Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello everyone, I am amazed that a community exsists for this, but I am so thankful for it!
Yesterday I met with a specalist concerning my 5 year old Rat Terrier Polly. She started limping over the summer off and on and just recently it got worse. An X-ray showed something ate the bone right at her left hind knee. the vet didnt know what it was and referred me to a specalist.
I met yesterday with the specalist and he said I must aputate the leg since the bone is basically butter and its just a matter of time before something breaks and she is in intense pain. I know my baby is in pain now because she sleeps more often that not, but her spirit seems ok. She still enjoys her bones and going outside and she is still eating.
The specalsit said it could be a funal infection of the bone or it could be cancer, but didnt want to biopsy the infected leg because it could break the bone and could make it much worse.
Now here is my problem... what if this infection has already spread? Then i'm spending 3K just to have her live a few more months with only 3 legs.. is that fair to her? Do i have it amputated at the vet for half that cost and only run a few basic tests to save money?
I honestly am so torn about this. I love her and I beleive that the leg must come off, but no one in my family is supporting my decision to pay for the amputation. They just keep telling me to put her down and move on... What would you wonderful people do?
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Hi Polly and family, we are glad you found us! I'm very sorry about the diagnosis, it's such a shock to get news like that. When I was diagnosed, we didn't even know dogs got cancer!
So it sounds like you've done your homework and gotten a second opinion. That's terrific. I agree with the vet's decision not to biopsy...bone biopsies have a lot of risk and when the leg looks that bad, you risk a pathologic fracture which is just a bad situation.
We never tell anyone that amputation is the right decision for them. That's something only you and your pack can decide. What I can share with you is our experience of seeing dogs live life on three legs. Here are my thoughts:
- small dogs generally do extremely well on three legs.
- cancer is not an immediate death sentence; prognoses are numbers based on certain groups of dogs. They don't take your Polly into consideration. Many dogs outlive the prognosis they are given, while some do not. It's really a crap shoot but in the end, what matter is the quality of life that you and your dog enjoyed during that time, not the quantity. In all but one instance of our members sharing their stories here, people say that they don't regret the decision to amputate, even if their dog didn't live beyond the prognosis they were given.
Which leads me to my final thoughts for you; when it comes to a concept like time, remember that dogs don't even know what it is. They don't have calendars or clocks, they don't care if one day has passed or one year. All they want is for every single day to be the best, most fun it can be with their people.
One last thought: $3k seems really high for an amputation alone, especially for a rat terrier. Are you sure that's just for the surgery? What else does it include? I can't say have your vet do it because it's cheaper, because your vet might not be the best equipped person to do it. Please see this post, "How to Choose a Vet for Amputation Surgery."
Again, welcome. We're here to help make this decision no matter what you decide. Thanks for registering too, your future posts won't require moderation.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jerry- the 3K includes after amputation biopsy of the leg that will be removed. X-rays on the rest of her body while she is sedated to make sure its not anywhere else, 24 hours of pain management in the care of a vet and all of the after amputation vists. The specalist said the biopsys can run 1,000 on their own.
My only concern is the other good hind leg shows some damage, nowhere near the intensity of the one we must remove. But i figure if I remove it, and they find it is cancer or bacterial, It will give me time with her to either love her and spoil her silly, or it will give me time to look for alternative treatments while i have that time. Right now her leg is a ticking time bomb and I have a pack of 3 others that bump into her and are pretty much just a silly group of rat terriers.
I do not worry that she wont get around on 3 legs. She still jumps and carries on with her leg up near her belly like nothing ever happened. she is a fiesty one.
Well it does sound like the care that Polly would get at the specialist is top-notch. Where is it? We always like to know about great clinics.
A biopsy is helpful because it lets you know what you are dealing with, and how to deal with it. If you think that you will proceed with chemo, it's a must.
Is her other hind leg a concern to the vets?
As for her getting around on three legs...it sounds like she is already a Tripawd. Many dogs start out that way, before the leg is actually off. So they have already learned how to compensate for the missing limb. From the rat terriers I have known, I'm going to be that her feisty nature will keep her spunky as ever, especially because you also have other dogs around.
