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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Honestly, I think you have got to get that leg off now. You vet recommended it ASAP. As many have said, vet's don't recommend amputation lightly.
Last night we had a member, Pez's family who were 99.9% they were going to amputate but the diagnoses was a little iffy (osteosarcoma or soft tissue) and then they opted to not and treat with pain pills, bone therapy, supplements and Chinese herbs but now 6 months later the leg is broken completely in half. The dog is in horrible pain while they can try to find someone who will do an emergency amputation.
Even tho I don't have a cancer dog, their heartbreaking story really convinced me that not doing it has some heart wrenching consequences.
I vote for putting you foot down and give Abby a chance. I don't understand the big fuss about not having 4 legs because I've had a 3-legged dog from birth for over 11 years. I chose to accept her "as is". Call me naive but I didn't see her much different than a 4-legged dog. Life for her has been pretty damn good!
Best wishes!
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.
Abbydog:
Such a tough decision your parent's have to make; in Rusty's case because the tumor was growing so rapidly, we had to make the decision almost immediately if there any chance of giving him more time. All of the previous posts should be a great help in making your decision.
Rusty also has Fibrosarcoma, level 3; According to our Oncologist Surgeon and the Oncologist who is handling the Chemo treatments, Fibrosarcoma is one of the most aggressive cancers that a dog can have. It is fast growing and spreads very rapidly; surgery and Chemo are the only treatments that can prolong the dog's life. Even with the clean removal of Rusty's leg and six months of Chemo, Rusty's prognosis is for 1 to 3 years. It will be five months next Friday that Rusty's leg was amputated; we appreciate every extra day that we have with him. Rusty will be two at the end of July and we are hoping that we will be able to have a birthday celebration for him and his friends as the Pathologists gave Rusty's cancer a 50% chance that it had metastasized to other parts of his body, even though the scans, etc. were clean.
One sensitive issue that has not been discussed is the expense; Rusty's treatment expenses are:
Pre-surgery exams, X-Rays, scans, blood work, etc. 3,400.65
Surgery 6,013.08
Chemo Treatments to date (5) 4,942.10
Total to date 14,355.83
Being in the Desert our fees are probably higher than in other areas, but we are fortunate to have two the the top rated Dr.'s in the country. Also, we have pet insurance which has paid 70% of the expenses; without the insurance it would have been a tough decision for us to make. We are retired and as much as we love Rusty (my first dog in over 50 years because of my allergies) it would not be possible to replace the funds needed for his treatment. I would probably have sold my roadster, which has been my first love (after my wife) for years, but now Rusty has moved into 1st place.
Since you and your wife do not agree on how to proceed, you might want to read my blog "Rusty's Cancer Chronicles" which I updated today. It details what we have dealt with since Rusty was first diagnosed to today. Whatever decision you make I am sure it will be the right one.
Chuck Holliman
Hi,
thanks again to all who are sharing there experiences with us. Just a reference point. After realizing that I would spend any amount of money when my last dog became sick, I make sure to have excellent pet insurance now. Abby is with a top rated critical care referral hospital. The cost of her treatment is not the issue. Just because we can do something does not make it clearly emotionally felt that we should. We have gotten many different comments that all reflect people's heart felt and personal experience. That level of sharing is very much appreciated and does give up support.
Abby Dog
Keep us posted, okay?
Wishing you all the best!
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.
abbydog said:
My wife does not trust my desire to be more actively interventionist. So the decision to wait ,if possible, gives us time to resolve the differences in how we would both do it. I just wonder how safe is it to wait, and should I demand to act now. My track record in this is not good, but if the risk of waiting is significantly higher I would push my wife harded to amputate now.
I can't blame you both one bit for hestiating, considering the circumstances. If we had really grasped that dog could actually die on the operating table when my pawrents decided to proceed with my amp, we probably would have hesitated too. But one thing to consider is; although you both have different ways of seeing the next steps, you have to ask yourselves; what is best for Abby, not for us? Put your differences aside to help her, that's what is impawtant.
