told me they picked the right profession!
Chemo for us ranges from $400-600 per visit depending on whether he gets a chest xray or not. This includes the blood work and nausea/diarrhea meds. Generally, it's a minimum 4 treatments up to 6.
I got Care Credit and you get 6 months or 18 months interest free depending on the amount charged. I also transferred charges I made on my regular card to a no interest for 1 year card.
Good luck with whatever you decide. Diesel has a wonderful pawrent and is a gorgeous boy!
Nancy- mom to the FABULOUS Fionn. He rescued me in 2015 when he was 6.
Right front leg amputation at age 7 for osteosarcoma 10/6/16. Taken too soon 6/12/17. Read about our journey here:
http://fionnsjo.....pawds.com/
Thats a great idea! They didnt bring it up yesterday but Ill definitely call and ask! Thank you!
Unfortunately for now we have to play the waiting game. His fungal test results should be back by Friday. If it comes back negative then we are gonna have to either do a biopsy on the front leg or a cytology on the back one. I think in all reality the condition of his back leg will determine if hes a candidate for an amputation or not. Since its very unlikely( but not impossible) for it to be cancer, its either fungal, bacterial or degenerative bone disease.
I have to admit tho, Dr. Ben Liao from UW School of Veterinary Medicine is the best vet doctor I have ever encountered. Too bad he works in the ER department so I wont be able to see him for Diesel's regular appointments. Dr. Liao and his student Sarah Lotte spent hours with us, explaining diagnoses and offering different treatment plans. They even helped me take Diesel outside to potty and put him back in my car. SO IMPRESSED!
Hi. I just love Disel! What a handsome boy! I just want to say that I am typically a holistic type pet owner.
But my sweet Braden had Lymphoma. He is on year 4 and it just came back. He was and is a miracle as he was only supposed to make it 12-18 months.
Rosie had her 2 month ampuversary Monday and is on her 3rd round of chemo. I have no regrets. She is back to her old happy and smiling self. Prior to amp she was in so much pain and slept all day and rarely smiled.
Yes, it's been very expensive. Her surgery was $4000 and each chemo is about $400 with labs. Her meds are around $75 each month.
Also doing CBD oil, grain free , raw and mushrooms.
Praying she lives a full life. But if not and it's only a few months, I have zero regrets. Her quality of life is so much better than with 4 legs!!
wishing for the best possible outcomes.
Kellye and the pack! ❤️🐕❤️🐕
MAGNIFICENT DIESEL!!!! @OOOOOOVE HIM!!! Look at that happy smoochable mug!!!! SMOOOOOCH!!
I can only see the second photo in my tavlet. The other two said I had to sign into google...or something like that.
So please you jad such a good consult with Dr Liao and Sarah. I bet he wouldn't mind you keeping him in the loop and offering any advice when needed!
Yeah, the "hurry up and wait" routine. Ugh! Sounds like you have a plan in place as far as the rear leg determining how to proceed. Jumping ahead just a bit, a biopsy is often very painful, can be prone to infection and quite often inconclusive. As long as the professionals determine the xrays to be osteo with a high degree of certain, many here forego the biopsy.
NANCY...good to know about the optiins you were given regarding student surgeons. Thanks!
Tha ks for the update AND the picture, even if I could only see one!! Such a sweetheart of a dog!!! 🙂
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
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!
Can someone please tell me if their dog experienced severe limb swelling??? Diesel's leg swelled up horribly, almost twice its normal size. It make me wanna cry 🙁
Okay...deep breaths......can you email a licture to that ER Vet you liked so much?
Is it his rear leg or the front one?
Were they doing poki g or prodding on both legs the other day, or just the one thatsw swollen??
How is his comfort level?
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!
They didnt poke his leg at all the other day, just xrays. Its his front leg, where the lesion is.
Is this the same swelling they noticed the other day, only worse...moreso?
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!
The swelling they noticed was on his back leg, in his tarsus. This swelling is in the leg where they suspect the bone tumor, which is the proximal humerus near the scapula. The swelling in the back leg is pretty localized while this one is of the whole front leg. Like he got stung by a bee
Call the Vet School immediately and tell them what is going on. If needed, call the emergency service first. Explain that you were just seen and what is going on. Is Diesel comfortable? That is the MOST important thing regardless of the swelling. (And, I agree about the biopsy. Very painful and not needed usually.) The Ver School should be able to call you back within a reasonable amount of time. If not, call back.
Okay! Got it!
Of course the swelling can be from any number of things. IF...IF.. it's osteo, it's not unusual for swelling to happen. And I doubt this, especially if he's not crazy in pain, but It's also possible a fracture may have happened.
Of course I'm certainly not a Vet. I know if yiu call the ER they'll probably say you have to bring him.
But try this:
Explain to them that it's almost impossible for you to get that big boy into yiur SUV without help, and you can't get help this late at.night (even if it's not true, sometimes little fibs are necessary when it comes tomour dogs)!
Anyway, just tell them you MUST speak to a Vet to see if this can wait until morning, which it probably can, but you need to be reassured.by a Vet in case it really could be an emergency.
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!
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