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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I couldn't even begin to count the number of times I changed my "decision"..--amutate....not amputate......back and forth...nauseous, so big, couldn't sleep, couldn't et. But once her pain got to the point that K was having to increase her meds and she still was limping.....it, in almost a split second was a no-brainer. I would probably have to end her life in. matter of weeks, or give her a chance to live pain free for how ever long she had. AND, very important for me, her attitude was clearly o e of a dog who would of her life ended et and SHE would want extended quality time:-)
Her recovery was rough and slower than some.....and I was scared and second guessing g myself. I hung onto this site as though it was my only source of oxygen! The support and k owlege was the only thing that kept me half way sane and hopeful that things would get better!
And boy did things get better!! Alost four months out from amputatio s and I feel like I have the happiest dog on the planet! And every second d we have together is a treasure, a true gift, true bliss:-) 
My Happy Hannah is a big chunk of a girl---120__123 lbs. before surgery and 8 yrs. 6 no the young senior . She does a great job of pacing herself as will your pup. She is pain free and enjoying the loving and spoiling and just wags her tail almost nonstop because she is just SO happy to be alive:-)
Hang onto is. We won't let you go. We re here for you!
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!
Welcome Sonny and family-
Sorry to hear your news, but know we are all here to listen and have been in your shoes.
Shooter also weighs about 25 lbs and once the drugs wore off some he was out and about within two days after coming home. He can do just about everything he did before, but we did build steps for the doggy door and to get on and off the bed. They figure out pretty quickly how much easier it is to use the steps. All my quad pawds use them too! Within two months he could jump into our truck with no prob (we don't allow jumping out).
You will decide whatever is best for Sonny and you. Just know you are not alone.
Luanne and Shooter
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Sorry I'm late to the welcoming pawty! My Dakota had a soft tissue cancer. He was not in any pain and had no limping before his amputation. Like you, I was told that the tumor would break through the skin and likely end up as gangrene without amputation. There was no question in my mind. Leg gone=cancer gone.
If I wanted Dakota to live comfortably and happily, the cancer had to be gone.
Dakota was a golden mix, so he was not 25 pounds. However, he lost a front leg and did well. He was capable of doing most things he wanted to do. He was able to hold down a bone with his remaining leg and work on it for hours, and that was pleasure for him so it mattered. Dakota was not a furniture dog ever, so that didn't change. But his biggest pleasure of all time was rolling in snow, and that never changed. As long as he had snow, he acted like a big goofy puppy. He went up stairs and down with no problems.
Rat terriers have longer life expectancy than big dogs. At 11, Sonny is not a doddering old man by any stretch of the imagination. He may have many more years ahead of him. You just have to decide if you think this is something you and he can do. If Sonny could talk and tell you what he wants, I doubt he would say "just put me down now" because he feels well and enjoys his life. Please consider giving him the chance to enjoy his senior years.
We do have a rat terrier front amp here who blogs. You can search the blogs for Sparky. He's a rescue and his mama has no idea how he lost his leg, but it's been 5 or so years (I think) and he's a go-getter. Just like Sonny.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
I was in your situation just LAST WEEK 
I can only add what has been repeated here... my TJ, had his right front leg removed on Monday 6/3. I was a wreck for 3 days caring for him and not knowing if what I did was right or wrong.
Its 6/8... 5 days later any my TJ is happy, healthy and being a dog. It has slowed him down (he's 80lbs, 10y.o. with moderate to severe arthritis in his hip) but two weeks ago his limp and pain caused him to simply lay down. Go outside and play? No.. go outside and lay down. He wasn't the dog he was the previous month.
He's still recovering.. but I can see that his pain is gone... he get's up, he follows me room to room, outside he's sniffing around and hopping from one end of the yard to the next.
THAT is how I want my TJ.
I still help him down stairs, I still walk close to him in case he needs to lean on me for balance or a rest. I still know the cancer is in him and this is just the quiet before the storm.
I can't say what to do for your situation... but I don't think I would like my TJ limping, in constant pain and not up and about being my dog.
He still is black and blue on his chest... his stitches are still in and his fur has not grown in. He looks like hell. But those looks are deceiving. I can see his improvement every day and I know he is better off now than he was just one short week ago.
I'm glad I found the many resources on the net to guide me though this part of TJs journey.
Welcome.
My little pug Maggie had mast cell cancer in her knee, she did not have much pain, and she was quite a drama queen- she always let me know when she was in pain or unhappy. How could amputation be the answer to the tumor? Surely there was something less radical. But like Sonny, Maggie's tumor would eventually ulcerating the skin and produce a wound that would be painful and never heal.
There were only a couple thing that Maggie couldn't do anymore, but I worried that she would be unhappy because of what she lost. But dogs aren't like that, even stubborn pugs! I finally realized that Maggie didn't miss anything, once she got used to being a Tri-pug she just looked forward to the next meal and nap. And she developed new skills and new ways of doing things. It is truly inspiring to see how our pups adapt and get on with life.
Maybe it would help you to focus on what you are doing FOR Sonny, not what you are doing TO him.
We are here to support you no matter what you decide.
Karen
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