Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Dear Community,
I would like to share Annabelle's and my story and I am very grateful to be a part of this community (@Jerry: Many thanks to you and the team for hosting this. I am so happy to have found this homepage).
My name is Andrea and I am from Switzerland. My soul dog Annabelle and I have a long journey behind us with many wonderful moments but unfortunately also many very sad and worrying stages of life. Annabelle is a little Miniature Pinscher who came into my life when she was just 1 year old. I used to dog sled together with my father (we had four huskies). In addition to the huskies, we also had Belgian shepherds. So I was used to growing up with big dogs 
And then Annabelle came into my life and it was the best decision to adopt her. But after just two years, we were faced with the first diagnosis. Annabelle lost all her fur and I was told that she had color mutant alopecia - an autoimmune disease. No cure was predicted and she was to remain completely bald. But I didn't really care, because I still have her. With a lot of patience and various homeopathic therapies, she got fur all over again and to this day no more bald patches have appeared.
The next stroke of fate came in 2016. Annabelle had a lump on her left front leg. Several vets examined it and I received various diagnoses until the animal hospital told us that it was a hemangiopericytoma - so cancer. After this shock and a lot of research, I decided to have the tumor operated on and then proceed with curative radiotherapy. I was told that the tumor would either be completely destroyed or it would recur after about 6 years at the earliest. However, almost 2 years later (2018), a lump has already appeared again. Since 2018, I have had the tumor operated on again and again and since then I have had x operations to date. Unfortunately, the tumor kept coming back at shorter intervals over time. In between, a vet who performed a dental treatment under anesthesia completely burned Annabelle with a heat mat. Annabelle had 3rd degree burns all over her body, but survived. This dog has been through so much in her life and you should see her, she is still so positive, friendly, loves vets and is just a happy dog and a real fighter. Annabelle is now 13.5 years old. But I really hoped that Annabelle would one day be allowed to leave this world with 4 legs. The last operation on the tumor was 3 months ago. The vets had already told me that another operation would probably not be possible. I am also struggling because she has already had over 10 operations on her leg and I don't want to put her through this anesthetic again and again. It is also important to mention that Annabelle never limped after any surgery (or even before) because of the tumor and therefore had no pain at all. This dog is still so vital and her general state of health is fantastic despite her advanced age.
However, over the holidays the last few days, the tumor on Annabelle's leg has grown so quickly that she has been limping since yesterday. I don't think she's in pain, because she's running back and forth like crazy, but I don't think she can move her leg properly because of the size of the tumor. Unfortunately the vet doesn't have an appointment until next Tuesday. I am now afraid that he will tell me that amputation is the only option. And that is absolutely the hardest decision I have had to make in my life so far. I am afraid that because of her age (even if she is otherwise in good health) she is not capable or happy on three legs. She loves to go hiking in the mountains and that would no longer be possible. This has been our purpose in life almost every weekend so far. Or romping around in the snow. What if her other legs, which now have to carry/compensate for the loss of the amputated leg, can't cope with this due to her old age? I'm afraid she'll lose her positivity and her happy character. And to be honest, I'm also afraid of how I will cope with this situation myself. I will now read through all your stories with your fur pups to get a better feeling for this decision. I admire each and every one of you who had to go through this tough decision making.
If you have any tips or opinions on my decision making or would like to share experiences, I would sincerely appreciate it.
Thank you for all your thoughts, which Annabelle and I greatly appreciate.
Best, Andrea
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Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
Annabelle is quite a survivor!
I don't think age itself is necessarily a factor, it's really the overall health of the dog, how much life do they still have? She's had a lot of challenges but how are her other legs and back? If she is otherwise strong then she could probably handle life on three. Does your vet have an opinion on how well she would do as a tripawd?
Yes, some things would be different. Long walks and hikes are not the best for a Tripawd. My little Tripawd Elly is missing a back leg. She lost it at 7 months old to a car accident, she just turned 9 years old. Yesterday I took my two pups to a local lake where I walked about 3 miles and my quad Pug Mix walked/ran about 3.5 miles. I have a stroller for Elly so she can come along, she walks a little and rides a lot (when we go that far).
Amp surgery recovery usually takes 2 to 3 weeks, sometimes a little longer for more mature pups.
No matter what decision you make we are here to help and support you and Annabelle!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls and Boy
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Andrea I am so glad you decided to post! This is a tough decision but we'll try to help make it easier for you.
It does sound like she is a good candidate for amputation. Her small size, and her ability to bounce back after so many health scares and surgeries, tell me that she is a fighter with a lot of spirit. There is no reason why she wouldn't be able to bounce back and go on to enjoy things she loves doing, just doing them differently with regular activity moderation so that she doesn't overdo things. You can hike with her and take her in a doggy backpack, or use a dog stroller . She can still do lots of fun things with you outdoors.
As a senior dog they do take longer to recover, but they really do get to a happier place without that bad leg. You can see with our Tripawds Quality of Life Surveys that almost all pet parents are glad they went through with the surgery. It isn't always right for every dog but if it means more quality time together, it's a viable option.