Consider what you would do if you were the one diagnosed. I know that for some people thinking like that is a stretch, almost insulting; we all know dogs are not humans, but I think in this community, they're pretty much on the same level. Most of us consider our dogs as family and would act in much the same manner for medical treatment as we would for human loved ones.
Amputation is a huge leap of faith. But IMHO, you need to decide how to treat this quickly. Whether it be exploring alternative medicine or traditional treatment, it's so impawtant to move quickly with a cancer like this.
We send you lots of love and pawsitive energy, I wish we could make this easier for all of you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
FYI: Tripawds Supporter ceholli just launched his blog makeover with a detailed history of Rusty's battle with fibrosarcoma.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I have to ask, did yout wife read all the responses here? If she hasn't it may make her feel better. I can certainly see where her concern is coming from having lost a fur child on the operating table. That would certainly weigh heavily on me as well. Sometimes we just can't make it past fear no matter how hard we try. I feel for her.
No one here is going to tell you surgery is a guarantee. Just recently there has been one die during surgery and one die just a couple days post op. The unexpected can happen. It takes a huge leap of faith to bite the bullet and choose the amputation. The majority of the time it works out for the best and you give the fur child a longer, happier, pain free life that they wouldn't otherwise have.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Our last beloved German Shepherd developed cancer when he was 11 and I made the choice for immediate surgery as the best choice to help him, either as a cure or to prolong his life. He died on the operating table. That he died, alone and not peacefully with us causes us pain to this day. My wife does not trust my desire to be more actively interventionist.
May I ask what type of cancer did your German Shepherd have that required immediate surgery? German Sheps and Rotties are so prone to cancer according to my vet. It's so gut wrenching.
And as I mentioned before my shep mix died from a unknown cancerous tumor on the heart but it was while my vet was trying to get an IV in him to run more tests. I wasn't there and it killed me, too. I just left him like it was nothing. My vet thought it was a black widow spider bite so I didn't think anything of leaving him.
And I had another one die while I had her leash in my hand waiting to take her home from the vet's office. She had knee surgery and was ready to go home since she was doing so well. I hate myself because we decided to go to lunch before picking her up. Had we gone sooner, she could have seen us but instead she died in a cage at the vets while I was just a room away paying the bill. The saliva on her lips was still wet when I saw her but she was gone.
It's very painful and it's hard not to base decisions on previous traumas. So, I wish you all the best in decision.
Comet's mom
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.
Hi Comet dog,
Our last loved German Shepherd had a tumor on his spleen. We went immediately into surgery the next morning after the ultasound confirmed the tumor. While the tumor was never confirmed cancerous, it most likely was. He didn't make it through the surgery. He had a heart attack that could have been a reaction to the surgery prep and anaesthesia or the tumor caused heart stress or a bleed. We didn't do an autopsy at the time becuase all that mattered was that he was gone. Now, sometimes I wish I knew, but would it matter?
Abby dog
Thank you Abby dog.
I'm so sorry. Gut wrenching! Those sudden deaths are so hard to take as there is no time to prepare.
That has the classic symptoms of hemangiosarcoma. Which is what my Rugby(shep) had, too. Your baby probably had one on his heart also. It's so common in sheps. And they are usually eaten up with the tumors. When the tumor ruptures on the heart, the heart sac fills with blood and it can't pump. Cardiac arrest happens. Typically they are on the spleen and heart. There is nothing you could have done. I've talked to someone who had the spleen removed but their dog only lasted a week. And Jakes mom on our forums had one that died after the vet was able to remove the heart sac (so the heart could pump) - I believe only long enough to say goodbye and put the dog down.
I had an autopsy so that's the only reason I knew – my vet didn't know why he died until we did the autopsy.
I hold a special place in my heart for shepherds. I know you do too. I know this is so hard. But please come back and let us know what you decide.
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.