When you say you don't have any support from others, you have to ask yourself how important that is to you. If you are paying for the surgery, then it's your decision. If others are contributing, then of course it has to be a joint decision. Many of us have faced this kind of attitude from our loved ones as soon as we told them that amputation was an option. But those people have never been in your situation, or love Polly the way you do. The don't get it, and they probably never will. You need to disregard their well-intentioned but uninformed advice, and go with your heart on this one. We'll be here for support either way.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Jerry- the other leg is of some concern, but my vet and the specalist both said amputation is what is best for now. Once the biopsy is done, we can move on and treat whatever we are dealing with completely informed.
The specalist we are using is Chesapeake Veterinary Surgery Specalists in Annapolis MD.
From what I understand they are some of the best in the country. We are working with Dr. Burgess.
I am lucky in that my husband is supportive-but none of either of our families are. They think it is a waste of money, especially for newlyweds, and prefer us to spend that time and energy into giving them grandchilden.
We decided to go through with the amputation and are lucky enough to have the first appoinment this coming Friday. I am just petrified we will lose her. I am hoping for the best and am hoping that she lives long and happy afterwards. I know in my heart this is right for us and I appreciate this forum more than anyone can ever imagine. thank you for exsisting!!!
Welcome to Tripawds.
I had a little pug, rear amp that got around fine for almost 4 years after her surgery for mast cell cancer. I'm sorry your family's are not more supportive. My parents were supportive, but some of my extended family think I am a little wacko with all I do for my pugs. Come to think of it- it might be that I keep getting pugs that makes them think that 
.
Good luck on Friday- is that the amp or a consult? I know you are worried about losing her during surgery- I always worry about the pugs, but there really isn't an option, is there? This is a big surgery, but most all pups and kitties here do just fine. The first two weeks after surgery can be full of ups and downs, but since Polly has been a virtual tripawd for awhile I bet she gets her balance pretty quick.
Keep us posted.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Hello Polly's family,
If your families don't support what you have decided to do, then remember you now have a big, extended family here who will support you no matter what. Furthermore, we will never tell you to get over it, to move on, that she's just a dog, that you can always get another to replace her, or any of those things you may hear. We simply don't do it here because...
...if you lose her, you will kind of get over it but she will take a piece of your heart with her (and she'll take good care of it); you will move on when it feels right and when your heart allows; she is not just a dog, she is your Polly; you can get a whole bunch more but none will replace her because she's an individual.
Now, take a deep breath and think of why you are doing this. Not for your parents, not for your in-laws, but for you and your husband and the family you have now. Maybe this will be a teachable moment and others will learn to bite their tongues (mine haven't learned yet and I'll bet I'm a whole lot older than you!) Tell them you're practicing on the pups so their grandkids will not be the ones you practice on!
Check in to let us know how things are going. If you don't, we will sit and worry about you and Polly on Friday. That's what we do!
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/
Hi Pollys Mom,
Just wanted to say hello and to tell you, you are not alone on this journey. We are all here to support you in any way that you need. Try not to let your family's opinions get you down. You have to do what is right for you and your husband and Polly. Its always easy for people to judge when its not them having to go through the situation. We all love our animals here and we will always do right by them. You are making the decision to help Polly no longer be in pain. That is doing Polly right. Please let us know how things are going. If you have any questions about what to expect please let us know. We are your support system.
Michele
“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
You guys are so awesome!
I know in my heart I am doing whats best. Even if I only get 3 months with her after this, at least they will be happy months and not ones where i am petrified something will happen to her leg and cause it to break.
Friday is surgery day. I am blessed that the Doctor could fit me in. I am so go blessed with a husband that is supporting me and when I say to him at low moments "are we doing the right thing here?" He always says Yes, we are. End of story.
I think my family is so unsupportive because I foster Rat Terriers and for some reason I only get the ones with problems. I call them my house of misfit toys. but Polly is my own personal dog, so my sentimental attachment is much greater.
I am so thankful a group like this exsists. I am looking forward to sharing funny tripawd Polly stories in the coming months! Thank you to everyone!!!
That is wonderful that you foster the dogs. They come to you because you probably have the magic touch with them and whatever problems they have, you help fix them. You are the dog whisperer of rat terriers.
Im glad Polly is getting in on Friday for the surgery. We had to wait almost 2 weeks before we had the surgery and I was so afraid Cadence's leg would break. I think she thought we changed her name to "no" in those two weeks. Everytime she went to run or play hard, I would be yelling, "no".
You and Polly will be in my thoughts tomorrow. Please let us know when she is out of surgery. You have your cheer leading squad here for you, so any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
“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
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