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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Our 11-year old cockerpoo was just diagnosed with a tumor that has grown around his knee. We have been seeking treatment for the past few months, assuming it was something as minor as tendonitis. His limp became more noticeable to the point that he would not put any weight on his back leg. But, he's otherwise happy and healthy, eating well, playing and so on. Well, this week we received the diagnosis that it's a tumor (I don't know the exact details as my wife was the one who has been interacting with the various vets). In any case, we do not know yet what kind of cancer, but the vet wants to remove the leg as there's no way to remove the tumor and save the leg, regardless of the cause of the tumor. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday.
Of course, this is traumatic for all of us, except maybe for our dog! Everything that I've read says that the dog will adjust very quickly and that this will be harder on the family than on the dog. I think that I'm pretty well adjusted to to fact that we're going to remove his leg, but I'm sick with worry about the extent of any cancer. My mood swings from being adjusted and ready to move forward to being physically sick with grief. Our kids are college age and prepping for final exams this week, but we felt like we needed to let them know what was going on.
Thanks for allowing me a forum to express my feelings. I feel like I need to be the strong one in the family, but I'm just a mush-ball when it comes to my puppy!!!!
Welcome, your future forum posts will not require moderation. We're sorry to hear about your dog but glad you found us! What's his name?
Please keep in mind that we are not vets and every dog is different. Our best advice is to be more dog. Many members have also found the book Without Regret helpful for coping with the perfectly human emotions you are feeling. Bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for lots of helpful links and consider downloading Tripawds e-books for immediate answers to the most common concerns about recovery and care.
Please keep us updated too!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Dad, welcome.
I'm sorry you are dealing with the cancer diagnosis- it can be overwhelming.
My pug Maggie had a mast cell tumor in her knee, it was her second MCT and I expected that the vet would take it out like the first one. I was stunned when the vet said amputation.
It's hard to give advice since you don't know yet what kind of cancer your pup has....what's his name? But no matter the type of cancer your guy has a painful leg that won't get better, so you are doing the best thing for him by relieving the pain which will give him a chance at more quality time with you.
It sounds a bit like you are dealing with anticipatory grief- you are worrying about how you will cope when your pal crosses the bridge. It's sometimes hard to do, but one thing you learn on tha cancer journey is to stay in the moment, live one day at a time, Be More Dog
! Focus on that happy face in front of you, enjoy the wags. Deal with the amp and recovery and then when you know what cancer you are facing make a plan.
You have found a wonderful community with lots of experience and support to help you and your family.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi Dad,
I'm sorry to hear about your pup's tumor! I know it can come as quite a shock. You've come to the right place for support now and we're here to help you!
My kitty Jill just celebrated her one year ampuversary. She had her rear leg amputated one year ago for bone cancer and is doing wonderful today! I, too, felt horrible when I received the diagnosis. I did not want to put her through such a radical surgery. And you are right, it is WAY more traumatic on us than it is on them! Jill did wonderful after surgery - sure the first couple of weeks she was wobbly and it was an adjustment - but really they do great on three legs.
Let us know what questions you have before the surgery, we're here to help!
xoxo,
Erica & Tripawd Kitty Jill
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Thanks for the kind responses. We're still waiting to find out if the surgery will be on Tuesday or Wednesday - but in either case I still have this horrible pit in my stomach. 
I made sure to get in some good play time with him yesterday!
Hi there
I totally empathise with the feelings you are describing. It comes as a shock to hear that your beloved pet has a serious problem. As a real newbie on here myself, this group has been incredibly supportive and helpful.
We are just on the other side - day 5 post surgery today. I felt like a nervous wreck before and during, and honestly there have been some difficult moments, but it is getting better so very quickly! Before you know it, your pooch will be running around again. Deva also had a tumour in her right front leg, and it is just a big relief to know that she is not feeling that pain any more. Naturally, the healing will take some time, and we are managing that with good pain meds. good luck for the next couple of days. I found the forum and chat very useful when I felt worried in the first couple of days. Writing a blog has been like therapy for me - the two leggeds are more anxious than the three!!
all the very best - hugs to you and your pal xo
TreacyB - since you are just now getting through this .... how long did it take for you to accept the change? I'm so very grateful to find others who understand what I'm feeling ... and so very happy to hear that after only 5 days your pup is on the mend.
