Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello everyone!
About a month ago my Greyhound/Beagle mix started limping out of nowhere and yelped as she got off of the couch. I looked at her leg and realized that she had a huge lump on her elbow (front left leg). We did have X-Rays from three years ago when she was like this but without a tumor. Apparently she hurt her leg when she was younger, before we got her and she basically re-agitated it from playing with her Corgi mix sister. Long story short, we took her to our main vet maybe two months ago and they said that they had no idea what was the main cause of it and gave us references to three different specialists. After going to two of the three, we stuck with the one who was the cheapest and could tell that he clearly cared about Shelby and was vey experienced. He said that she should be on pain medicine and to see how it goes from there because some dogs can live comfortably on pain medicine as long as they get their blood taken every few months. The lump (tumor) was about the size of an egg, and he did X-Rays which showed that it wasn't cancerous and very slow growing. It seems like within the last two weeks the egg sized tumor went from an egg to almost the size of a golf ball. She is in an extreme amount of pain on the highest dose of medicine and it is absolutely breaking my heart. Today we went to see the specialist again to show him the huge difference between now and the last time that we were there. He said that something should be done very soon - like next week. He said that it was obviously our call, but she can barely walk and he thought amputation was our only option other than putting her down. Trying to take the tumor out would be more expensive than an amputation and there was a 50/50 chance on whether she would be able to use her leg because the tumor is attached to so many nerves in her elbow. Today he also told us that her shoulder blade will have to be removed, one reason being that the muscles are completely deteriorating.
I have multiple questions..
1) The cost of the amputation/shoulder blade removal will be over $2,500. Keep in mind, this was the cheapest specialist. I know that there is such a thing as care credit but that is really not a wise decision, if even possible to get accepted. Due to my parents filing bankruptcy a few years ago, using up most of the credit cards when my mom got sick and when my Labrador Retriever got sick (she died this past December), and other reasons. To add more credit on top of that would be a really bad idea. So I created an account on GoFundMe.com where people can donate money. It has only gotten $100 by one stranger. I was wondering what options there are where people can donate money without it being a loan? Am I allowed to share the link to her page on here? Not asking for donations, although that would be great, but a "share" on anything such as Facebook, twitter, etc. would make such a difference.
2) I know that it is a longer recovery time for dogs who get the front leg amputated, but her being a slender, completely healthy otherwise, miniature Greyhound, she wouldn't have much weight to carry on her legs. Does this make a difference? She is part beagle, but only in coloring.
3) We have a split-level house and I am wondering if she will be able to go down the stairs or if I will have to carry her? There is no way of getting outside to go to the bathroom other than the stairs. I don't know if there are cheap options to get a ramp or even how to build a ramp for our deck.
4) Should we keep her in some kind of gated space? She loves being on the bed and sleeping with us so I don't want her jumping on the bed after surgery. Any recommendations on what kind of dog bed to use?
Sorry for ALL of those questions, I just don't know where else to turn. I feel so helpless. She lost her older sister who she loved dearly in December. I can't stand the thought of having to put a perfectly healthy dog down over an amputation that we can't afford. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Brianna
Hi Brianna,
I'm so sorry to hear about Shelby. Many of us here know the heartbreak of being in this situation and totally understand what you're going through. It's never easy but we are here to help as best as we can,.
First, have you seen Jerry's Required Reading List ? Or our ebook, Three Legs and a Spare ? These two resources can answer all of the questions you have, and then of course our members are always happy to share their own experiences too. You can ask as many as you want here, there is no limit I promise! But to make your life easier, those resources are available.
Rest assured, there are lots of Tripawd greyhounds out there, many because of osteosarcoma, which is not benign. I'm happy to hear that Shelby's is, that is a GREAT thing to have on your side!
When it comes to paying for care, lots of us here have been in that situation. Where exactly are you located? We know of an awesome clinic in northern Virginia, Helping Hands Veterinary Clinic, that performs affordable amputations for clients in financial distress. Their website is here. Also, vet schools have awesome prices and can work with you on costs.
Other resources you can check out are in the Tripawds Financial Resources Downloads Post.
I'm really sorry, but because soooooo many members here are facing seriously stressful vet bills to, we regret that our Fundraising Appeals Policy doesn't allow direct appeals here on Tripawds or in our Tripawds blogs or on our Facebook pages. But please don't let that get you down, I know of LOTS of people have had successful fundraising drives on their own via social media. Other ideas that can help you are available in the Tripawds Financial Resources Downloads Post.
