Hi Salina,

I am Spirit Tri-pug Maggie's mom.  Maggie lost her left rear leg to a grade 2 mast cell tumor, but in her case there was no way to remove the tumor- it was in the tissues around her knee.  She also had several cutaneous MCTs, some grade 2.  Mag's little sis quad-pug Tani, who is now 12, also as multiple cutaneous MCTs.  She has had 9 total, I removed 5 over several years but now I am not removing any more unless they become a problem.

Dr. Pam gave you some good advice.  Radiation was not an option for us for the leg tumor, but I don't think I would have done rad with Maggie.  She did not do well with anesthetic and at the time it would have required multiple sedations to get her through it.  I know Rio did rad at one point and I think she did fine.  Look back in Rio's blog in the link Jerry gave you above. 

If you do decide that amputation is the best choice you should have some pre-surgery tests done to try and see if the cancer has spread anywhere.  Mag had an abdominal ultrasound, and some other stuff I don't remember.  Mast cell can go to the liver and spleen and lymph system. There are no guarantees that the tests will catch everything- Maggie's lymph system involvement wasn't diagnosed until after her amputation. 

On amputation in general- most all dogs I've met here and in person get around fine on three.  A rear amp is a little easier for the pup long term, but sometimes they seem to take longer to gain strength after surgery.  Maggie was routinely walking two miles before surgery, it took around 6 months post surgery for her to walk a mile- and that was the outside of her range from then on.

Do you have any other specific questions?  Let us know how the vet visit goes.

Karen and the pugapalooza