Hi to all,
Updating on Abby. She is happy and wanting to run and play. I met with two professional dog walkers tonight who encouraged us not to worry about amputation. They walk several tripawds and said they do just fine and keep up with the other dogs with no problem. We found abby's tumor within in the first 3 days it appeared on her front leg. It was about the size of a marble when we had the surgery. From what I have read we must have caught it early because it was a low grade one tumor. We are in Canada and the University of Saskatchewan has an excellent canine cancer center. They define Fibrosarcoma as a rapidly growing soft tissue sarcoma locally invasive tumor that infrequently metastasizes, but will do a lot of damage in the local area and will eventually lead to death. We are wondering how fast we have to amputate given the location and grade level of the tumor. We find two different prognosis for mets, one says fast spreading and the other says infrequently mestastasizes. We have also seen mets rates at less than 10% and also at less than 20%. Our Vet says less than 20% but you never know for sure, she could have one month or as much as 8 months. He doubts as much as a year. So he reccomends immediate amputation.
Cost for the Surgery here in an excellent critical care referral vet hospital, is $3500 to $4000. That is with 3 days post op critical care boarding with 24 hour vet specialist in attendance and follow up physio therapy. It also includes all meds, x-rays. etc. They have about 25 different vet specialists on staff and the surgeon is one of two orthopedic surgical specialists. But it is also the same hospital where I last furry friend died in surgery, with an internal organs surgeon. Cost is not the issue because we have insurance. I was surprised at the cost some people have posted. I am posting this information because I know other people are interested in the details if they are going through something similar. If I were a dog with cancer I would like to live in Colorado or in Saskatchewan. They both seem to have centers of excellence in this area.
Abby dog
Hi to all who have been so supportive,
We are moving towards amputation soon, maybe not this week but in the next two or three. The decision is not final to do it immediately rather than wait, but it seems that it may be the path with the best possible outcome. The support we have received here and I have met some 3 legged dogs now who seem very well adjusted makes it seem like the way to go. I see that Rusty had a fibrosarcoma tumor that had grown very large over several months, was grade 3, and was closer to vital organs on the hind leg. Happily, It does not seem that it did metastasize to the lungs which appears to confirm that this kind of tumor does not easily spread to the lungs. This is a somewhat different situation to Abby's as we may have caught it sooner and it is a grade one tumor.
I thought about what choice would a dog make. I thought about how coyotes and wolves who get their legs caught in traps will chew off their leg to escape and live. So a dog would give up a leg to live if given the choice. Sorry for the sad and disturbing metaphor. It breaks my heart to think about any animal suffering. Animals are such wonderful beings. Living in Western Canada we get bears in our back yards and they are truly magnificent creatures.
We will post any new news and keep in touch with Tripawds as this journey unfolds for Abby. I am sure it will be a valuable resource for us as we will need help and advise from people who have been down this path.
Abby dog
You have great logic, Abby dog! You and Abby will be fine and we'll be right here waiting for the next update.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
abbydog said:
... a dog would give up a leg to live if given the choice. Sorry for the sad and disturbing metaphor.
No need to apologize, we often tell this to those having difficulty deciding about amputation. We all need to Be More Dog sometimes.
Please be sure to tell those dog walkers about the this support community. We have Tripawds cards you can print in the Downloads blogs the can pass along to the owners of the three legged dogs they walk.
Thanks for the update!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
. I thought about how coyotes and wolves who get their legs caught in traps will chew off their leg to escape and live. So a dog would give up a leg to live if given the choice
I don't find that a bad analogy or is it metaphor? I dunno. I often think of it, too! But you typed it much more eloquently than I would have!
There is an upshot to all of this! Discounted rate on nail clippings! 
I wished I had amputated - my savings would be up to $300 over the course of 11+ years!
Thanks so much for coming here and finding us supportive. We really are. (even if Cometdog is a know-it-all - she still cares!)
I did not have support for Comet until last year when I found tripawds. Ten years was a long time being alone in her 3-leggedness. Even most vets don't understand how life is with a tripawd.
To make your journey a tad bit easier, you may consider starting a blog (diary). It helps mentally to write what is going on.
Okay, I lie - we have FUN on the blogs! The dogs are hysterical and will keep you in stitches! The American pups love to tease the Canadians! 
Wishing you all the best.
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.
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