It sounds like you'll need to decide quickly? If so, fear not, you can get all of your questions answered here before you do. As you can see, most dogs do great on three legs, especially greys. Although there are precautions that should be taken before greyhounds go into surgery (i.e., they can have very bad post-op bleeding), I'm gonna bet that Shelby will do fine. Hang in there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Briannaa, you've definitely come to the right place for support and information.
Sorry you are faced with tis decision but your dog will learn to adapt incredibly well with three legs. I'm sure you've searched all the sites here and have seen the success stories. You will be amazed how many people are willing to have help with building ramps once you've explained what mist be done and why.
So many different people will chime in but some dogs are ale to handle stairs within a week or so (stairs can be very dangerous for a variety of reasons too soon after surgery), some will always use a ramp. Their are slings and harnesses available to help also. You'll want to have rigs if yo have hardwood so she won't slip. It sounds like she is easy to lift? That's a good ting!
There is an excellent bed called TheBig Barker bed but it really is for larger dogs so I don't know if that would help..sorry this computer is getting ready to crash again
Will post again but want you to know we are here for you every step of the way. Your girl will be out of pain and ready to get on with a life of hpiness and joy. Take care and try of to worry...w.I'll write later
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Tomorrow my dog will be four weeks post-amputation. I assure you dogs adapt very well to three legs! She is happy, no longer in pain, and had adapted to do most of everything that she used to do on four legs. She chased a rabbit out of the backyard in the third day after surgery!
You didn't mention what kind of tumor your dog is suspected of having. If it is diagnosed as osteosarcoma (bone cancer), removing the tumor alone is probably not feasible. This is what my dog is dealing with. If it's something different, there is someone in here that has dealt with it, guaranteed. You found a great resource... one that had been indispensable for my family as our dog had give through this. I second Jerry's Required Reading List and the e-book, as mentioned above. There's a ton of useful information for you, and all the support you could ask for from other dog parents!
Good luck to you and Shelby!
Norah is an 8 year old Alaskan Husky. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right hind leg on 3/26/12. She had her amputation on 4/1/13. Chemotherapy (Carboplatin) started on 4/16/13 and she has completed three rounds.
Hey Brianna! Hope you've been able to catch your breath and are starting to feel a little more confident about ow to proceed. There is soooo much info. to sort through but there is no better resource in the world than this site!
And the good news is......and there is good news.........she's NOT dealing with cancer so can look forward to a long, pain free life filled with love and joy and treats:-) 
Just wanted to add that some surgeons will work with you on a payment plan. I approached mine with a payment plan and references.....anything I could think of to show I could....and would...make monthly payments. I provided a letter from an emergency center who had worked with me on a payment that was scheduled over a twelve month period and paid in full a month early! Now granted, this is the exception but just go with heart in hand and as much documentation as possible that you can make good on apayment plan. You will figure out a way....stay determined and don't stop until you get the ooutcome you need and don't stop brainstorming on solutions until you do!:-) 🙂 There,s a lot of kindness in the world and surgeons have hearts too!!
Keeping all paws crossed for you and visualizing the outcome you want coming your way. Stay strong, stay determined and to hug our pup right now.......a great big hug from all of us:-)
Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
Sorry for the delayed response everyone - I have been swamped with homework for my finals.
A neighbor very generously is loaning us money to get the surgery, which is scheduled for this Thursday. My mom has been an emotional wreck but I am almost in a state of shock that this has to happen in the first place. It probably won't really hit me until the day of the surgery. He will be doing a biopsy on the tumor just because it has grown so fast and he wants to make sure that it isn't cancer. I can't imagine putting her through this surgery just to find out that it really could be cancer. She has been such a trooper but today I have seen nothing but pain in her eyes and I am really wondering if after the surgery she will be back to her bright-eyed, happy self. Can she REALLY live a happy life almost as if nothing had ever happened?
I did read the Required Reading List List and that definitely answered quite a few of my questions! Thank you for providing that information.
I do not mean to bombard any of you with questions, but I do have a few left.
1) I keep telling my mom that having her confined in a pet pen is a very wise decision after her surgery. She doesn't seem to completely agree with that decision, but I was wondering what your opinion is on her needing to be in a pet pen with a dog bed in it. Isn't it a good idea to have her confined like that?
