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 everyone! I'm a swedish bullmastiff and labrador (and guinea pigs) owner and happy to have found this site! Hopefully I will get some answers. My bullmastiff Penny has most likely osteosarcoma (the vet. is waiting for the bone biopsi result, but xray really looked like cancer). Her lungs are free from metastasis and her hips are good so I'm really thinking of amputate. It's her right back leg. She is 7,5 years old and very much "alive" if you understand how I mean. (Hope my english is ok..) So therefore I feel I can't put her to sleep. I'm still in a chock for all this and very scared how it will be after the leg is gone. You can see now that the bad leg is a pain for her and she doesn't use it so much. In spite of that she is glad, eats good and wants to play with our labrador (Wilbur 5 years). Sorry for a lot of text, but what are your experiences after operation/amputation? Does it seem they have more pain than before when the sick leg was hurting or about the same? I understand it's hard to say, but just wonder what you have noticed in your dogs behaviours. In Sweden you never see three legged dogs, so you are not used to it. But I think we really must give dogs this chance if we can. Thanks in advance for anwers!
Gunilla, Penny and Wilbur
Welcome and thank you for joining, where are you from?
We are not vets, but based on our experience and all the veterinarians we have interviewed, the pain of amputation recovery is nothing compared the tumor pain which will only continue to get worse and eventually break the bone. The best way to get rid of the pain, is to remove the leg.
Every dog is different, but Penny looks fit and healthy and we have plenty of success stories here from members with large breed dogs. Bigger dogs may take longer to rebuild strength after rear leg amputations, but this is manageable with exercise.
You'll find more recovery and care tips in Jerry's Required Reading List, and for immediate answers to the most common dog amputation questions download the new Tripawds e-book Three Legs and A Spare.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ok. Thank you so much for answer! I am from Sweden. We live right outside Stockholm. My first dog was a bullmastiff. I got her as an adult. She got osteosarkoma in a front leg, but she got operated in a way so they succeeded in sparing the leg. She got chemo therapy as well. It went very well. Unfortunately she had to be put away because another reason, but she lived a little more than a year after the operation. So it was worth it anyway. The vet. has said it's better to amputate a back leg than a front when it is a dog that puts most of the weight on the front legs. So that's good for Penny. I just hope she can be operated soon, because as you write, the sick leg really hearts. It feels better now anyway with all good information. Thank you! /Gunilla
welcome gunilla - love that picture of penny and wilbur, they are quite a beautiful couple. many, many years ago, i had a bullmastiff - what wonderful loving pups they are!!. you are right in wanting to get rid of the sick leg - the pain is just awful, and penny will feel so much better when it's gone. she will do fine on three legs. there is a book which is about a three-legged bullmastiff, called 'Without Regret '. don't know if you can buy it in sweden, but it's available through amazon here. i read it when we found that gayle would need an amputation, and it was a great starting point for us. if you would like a copy, and can't get it there in sweden, you can PM me and i'll try to send you a copy if you'd like. i'm guessing you read english as well as you write (which is very good), so i think you'd like it.
we have many members here that have had bullmastiffs, mastiffs, corsos and other large breeds, so hopefully they will jump in and tell you some of their experiences.
charon & spirit gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Welcome to you and your pack! Your English is great! And it's great taht you are trying to do what you can for your pup.
Many people talk about how they saw the old light back in their dog's eyes after amp, once that painful leg is gone. The recovery can be hard, usually it's a rough two weeks, but once your pup is off the pain meds and the staples are out, you should see your old pup returning!
Keep us posted. Hopefully you can schedule the surgery as soon as possible.
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!
My English Mastiff Tazzie lost her front leg to osteosarcoma when she was 6 years old and she lived another 14 months and did quite well. She was a large dog (185 pounds) so I kept her in the hospital for 3 nights until I was sure she could get around okay. It sounds like your dog is already using 3 legs and you are right it is easier to lose a rear leg.
Good luck!
Pam
Thank you all for your participation! It means soooo much! Yesterday Penny was so tired and we went away in the car and I was crying because it felt she was dying away from me. It was awful. But when we arrived and during this weekend she has been very well 
, so I'm feeling glad again. But tomorrow I will call the vet. and ask for an earlier operation time. The date we have got is the 21:st of June. Today when my husband walked with her (and I with Wilbur) I saw sometimes she ran on three legs. Then I realized I really think this will work . I will update as soon as I can. The best to you all and your dogs!/Gunilla
gunillas said
Then I realized I really think this will work
Hi Gunillas, our dog Hunter had his right rear leg amputated on May 30th, less than a week after his osteosarcoma was confirmed with a bone biopsy. We wanted to have it done ASAP because we didn't want to give the cancer any more time in his body.
