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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Hi i am new to this site i found it when i was googling three legged dogs.
My fur baby is a greyhound x mastiff she was just diagnosed with bone cancer in her back left leg. We noticed her limping after we had a storm during the day it hit hard and fast whilst i was at work i raced home from my lunch break to let her inside and my next doors trampoline had come over the fence! as she was limping we thought it had actually hit her as she seemed to be in a lot of pain and not her self.
After runnning tests her veterinanian has told me she actually has bone cancer and it appears to be the early stages however we will need to remove her leg asap! Her surgery is on monday i am very upset about this as i have never seen a three legged animal and just the thought of my girl having cancer has devastated me.
Everyone i have spoken to (apart from the vets) has suggested euthanasia but this is not an option for me i dont care oh much it costs i just want her to be happy and healthy! but i am really not confident i am doing the right thing with getting her leg amputated.
I really dont know what to expect as far as how she is going to recover and cope with the change and how my son who is almost three is going to react with the amputation. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou!
Hi Milliesmummy, thanks for joining, your future posts won't require moderation and will appear immediately.
I'm so sorry you and Millie are going through this ordeal. Many of us here have also been through it, and we understand how shocking and scary it is. In fact my people had never seen a three legged dog before I got bone cancer and lots of folks told us that euthanasia was the kindest thing. Well, in my case, and in that of many others, amputation was the best decision and bought me a great quality of life. I lived for two years after my osteo diagnosis! You're not alone, and we are here to help make this easier.
It sounds to me like your vet thinks Millie is a good candidate for amputation. If so, that is wonderful! Although big dogs do have some additional challenges with life on three legs (mostly in the way of stamina), they can lead wonderfully happy lives. Have you seen our Size and Age Matters Forum? You'll find lots of great stories in there about giant breed dogs.
OK I don't want to overwhelm you right now. Take a deep breath and start by reading our "Required Reading List," and if you're so inclined, our "Three Legs & a Spare" e-book goes into further detail. These should help you feel a little better and explore the possibility of proceeding with amputation.
Don't hesitate to come here with any questions OK? I'm sure you'll get some great feedback from others, so stay tuned.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi! I know it's so hard to get the news but you found the right place for support! My baby (she's a kitty, a rare thing on these forums!) just had her surgery on Wednesday and she comes home today. If it wasn't for the support of tripawds I might've gone insane! Let us know what you need!
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
Welcome to the group. Its shocking to hear the dreaded "C" word. We amputated Sassy's leg without a definate diagnosis. She is a 129 pound Rottweiler and gets along great. Infact today is 31 days since her surgery. I will be totally honest. It is shocking when you first pick them up after the surgery after I got past that first moment (even seeing pictures, after all its your baby) I put it behind me and kept going.
Sassy adjusted really well. She walked that first day and even the vets were shocked how well she was getting along. There will be ups & downs during the recovery period. But we are all here for your support. Don't hesitate to ask questions of your vet if you have any that is what they are there for.
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
I don't have kids but I've heard from Moms of little ones that they take it without batting an eyelash. Kids are so cool that way. My advice to you is to look your baby in the eyes and not at the amp site, you have to act normal. She's going to be so happy to see her, you have to be so happy to see her, more than horrified at Millie missing a leg. This sucks, and it's really hard but you can do this. If I did it, anyone can do it.
You will get loads of good advice and support on this site. Take what works for you and leave the rest, no one knows Millie like you. Stay tuned to her. Best of luck on Monday
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
milliesmummy said
Hi i am new to this site i found it when i was googling three legged dogs.My fur baby is a greyhound x mastiff she was just diagnosed with bone cancer in her back left leg. We noticed her limping after we had a storm during the day it hit hard and fast whilst i was at work i raced home from my lunch break to let her inside and my next doors trampoline had come over the fence! as she was limping we thought it had actually hit her as she seemed to be in a lot of pain and not her self.
After runnning tests her veterinanian has told me she actually has bone cancer and it appears to be the early stages however we will need to remove her leg asap! Her surgery is on monday i am very upset about this as i have never seen a three legged animal and just the thought of my girl having cancer has devastated me.
Everyone i have spoken to (apart from the vets) has suggested euthanasia but this is not an option for me i dont care oh much it costs i just want her to be happy and healthy! but i am really not confident i am doing the right thing with getting her leg amputated.
I really dont know what to expect as far as how she is going to recover and cope with the change and how my son who is almost three is going to react with the amputation. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou!
we recently went thru this. Big dog - tough diagnosis needing rush decision. The first few weeks are tough and you will surely question your decision often. We had some issues to deal with re the meds and whatnot, so maybe our several weeks will be your one week. But believe me it not only gets better, but soon you will wonder why you even hesitated. Depending on your home, you will need to make a number of adjustments. Just go with that flow and you won't care once you see your pup flying around the yard and giving you that lovable puppy grin. Honestly, I wondered how we ever would get to this happy place again, but here we are with a few ammendments, of course. I think your son will be curious, but kids, like dogs move forward way faster than human grown-ups. Just beware that your pup will be a bit unsteady on it's paws for a bit. Good luck on Monday - take a deep breath and remember - dogs can read minds
I remember when the vet said the dreaded "C' word to me as she looked at Cadence's x-rays. I about crumbled right there on the floor. This site and the advice it offers saved me from going crazy. Im not sure if you downloaded Three Legs and a Spare, but it has such great information in it. It helped me prepare for the journey we were about to embark on. Cadence is a 95 lb American Bulldog and she had a rear left leg amputation. Its been 6 weeks and every day she still amazes me. She doesnt even realize her leg is missing. The only difference is, is that she gets tired quicker on our walks. We used to go for miles and miles when we walked. Now she is able to go about 1 1/2 miles but she needs to rest. Its one of the biggest joys in her life going on the walks, so we stop whenever she wants to rest. Make sure you take your time with Millie. When we went out on a walk the first time, we only went to the corner and back. Over time we went a bit further. Millie will surprise you and she will let you know when she is tired and is ready to go back home.
I know its a lot to take in, in such a short amount of time. But there is so much support here and everyone is always willing to answer questions you may have. We have all been there and we learn from each other. Please let us know how Millie is doing after the surgery.
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.” ― Milan Kundera
seriouslab said
we recently went thru this.
Thanks for the feedback! Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm sorry you had to find us here. I know how overwhelming it is right now. As others have said, the recovery can be tough to get through - sometimes tougher on us than on the pups. Try to rest up before Monday. If you get low on sleep, everything starts to seem worse. It's normal to feel overwhelmed and question your decision during the recovery, but most pups are showing signs of their happy personality about 10-14 days after surgery. In all my time here, I've only ever seen one person say that in the end they regretted going through with the amp. Most people are very happy once they see their pup's pain-free, happy personality return. Plus, Millie will amaze you once she gets over the recovery - she'll adapt and just get on with things like dogs do. Your bond will grow even stronger than it is now.
It's an awesome thing to be a tripawd pawrent. Welcome to the club,
Jackie, angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
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