I'm just about as masculine a man as you'll ever meet 
but I'm just a total mush when it comes to my buddy. I hate the thought of him being in pain and am just afraid that I'll be the one who will never fully recover!
Welcome Dad, We all know how you feel and what you are going through. It's a total shock to hear that your buddy has cancer after you take them in thinking it's just a joint problem. My little guy is 3 months post amputation with osteosarcoma. It took him about 1 week to recover and he was back to his old self chasing balls and frisbees and stealing toys from his 4 legged sister! I had to remind him to take it easy so that his incision could heal. Like everyone here has said, it's harder on us than it is on them. They adjust at a miraculous speed and probably forget what life was like on 4 legs. 3 work just fine for them. Don't worry about being a mush...what you are feeling is TOTALLY NORMAL! Please keep us updated and feel free to express your concerns on here. We are all here to help, as most of us have been in the exact position as you were and had others on here help us through as well. This is kinda like a "Pay it Forward" place. Others help us, then we help others. Good luck and keep us posted!
Chance is a 10ish Shetland Sheepdog Mix who was rescued from the shelter in January of 2013 and diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in September of 2013. He had a front left amputation and 6 rounds of carboplatin. He had a great 11 months and was diagnosed with lung mets on 8/23/14. He was released to the bridge on 8/28/14.
Oh gosh! I just saw your post! Everyone here can relate sooooooo well!!
For me, this was like living in a nightmare when Happy Hannah first had her osteosarco a diagnosis and I first heard "amputation" as a treatment! I went from absolutely not...to maybe....to okay...back to no way...back to okay...axrtually cancelled the first surgery appointment! I was hysterical for weeks!!
Happy Hannah and I are getring ready to celebrate her tenth "ampuversary" sonn and movng forward to many more (knocking on wood over here)!
THE BEST DECISION EVER!! You've already done some research so know that dogs and cats adapt very quickly to three legs! It is truly amazing! M girl is a "well muscled plus siz model".....okay, a real chunk of a dog (a 123 lb. Bull Mastiff, now nine...118lb. after the amp) and, like everyone said, she was upand walking withing 24 hrs.
I kow this is ard to believe, but ver quicklh you will forget he even had a fourth leg! He will notice it the first few days as he's adjustng balance, etc., but after that ne wn't remember it either. That's why e of the mottos the tripawd site owners came up with is "Three Legs and a Spare " for their book.
When you pick him up from surgery, do NOT even look at his incision, just look sgraightminto his eyes and greet him with all the love and joy that he's reflecting back to you! He's completelu focused on seeing you! Remember, if he greeted you adter this kind of surgery, he would n't even give one second's glimpse to your "missing" leg! He just wants to be withyou just as much as you with him!
I found his site and joined several days after the surgery and it has been...and continues to be...my lifeline!! Hold onto us and do not let go! We are all here for you and we all understand like no others can!
Now, recovery is no picnic, okay! You will be given plenty of pain meds and you'll get the right balance. It IS major suregery and humans would be in the hospital for weeks!! EVERY recovery is different...some faster, some slower. Hapy Hannah's was slower and for at least the first two weeks I thoight I'd made a HUGE mistake! I stayed glued to this site and they kep assuring me she would get better and gave me great suggestions from a place of first hand esperience that only comes from "having been there..done that"!
You are doing this surgery FOR your best buddy...not TO him!!
Now, take deep breaths...B R E A T H E.....B R E A T H E...I'm serious, this helps...B R E A T H E.....
Now go hugyour up give him a treat and watch his tail wag! He's living in the moment...not worried about a thing! That's called "being more dog" and that's how we all strive to live our lives now!
You are not alone! Stay glued to us and we'll all geth through this together and n the road to a recovery that's pain free and full of more jy and happiness.....and locing and spoiling than you ever could imagne possible!!
Surrounding you with calm and a kowing that all is well,
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!
Thanks so much you guys - this has been so therapeutic for me. I'm sitting here in my cube at work reading these great encouraging messages and having quite the emotional release! Tears streaming but feeling so much better.
