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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We have just had an awful accident with our 45lbs 18 month old dog. He is so loved and so sweet and part of the family and we are so upset and stress about making the right decision. He has lost a rear foot. We need to decide to amputate the whole leg or a low amputation that would need a prosthetic. We just want to do what would be best for him. Any advice? I feel like I need a week to make this decision but we need to make it tonight.
First let me qualify I have no knowledge of prosthetics at all. But my common sense says if you aren't taking the leg due to cancer wouldn't a stump leg with a prosthetic make sense? Does the vet seem to favor one over the other?
I'm sure someone who knows about both will post here shortly. This group of people are sooooo supportive. I'm so sorry you are having to go through this!!
Wow! So sorry to hear about your pup!!
This REALLY is a decision that needs ro be made with the help of a skilled Orthopedic Surgeon
I'm only going to make a comment based on some of the experiences I've seen here. I AM NOT A VET AND I AM NOT OFFERING VETERINARIAN ADVICE.
Sometimes when a stump is left, the dog will tend to try and use the stump and it can be a source of pain and infection. Obviously a full leg amputation eliminates that concern.. Prosthetics are a whole 'nother ballgame and your pup needs to be evaluated for that also. And that ki d of evaluation doesn't happen overnight.
Should your pup need a full amputation...if that is what the professionals advise, I can tell you that dogs adapt very quickly. The surgery and recovery are no picnic, but once that is complete you will be amazed at how well your dog will do.
The pressure you are under to try and make this decision quickly is must plain rotten! Is he at an Emergency Clinic? Do they have a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon? Is it possible...remotely possible....he could be kept in heavy pain meds through the night so you can have a little ti e to talk with specialists regarding prosthetics or full amputation.
Your pup has survived a rough accident so clearly he's a stro g and determined fella'
Please stay connected and update us when you can
Hugs...@ots of hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
I don't have any first hand knowledge. All I can say is that when we asked the surgeon whether he would take the whole leg or leave a stump (this of course was because of disease, not an accident) he said that they adapt so well to 3 legs, there is no advantage to having a stump. So he took her leg off "cleanly" at the hip. He said that stump can cause a lot of problems. They stick out---and get bumped and banged so you can have issues like pain and sores etc.
It is a terrible thing to have to decide quickly. I hope you can at least consult w/ a surgeon and get a better idea what is involved either way.
Denise, Bill and Angel Ellie.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
I'm so sorry to hear that, how is your pup now? Does he have any other injuries? Have you decided on amputation?
For information about prosthetics see our OrthoPets interviews.
Thanks for registering, your future posts won't require approval so do let us know how things are going OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Yes please let us know how it's going. If you do decide to amputate there are many many people here that can guide you through that journey.
Just now getting caught up on the forums and just want to jump in here and relay a heartfelt "welcome" and I'm so sorry to hear about the accident to your fur-baby!
I'm with the others here regarding your decision whether to go the prosthetic route or going for a clean amp. But your pup is still very young and will adapt to either scenario fairly quickly. I would think with prosthetics there will be an on-going maintenance program you will need to administer. God forbid you go through all of that and end up having to take the leg at a later date due to unforeseen complications. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against prosthetics at all. In fact one of the things in the back of my mind is, we all talk about how our pups have 3 legs and a spare . But what if the spare gets lost early, not due to illness?
Listen to what your vet and/or ortho says. And whatever decision you make, it will be the right one.
Pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
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