When the oncologist asked me the difference in him before and after the sugery... I said "bright eyed and bushy tailed!". He was happy to get rid of the chronic pain. This Wednesday he is going to have his 1st chemo treatment. His recovery from the surgery has been really good. Right now I think he is just really bored and lays around a lot. He is used to walking every day and it's hard not to do that for 2 whole weeks. I am so glad you are going ahead with the surgery and sooner than later. We wish you all the best.
Read about our Hunter at http://superdog.....pawds.com/
7/27/2003 ~ 7/24/2013
Our Super Dog Hunter crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on a beautiful summer day in July, just 3 days shy of his 10th Birthday. He gave us everything since he was 8 weeks old. Hunter was a 14 month warrior of OS. We LOVE and MISS him every day.
Welcome Gunilla and Penny,
I'm so sorry you find yourself here with us. I know all of it is so scary. It's hard not to cry.
Just know there is huge difference between bone cancer pain and surgery pain. Bone cancer pain is off the charts! It is considered the worst pain in humans and can't be managed. Surgery pain for an amputation is painful but manageable. However, surgery pain gets better each day. Plus, she'll get pain meds.
I can promise you that Penny is wishing that leg was gone because it's so painful. This is why she isn't acting herself. She'll be a new dog when she is pain free. And the sooner the better! You want to ensure she doesn't have to suffer any longer than necessary. I would have my vet do it this week.....like tomorrow! (seriously)
Here's wishing you only the best for your girl
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
All of your answers are giving me so much strength! Thank you all again! This morning I talked to the vet. and the biopsi answer maybe should come on friday.. I said to him we just can't wait any longer with amputation. As you all know the chemo therapy must wait about ten days after amputation, so I felt waiting for maybe a further two or three weeks is not an option. Then the vet. checked operation times in another animal hospital that this hospital works together with, and they had time tomorrow morning! So now it's booked ! First I felt really nervous, but now I feel more calm and that this really is the right and only thing to do now. It was just a little of a shock when I had to decide so quickly but of course absolutely the best thing. Now we just have to hope for that everything will go well.
/Gunilla
it is scary, but like you said 'this really is the right and only thing to do now'. as long as you make decisions out of love for penny, you'll be making good decisions. we'll be thinking about you guys, sending our best wishes (we send ET juju, which is like magical tripawd karma) for successful surgery and speedy recovery. please let us know how it goes!!
charon & spirit gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
Congrats on getting an earlier surgery time! The sooner taht painful leg is off the better.
We will be thinking of you and hoping for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery. The recovery period can be a rough two weeks, but we are here if you have questions.
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!
gunillas said
Does it seem they have more pain than before when the sick leg was hurting or about the same? I understand it's hard to say, but just wonder what you have noticed in your dogs behaviours. In Sweden you never see three legged dogs, so you are not used to it. But I think we really must give dogs this chance if we can. Thanks in advance for anwers!Gunilla, Penny and Wilbur
Hi and welcome. Sorry that you are having to go through this ordeal, but I am glad that you are calm about your decision. Amputation is a scary prospect, but most dogs recover fine from the amputation. The cancer is more of the unknown factor because some dogs go on to live for years after the amputation and some do not make it that long. One important thing to remember is that the amputation allows her relief from the tumor pain for whatever time she has left!
You asked about pain before and after amputation. Osteosarcoma is a very painful disease - the tumor eats away the bone, weakening it and allowing the bone to bend (and eventually break) as the dog walks on it. Once the leg is removed (which includes the tumor and the weakened part of the bone), then the pain is gone. After the amputation, the dog does have some pain while the incision and the muscles are healing, but once they recover (about two weeks to a month) then they are usually back to normal.
Good luck!
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Hi Gunilla, just wanted to send all my best wishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery. You are being a terrific advocate for Penny, and your courage will take you far as you begin your Tripawd journey. I can't wait to see more pictures of her.
And you are correct in your observation that she's already walking on three legs. Most Tripawds are already doing this by the time they get to the surgery date.
P.S. Some oncologists here in the US are now beginning chemotherapy within a few days after surgery, not all of them are waiting like they used to.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Gunilla, Penny and Wilber! Just sending you best wishes for a successful and uneventful surgery. Keep us posted.
Spirit Samson was Spirit Tripawd Daisys four legged "brother" and ruled as the self proclaimed head of the Monkeybutt Federations East Coast Division. Lady Chunky Monkey stayed from Oct 2011 and left for the bridge in Apr 2012. Miss Perdy is left and has some big pawprints to fill.
Do you have what it takes to be a Monkeybutt? Find out more at the Monkeybutt Federation
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