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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Sorry if I am not posting in the right place...I have never joined a discussion forum before, but am desperate for advice. Barbee, my 7 1/2 year old great dane/best friend/first child was diagnosed with osteocarcoma this past Saturday and my world has shattered. She is supposed to be here for a few more years, and be our baby daughters best friend. The vet was skeptical about amputation due to her being a large breed. She said it would destroy her other leg, and quality of life. We meet with our local University vet hospital in two days to hear what they say. She is a few pounds over weight right now. Its hard to get out for walks in winter (and she looovves walks!) and she does have arthritis in her front paws that we have been able to manage. She is very bright, loves to play, mountain climb, do zoomies, etc., so she is in no way an old lady!I know no one can make the decision for us, but any ideas/thoughts/suggestions/experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Barbee and family, I'm so glad you jumped over and posted here! Here's what I would add to I've already mentioned to you in your comment, please see what I just told Vee and Tippy. I apologize for the brief response, I have to run to work. Wow, can't believe we had two Danes join us in less than a few hours. I'm so sorry you are both going through this. Stay tuned, others will chime in soon.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome! And bless your heart!!
You're in the right place! I hate the circumstances that has brought you here, but we love our new members and their fur-babies! AND we know EXACTLY how you feel right now! So there's nothing you can't ask or say here that hasn't already been said or yelled!
With that said, it's very, very natural for you to feel this way. We all did. And although every journey is different, the emotional roller coaster is nearly identical in each case.
Are you scared? HECK YEAH! Do you feel guilty? OF COURSE! Are you sad, anxious, angry . . . yes, Yes, YES! But you wouldn't feel any of these emotions if it weren't for the love you and Barbee shared. Out of love, you are going through so much because you want to make sure you're making the right decisions. I'm here to tell you, out of love, any decision you make will be the right one.
I'm so glad you're getting a second opinion. This will bring you a little peace whether the news is good or not. At least you'll know that you did everything right by Barbee to help make those decisions that tear at your conscience.
Give yourself a big ole hug and just take one step at a time. And know that we're right here with you walking the journey with you.
Elephants are much easier to eat when you make stew.
Pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Welcome Barbee and family!
I'm sorry for the cancer diagnosis but this is an AWESOME community full of folks willing to lend support and advice. As you'll see there are a lot of Great Danes here that have gone through amputation and do well as a Tripawd. My Leland was a 108lb Dobie boy that had his left hind leg amputated. My Leland wasn't dealing with a cancer but a lot of other health issues started coming up for him (thyroid problem, autoimmune disorder, kidney issues and then the CCL went out is his remaining knee) so we had to let him go 4 weeks post amputation. If you look through the site you'll see some furkids live years after amputation and some don't get nearly enough time...like my Leland. I wish we had a crystal ball to see if our furkid would be one of the lucky ones to get years but sadly we don't. I think you'll find most wouldn't do anything differently with going through with the procedure because it gave their furkid quality of life that was pain free.
It's good that you're getting a second opinion but if Barbee's size is the only thing preventing you from moving forward just know that there are a lot of older larger breed dogs that do fine as a Tripawd.
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
I second the notion that it's good you're getting a second opinion. Lily was an 8.5 year-old Great Dane that needed to lose a few pounds when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and neither her vet nor her orthopedic specialist had any reservations about her going through with the surgery and recovering. Post-op, once she healed she never lost a step and quality of life was never an issue. We went on walks every day that included her running full-speed to fetch her ball over and over again. We kept her on a pretty strict diet to keep her weight down (and minimize carbs) but she still got lots of sugar-free peanut butter so she was happy.
There may be some extenuating circumstances beyond Barbee being a large breed dog but I wouldn't listen to anyone who wanted to exclude her from the surgery just based on her being "large breed". Lily would scoff at them!
-Kerry, Lily's Mom
Lily the Great Dane (she was actually a lot more than just "Great") joined our family as an ornery puppy on December 20, 2005 and changed our lives forever. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in early May of 2014 and her right rear leg was amputated on May 8, 2014. She sailed through 5 rounds of Carboplatin and 15 weeks of Pallladia. She hopped on 3 legs like she was born to it and continued to fight cancer with grace, valor and an abundant sense of humor...and always a *giant* smile on her face. Lily had two small nodules on her lungs but was brought short by a brain tumor in late December, 2014. Lily earned her wings on December 28, 2014 and we miss her terribly every day. http://lilyt.tripawds.com
Welcome to the group no one wants to join! I understand being apprehensive with a large breed facing amputation, but there have been some very successful large breeds here - Nova, the Dane, hopped along for 4 years on three legs. She is a huge inspiration to any large breed newby.
My Trouble was a pit bull, and she too, was overweight. Her diagnosing vet gave us almost no hope as she didn't think Trouble was a good candidate for amputation because of her weight. We had a second opinion, and it saved her life. This vet explained how painful osteosarcoma is and how the only way to successfully stop the pain is to remove the limb. Yes, he was concerned about the weight, but wanted to get the surgery behind us and then address the weight. Trouble dropped the weight and was faster on three legs than on four.
Make your decision based on what your heart tells you is right. Do your research. You can do this.
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.
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