One thing to ask your vet about is a tumor removal treatment called electrochemotherapy . Many vets in other countries do this (people medical doctors too) when amputation isn't a good option. It's a soft-tissue removal treatment that can save the leg by removing the tumor in a non-invasive way. Not all dogs are good candidates but it's worth asking about just in case you are near a provider.
Try not to jump too far ahead until you talk to your vet on Tuesday, and keep us posted OK? We are here for you.
Dear Karen Rene/Jim,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your quick feedback, which helped me a lot, as well as all the touching stories and experiences with tripawds on this page - so helpful!! Also especially the story of Jerry and Elly which again gives me courage.
I have the vet appointment tomorrow and I am so nervous and have not been able to sleep for days.
Annabelle has already had radiotherapy (curative radiotherapy) and metronomic chemotherapy (with thalidomide and cyclophosphamide). Unfortunately, that didn't help.
One of the oncologists said that chemotherapy with Palladia and Leukeran could be tried. Do you have any experience of this?
As far as electrochemotherapy is concerned, the same oncologist said at the time that this would not lead to a cure either, as there is also the problem of reaching all the tumor cells. One could only consider whether only part of the tumour should be treated in order to keep it smaller and thus minimize the risk of skin necrosis and wound healing disorders (but this cannot be ruled out).
Repeated radiotherapy, as Annabelle has already had, is also no longer possible. You could have another 5 x radiotherapy but also with the risk of skin necrosis.
Tomorrow I meet the surgeon. I'm so lost at the moment because I really don't know what to do. As Annabelle has already had over 10 operations and the tumor, despite radiotherapy and metronomic chemotherapy , I know that a normal operation makes no sense as the tumor is always growing at shorter intervals. I will definitely have her lungs x-rayed and hope very much that she doesn't have any metastases yet (should be rare with hemangiopericytoma). I just want to choose the best option for Annabelle that will give her the best quality of life.
One question that still concerns me regarding amputation is whether you have noticed any significant problems with the other 3 limbs after amputation. As Annabelle is already 13.5 years old, I am worried that she may be putting too much strain on the other limbs/back etc. I will of course have her examined again by the surgeon. But what will happen after the amputation? How much / how quickly should I expect the other limbs to wear out? What experiences have you had here?
Again, a huge thank you for standing by me and for sharing your experiences!
Best, Andrea & Annabelle
Hi Andrea,
As far as other limbs 'wearing out'- I didn't mention my first Tripawd. Maggie was a Pug who lost a back leg to mast cell cancer when she was about 7.5 years old. Mag beat her original prognosis of 6 to 9 months and lived for almost 4 more years. She never had any orthopedic issues related to her being on three.
Elly lost her back leg at 7 months old, she just turned 9. She had no orthopedic issues until she was 7.5 years old when she injured her one remaining hip in a weird accident. Since then we have worked hard with exercised and lots of supplements and meds. She still gets around fine, including stairs in my house, what she has lost is some stamina.
Yes, being on three can take a toll, but you said she is in good shape otherwise. Keeping her on the thin side and getting her on an exercise program to keep her strong will go a long way. I've had strollers since Maggie lost her leg way back in 2006 and used them for all my small dogs- some Tripawds but also for advanced arthritis, advanced arthritis and age.
My last Pug boy passed away just after his 16 birthday. Although he had had both knees repaired I certainly would have considered amputation for him if it was needed when he was 13.5 years old.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls and Boy
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi Andrea,
I hope your appointment goes well today! It's great that your oncologist knew about electrochemotherapy (many in the US haven't heard about it). They are right, in that it doesn't cure or usually doesn't eliminate the tumor, it just controls it to buy quality time. One of our senior members went through it and their tumor never came back. They ended up passing from old age-related conditions, not the tumor itself. So yes, it's mostly a palliative treatment.
One of the oncologists said that chemotherapy with Palladia and Leukeran could be tried. Do you have any experience of this?
With usually see those used for as a last-ditch-effort treating lung metastasis, not as a primary treatment. Leukeran is usually used for metronomics as an alternative to cyclophosphamide.
what will happen after the amputation? How much / how quickly should I expect the other limbs to wear out? What experiences have you had here?
Mobility issues usually happen because other areas of the body aren't strong, like core, shoulders, and back muscles. But we do sometimes see leg injuries like cruciate tears, often caused by too much weight on the dog, or too much of the wrong types of activity ("explosive" ball chasing, for example).
As long as Annabelle is kept lean, and you moderate her activity well so that she doesn't overdo it on walks, jumping, etc, odds are good that she will go on to live a good life on three into her senior years without serious issues. A visit with a canine physiotherapist can be very helpful for learning how to do that. And Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit (physio), even where you live as long as the therapist is credentialed. See the link for program details.
I know it's a big worry for a dog her age, I can't blame you for agonising. Whatever you decide to do, as long as that decision is made with love and her quality of life in mind, you can't go wrong.
Let us know how today goes!
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