2) Since we are short on money, I want to put my Amazon gift card to use for buying her a dog bed. I was wondering if this bed seems like a good option? It is orthopedic and is supposed to provide a lot of support to relieve pain.
qid=1366983651&sr=8-11&keywords=orthopedic+dog+bed
Sorry if it goes against forum guidelines to post links on here.
3) One thing that really concerns me has to do with her pain medicine. She is currently on 75MG of Novox and 225MG of Tramadol a day. It is the maximum dosage for her weight and she can't go any higher. The veterinarian said that he would probably put her on the same exact medicine/same dosage when she gets her surgery. Is that normal? I'm thinking that she is in so much pain walking as it is, isn't she going to be in 10x the amount of pain after getting her shoulder blade removed in addition to the amputation?
4) Have a lot of people experienced the removal of the shoulder blade on their dog in addition to the amputation? It just sounds SO painful and it makes me very hesitant about putting her through that.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Briana-
1- Shelby doesn't necessarily need to be confined after surgery if she is at home with someone else. If she is unsupervised or alone for any period of time, being confined to a small, comfortable space and wearing an e-collar would be appropriate. Being under the pain meds, the dog is not likely to be very mobile and will probably be pretty sedate. While we were home, we let Norah stay near us and find her own comfortable spots to rest. When we went to bed, she could roam the house, but had to wear an e-collar since she would lick and chew at the incision. She, like many dogs, did a little bit of pacing around at night because of the medications which will keep you awake! When we left the house, we penned her in the kitchen and made her wear the e-collar. In the kitchen she had food and water access as well as a comfortable bed to sleep on. Once her staples came out, she no longer wears the e-collar and when we leave the house she goes into the crate that she has used all of her life.
2- There are some recommended beds in the gear blog (http://gear.tri......com/beds/). The one you picked looks similar to some of the recommended orthopedic ones, but slightly less expensive. I'd say go for it!
I also understand your doubts that Shelby won't go back to her bright eyed old self after the amputation. I think we've all felt that at some point, but understand that you are projecting your own feelings on the dog. If you had to get amputated, you would face an uphill battle both mentally and physically. Having taken Norah through amputation, the hurdles she has faced are only physical ones (and she's conquered most of them faster than expected!). Once we eased her off of the pain meds, our same old dog came back. She does everything she used to... always underfoot, always looking for scratches and belly rubs, chasing any squirrels and rabbits that wander in our yard, etc. It will get better for both of you.
Best of luck from me and Norah!
Norah is an 8 year old Alaskan Husky. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right hind leg on 3/26/12. She had her amputation on 4/1/13. Chemotherapy (Carboplatin) started on 4/16/13 and she has completed three rounds.
Ah, I forgot to address one more of your concerns!
3- Norah's pain meds were slightly modified after the surgery. The osteosarcoma that she had in her right hind leg was so painful that even 150mg of Tramadol did little to help. She was taking that 4-6 times a day. After the surgery, she went down on the pain meds. She cut down to 100mg of Tramadol 3 times a day, and Gabapentin was added in to help deal with phantom limb pain. We weaned off of the Gabapentin first, then cut the Tramadol a week and a half ago. She is 4 weeks post-amp today and not in pain at all as far as we can tell.
So, if Shelby is dealing with something similar, I wouldn't be surprised if they keep the pain meds the same post-surgery. Others may have had different experiences, however.
Norah is an 8 year old Alaskan Husky. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right hind leg on 3/26/12. She had her amputation on 4/1/13. Chemotherapy (Carboplatin) started on 4/16/13 and she has completed three rounds.
Hi Shelby and Mom!! Your decision is one that, after recovery, will indeed relieve her paid and she will bounce back...as some have found...even better than before!! That's pretty much a guarantee everyone here can give you!
Norah'sdad did a great job of addressing your concerns and I'll just add a couple of cents worth.
Managing the pain after surgery is crucial and can be quite a balancing act between too much and too little. The symptoms of pain and the symptoms of too much pain meds. Are very similar! I, for one, would rather err on the side of too much rather than have her feel pain. Some dogs can taper off med. quicker than others. My Happy Hannah had a slower recovery than some and I thought because so many were able to get there dog off pain meds. When stitches removed, I could too! Nope! Went a day and put her back on (had been tapering down prior to that) and realized she needed more for a little longer and that seemed to really help speed up her feeling better and getting her sparkle back:-) THE SPARKLE DOES COME BACK!!!!!