We did just receive a call from the surgeon who confirmed that the tumor is cancerous. During our last appointment he was able to use a syringe to get some of the material from the tumor and those results are back. I don't know the exact type of cancer or if it was diagnosed to that level of detail. I guess that once the leg has been removed, we'll have to pray that the cancer has not spread elsewhere. He is just so happy and otherwise healthy, I have to optimistically believe that the cancer is localized to this tumor.
Worried Dad, hang in there. You will find that your pup copes soooo much better than you ever dreamed. It's scary as all heck at first but one look at his pain-free face will tell you that you made the best decision for him. He has a lot of living to do, the best is yet to come. Please keep us posted, you are in our thoughts.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
W-Dad,
My pug Maggie was not at all adaptable, she HATED any change in her routine. She was a stubborn slug for about 6 weeks after surgery, I convinced myself I had done the wrong thing. But when I thought about it, Maggie was being true to herself. Most here bounce back in two or three weeks, some faster, some like Mag really take their time. The point is they all get there on their own schedule.
As far as me getting used to things- I'll be honest, it took me quite awhile to accept the new Maggie. I spent time worrying about what she couldn't do any more, and I was watching the clock waiting for her to disappear as soon as her 6 to 9 month prognosis was up (mast cell cancer with lymph node involvement). I finally realized that Mag didn't care about any of that. She was busy bossing her sister around and figuring out how to do what she wanted on three legs. As long as the food kept coming, her toys were available, and there was a lap when she wanted one her world was just fine!
As I said in my first post- my completely in-adaptable little pug was trying to show me how to live in the moment, appreciate each day, to Be More Dog ! I was very fortunate with Mag's first cancer that I had time to learn these lessons and could appreciate what was happening in front of me.
Keep us posted.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
You are in good company here! We all know how aweful this feels, and want you to know that we are hear for you, even if you just need to get those feelings out.
Our Cotton had his right rear leg amputated due to sarcoma on his paw, the vet couldn't resect the tumor any more because there was not enough skin to close over wound, and it was growing fast and larger. We did the amputation on Nov 11 and our boy is doing AWESOME. Keep breathing.
-Carrie, Cotton & family
WorriedDad said
TreacyB - since you are just now getting through this .... how long did it take for you to accept the change? I'm so very grateful to find others who understand what I'm feeling ... and so very happy to hear that after only 5 days your pup is on the mend.I'm just about as masculine a man as you'll ever meet
Oh - I get it! It's so great that you are being honest about how you are feeling. Step one - tick.
Deva is actually a cat, feelings and feelings, and whether a cat or dog the last thing we want is for these beautiful creatures to be in pain. I actually didn't have much time to come to grips with the news - as soon as the Vet took the xrays and told me, she said it is best to get right on with it. I felt sick to my stomach to be honest. I do have quite a lot of experience with surgery, my daughter has a degenerative illness and she has had 11 major surgeries, with another one soon. Lucky for me I don't feel squeamish at all when looking after wounds. The previous experiences have been helpful in that I am very practical and can do whatever needs to be done. On the other hand, nothing ever prepares anyone for the emotions that inevitably come up when a person or pet has to have major surgery.
Believe me - I was stunned at how quickly Deva has adapted. It has been intense, I am not going to liie. But after just a few days, you will be so surprised and happy with how well your pooch will do.
Start a blog - seriously, it really helps to express everything you are feeling. And the community here are super supportive. When is the surgery today or tomorrow? I am in Aus, so we have a bit of a time difference 
Treacy and Deva the wondercat
Hi Dad
You have joined a great group of pawrents and tripawds....feline and canine. No one really wants to be a member of this group (hence the feelings you are having) but for all of us this surgery offered a new lease on life for our pet and a new chance for a wonderful bond!
My lab, Tucker, is almost three months post amp (right front leg) and he had done wonderfully! The first few weeks can be an adjustment for everyone.....I have more scatter rugs in my home now than I ever thought was possible.....and the balance between pain and meds can be tough at first.
Now....Tucker having three legs has become the new norm! And I feel blessed that I still have him in my life!
Hug your pup tight for the next few days but know that he will be glad to be home after the surgery and looking to you for the same love and support he has always had.
Linda and Tucker
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