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,
My 12 year old beagle has been diagnosed with a mast cell tumor. The tumor is located on her right front leg and due to its location the vet cannot remove it. I have to take her in on Monday for an ultrasound, chest x-rays and to check her lymph nodes to see if its spread.
As of right now amputation will definitely be an option. The other option is 16 treatments of radiation and chemo. It has been very difficult to digest all of this information over the past week. I worry about her if she does have to have her leg amputated. I know she will adjust, but I feel for her and know that I will probably have a more difficult time adjusting than she will.
I will know more information later, but if anyone can share their advice I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Danell
Hi Danell, welcome. Thanks for registering, your future posts won't need moderation.
I'm sorry to hear about your pup, that's just such a stressful situation, many of us here can relate to it. It sounds like you've got a great vet team on your side there, they're doing all the right things before proceeding. What do they think about your dog's candidacy as a Tripawd? Sounds like she will do OK as far as no pre-existing issues?
Everyone worries about their dog or cat on three legs, but you are so right; it's worse for the humans than the animals! You'll be AMAZED at how strong, courageous and fearless your dog is after the recovery period is over.
Many Tripawds here have mast cell tumor experience, just do a search for "mast cell tumor" and you'll find far too many unfortunately. I need to run but I'll be back and just wanted to give you a welcome. Meanwhile stay tuned for others to jump in and you can also check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books for answers to your questions while you're waiting.
Hang in there, things DO get better!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks Jerry!
The vet (he has been her vet for almost ten years)said he believes she will do just find if the leg has to be amputated. She had ACL surgery on her back left leg a year ago and she recovered fine with that. I asked the vet if her back leg would give her issues (not supporting the weight of three legs) due to the ACL surgery and he said she will do great. He said the ACL leg is probably stronger than her normal back leg, due to the fact that she is an older dog and age doing its thing on the stability of her bones, etc. I have two other dogs and I was worried how they may adjust to her. I know that sounds crazy 
I will definitely search the site here to see what I can find about mast cell tumors. Thanks again!
Welcome to Tripawds, I'm sorry cancer has brought you here.
I've been dealing with mast cell cancer in two pugs for 8 years. Tri-pug Maggie lost her left rear leg to a MCT, which was her second MCT. She was a Tri-pug for almost 4 years and also dealt with a few cutaneous MCTs. Although after her amp her prognosis was poor due to lymph node involvement she beat the odds and did not pass from mast cell. Mag's little sis quad-pug Tani was diagnosed with her first MCTs the week before Mag finished chemo! Tani is now 13.5 and I am no longer removing tumors from her. While Mag did chemo I have not used chemo for Tani. We are now treating holistically with herbs and supplements.
I did not do radiation for Mag, it actually was not an option in the end because the tumor was too big. I would not have done radiation for her anyway, she did not do well under anesthetic, we almost lost her twice during other surgeries. I did choose chemo for her partly because the lymph node involvement was a surprise. You can read Maggie's story and about her amp and chemo- the links are in my signature below.
There are meds available now that were not an option for Mag. Palladia was released as a chemo drug originally for mast cell, and there is Mastinib (also called Kinivet).
My quad pug Obie had knee surgery last year. While Maggie took her time getting used to being on three, she recovered from her amputation way faster than Obie did from his knee repair.
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
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