I apologize, I can't remember for certain, but I think it was Pug Maggie who didn't get her "stubborn sparkling attitude" back for almost six weeks so there are plenty of references for anything you may encounter!!
IF, the biopsy comes back not too good, you are definitely doing the right thing by removing the tumor AND the pain! Should you need a follow up treatment plan there are plenty of solutions on this site!
One more thing...the bed sounds great...just make sure you go through the Amazon.com button on the tripawds site as it helps keep the site going:-)
WE ARE ALL HERE FOR YOU...YOU ARE NOT ALONE, Sally and Happy Hannah
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!
helpingshelby said
I did read the Required Reading List List and that definitely answered quite a few of my questions!
Glad you found that helpful! You'll find even more fast answers to the most common questions in the Tripawds e-books.
Isn't it a good idea to have her confined like that?
Confinement is key to a safe and speedy recovery.
I want to put my Amazon gift card to use for buying her a dog bed.... Sorry if it goes against forum guidelines to post links on here.
The link you posted to the bed is just fine and dandy. Just please remember to use the following link or start your search in the Tripawds Amazon blog whenever shopping at Amazon to help support the Tripawds community!
One thing that really concerns me has to do with her pain medicine.
Please consult with your vet regarding prescriptions. When in doubt, seek a second professional opinion. We are not vets, but depending on Shelby's weight, the dosage seems adequate.
...isn't she going to be in 10x the amount of pain after getting her shoulder blade removed in addition to the amputation?
Surgery recovery is not as painful as tumor pain, which will only get worse. Vets have told us that growing bone tumors, and the inevitable break are more painful than healing from surgery.
Have a lot of people experienced the removal of the shoulder blade on their dog in addition to the amputation?
Jerry had his scapula removed. Vets have told us it's actually a less complicated surgery when the whole leg is removed at the shoulder. And we have seen a number of complications over the years with dogs who have had commercial amps. Again, we're not vets, so please consult with your vet about any serious concerns.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Brianna and welcome.
The bed looks great to me if that is the type of bed Shelby likes. Most here have found that tripawds prefer a flat type bed like the one you are looking at. My little pug Maggie went against the norm and preferred the snuggle ball type bed she had used for years. The most important thing is that Shelby is comfortable.
I do think some confinement is important after surgery. Less movement means less chance of a seroma
developing, and less chance of pulling a suture or staple out. Each dog is different. Maggie showed little interest in moving after surgery so I didn't really have to confine her. I did put my bed on the floor since she slept with me so she wouldn't be tempted to jump down by herself. After she was healed up I put my bed back to normal. Maggie never could get up on her own again, but using the little stairs I built she could get down by herself. The few occasions when she was left alone the two weeks after surgery she was confined to the kitchen. She did not need an e-collar as her Buddha belly would not allow her to reach her incision 
.
As for the pain meds-she may come home with a fentanly patch in addition to oral meds. Check with your vet to be sure. While there is pain associated with the surgery the pain meds available can manage it. Pain from tumors and other bone issues is severe and hard to manage as you are seeing in Shelby now. Maggie did not have much pain before the surgery, she had mast cell cancer which was in her soft tissues not her bone. She had what is called a mid-femoral amputation of her back leg. The basically cut the femur and leave a little piece behind. There is not much that is more painful than cutting a major bone through. Maggie came home with a fentanly patch and tramadol. Her pain was managed just fine, she was off tram by the end of the second week.
And lastly- don't get discouraged if Shelby takes her time to come around after surgery. Most of us experienced lots of ups and downs the first couple weeks. Maggie took her time- she wasn't really herself for about 6 weeks. I was sure I had done the wrong thing by choosing amputation. But she came around on her own schedule- just like Shelby will. Hopefully Shelby will be one of the lucky ones that sails right through!
Karen
Brianna and Shelby - Hang in there. Everyone has given you great advice so I won't repeat anything. Rest easy that Shelby will be fine after the shoulder blade removal. Shooter had his removed and was up and going in two weeks with just the occasional pain when he would move too fast or bump into something or get bumped into by the other dogs. We will all be sending our most pawstive thoughts your way on Thursday and know that we are here for you to talk to at all times. Take care of yourself too!
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Wow! I am so overwhelmed with how many heartfelt responses that I received. We postponed here surgery to next Wednesday because we aren't prepared. The dog bed (I went through Tripawds to get to Amazon) won't be here until Monday/Tuesday. We found some very reasonably priced dog pens, but if we order one online then it also won't be here until next week. Shelby has always been a dog who loves to be on the bed or the couch with a blanket over her so I am concerned about her trying to get on the bed. She has been losing her balance lately when she is on the bed or our carpet. I think her leg is gives out and as soon as it does she will fall. 
I am wondering how we will keep her off of the furniture once she has recovered if that is even necessary. Her two dog sisters and kitten brother have access to all of the rooms and she have always been allowed on the furniture. I am so grateful that there are websites like this and such kind people on here.
We have used a dog door since our Labrador Retriever was about a year old. She was 11 and passed away in December due to cancer, so we have had it for about 10 years. Shelby doesn't really know anything other than using a dog door to get outside. Will she be able to get out of the dog door post-amputation? She can get out now without using her leg and she can also get down the stairs but it is very clear that it is uncomfortable for her. There is no way to have access to our front or backyard without using stairs. Our young dogs like to go on the deck when they're too lazy to go down the stairs 
but Shelby won't because she is too well behaved. How do we get her into the yard to go to the bathroom after she gets her surgery? Are there any tips about getting her down the stairs?
I have learned a lot of useful information on this website - one being how helpful a harness can be. I'm looking at the Ruff Wear Harness right now and I am wondering if harnesses like that with front straps can be used on front leg amputees because it looks very close to the front legs and the shoulders. With her having that VERY slim Greyhound body she is all ribs and no belly. There is honestly a huge dip from the end of her ribs going down to her stomach (I guess that is the part right where her ribs end and goes down to the area where her nipples are?" and I am wondering if harnesses can be used since there is such a difference between where the two areas are. I hope that makes sense.
I have read that the dogs can go home with a cone, but is that needed if she has some type of t-shirt or fabric to cover it?
Lastly, when my mom asked the veterinarian about phantom limb pain in dogs he said that it isn't anywhere as big of a problem in dogs at it is in humans. He basically said that there really wasn't anything to worry about, but after reading through everything on this website it seems like it really is a common problem. If it were you, would you ask him for medication to treat phantom limb pain ahead of time so that it doesn't happen?
THANK YOU. Sorry for all of the questions! I really do appreciate the responses! 
I'm glad you're getting prepared! Thank you so much for ordering the dog bed through our Amazon blog , that was really nice of you.
When it comes to confinement, you just want to make sure she doesn't overdo activity. Staying inside and within a small space will help reduce the risk of stitches breaking loose or a seroma (fluid buildup). You really want to keep her calm and indoors to help speed up recovery.
Phantom limb pain exists in dogs but not every dog goes through it. I would ask your vet what the pre-surgery medications will be. Many times when dogs are given gabapentin before surgery it helps reduce the risk of phantom pain after surgery (see Dr. Wiltzius' interview). Most people take a wait and see approach to see if the dog experiences phantom pain after surgery, at which point they then ask for gabapentin to help control it.
As for the Webmaster harness , have you watched my demo video? I was a front-leg amputee and it worked great on me as well as lots and lots of other front-leg tripawds.
When it comes to the dog door, yes she can definitely use it after a while! You'd be very surprised to see how many Tripawds picked it right up again after surgery. See "Front Leg Amputees and Doggie Doors"
And dogs do figure out how to go to the bathroom, you'll be so surprised when she goes for the first time. Most dogs don't even want the help but it's good to be there for her the first few times, just in case.
You can ask as many questions as you want, that's what we are here for!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
No problem! After answering all of my questions it is the least that I can do!
I did watch the harness video but I didn't know if the harness could be used right after surgery, or if I would have to wait until she is fully healed. Can Tripawds stand up right after surgery on their own?
I'm glad to hear that she will probably be able to go out of the dog door. She likes going out there just to lay on the deck and get some sun. She is actually out there right now on a yoga mat that I put out on the deck for her.
How long after surgery can she use a harness and be able to go down the stairs?
If she has a cone on her head after surgery then will that still be needed if we can make a shirt or t-shirt to cover it up?
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