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 am new to tripawds, and thought I would give this a try. My 9 year old black lab, Lola, has a grade 3 STS tumor growing on the inside of her paw, right where her dewclaw would be. It is also growing under her paw. She has already had it removed once (that one was only a grade 1) but it came back with a vengeance. This one is now a grade 3. We met with an Oncologist and a surgical team. The disease has not spread anywhere else, thank god, but her only option is front leg amputation. It cannot be excised surgically because of how large it is and how it is growing. The surgeon would not be able to close the wound properly. I know that it is her only option and it is a curative option, but I am really struggling with this. I can't seem to pull my self together. This may sound a little crazy, but I can't stop thinking about when she comes out of the surgery. She isn't going to understand why she no longer has a leg and that is breaking my heart. The whole thing breaks my heart. I guess I am looking for advice and tips on how you handled the news of having to do an amputation surgery? How do I deal with this? I KNOW in my heart it's what is best for her and what will help her in the long run, still it's very hard knowing she won't understand. I can't seem to stop crying. She is my baby and I am just...struggling. Any help /advice would be greatly appreciated
Thank you all so much in advance!
Hi Trish and sweet Lab Lola
We understand every emotions you are going through! Your post jas been approved and we are all here to help you!
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! We understand the fear, the panic, the uncertainty, the physical and emotional exhaustion... yeah, we get it! We understand like no others can!
Your logical mind understands 100% that this is the very best option for Lola! You are doing this FOR her..... not TO her! Make that your new mantra!
We know it's hard to believe right now, but after surgery and when your dog shakes off the anesthesia she'll just deal with the three legs just fine. Sure, they'll be a little bit of adjustment., but it's more about figuring out the balance with her new gate on three, much more so than emotionally, or questioning what happened to her leg etc etc dogs live in the moment and dont question things like we hoomans do.
The most important thing you can do now and when you go to pick her up after surgery, is to embody a strong and confident positive attitude. She will pick up on your energy and that will ensure she recovers in a strong and confident way. Lola isn5t going to feel sorry for herself. She'll be quite glad that bum leg is gone as I would imagine some pain is involved.
Here are a couple links to help you feel more confident and reassured.
When does she go in for surgery? Is she staying overnight at a fully staffed clinic?
How much does she weigh? Is she in any pain meds now?
We can give you more tips on how to navigate through recocery, etc once we know more.
STAY CONNECTED! We are right by your side the whole way, okay?
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Trisha, welcome! I'm sorry you are in this situation. It sucks, no doubt about it. But we are here to make it easier for you OK? Don't worry about Lola, she won't be nearly as upset as you imagine!
Sure, she might be confused about why she is seeing pink elephants and feeling wonky from pain medication. But when that bad leg is gone, and she can get on with life, that's what she will do. Dogs, cats, animals in general, are soooo good at moving on and making the best of a situation that we human animals see as bad and upsetting. But if we follow their lead (learn how to Be More Dog we say around here!), we can evolve and become stronger and more resilient than we were when we started this journey.
I'm not trying to sugar coat it. There will be ups and downs and you will doubt your decision. We've been there, we get it. But Lola? She's going to handle it well, and remember: she will also mirror your emotions. So the stronger and more optimistic you can be, at least in front of her, the better she will respond to your emotions. The hardest recoveries are ones when a person has a hard time seeing beyond recovery, seeing the possibilities.
I think if you check out our Tripawds Quality of Life surveys as well as the links Sally provided, you'll start to feel a little better. And ask any questions you'd like, we are here to lean on.
Hi Trisha and Lola,
I know everyone here can understand how you are feeling. This is a great community.
I was in a very similar position as you wilh my 10 year old lab Roger. It was grade 2 STS on his back right leg in a spot where amputation was the only treatment. I think I went through all the feelings and worries you are having now. Your dog is resilient. She will do much better than you think. Even when you have setbacks.
Roger’s amputation was 7/1/24 and I can say right now he is 100% back to himself. Actually he sort of seems even better than before it’s like he has a new lease on life. We even had some complications. He is as happy as can be and we are slightly over 3 months out of the amputation. It isn’t a fun process and it is emotionally draining. But I know you and Lola will make it through and look back and be glad you did this. Even just three months away it’s just a distant memory and I have a hard time remembering how terrible I felt and how worried I was.
if you want you can read about Roger’s amputation in this forum. Maybe it will help you.
I wish you and Lola the best of luck and you found a great community to help get you through this.
Amy
You guys, these comments, ugghh....they are so wonderful and so full of encouragement! Yes, I creed reading all of them 🙂 Thank you all so, so much for your words, your resources, your support. It means the world to me and I already feel better knowing I have this community. Lola is not scheduled for surgery yet. I contacted the clinic Yesterday (10/10) to inquire, and they said they will be scheduling soon. The waiting game is miserable. She will be having surgery at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. They are incredible up there and are a fully staffed animal hospital. Lola currently weighs 69lbs and she is not on any medication. If she is in any sort of pain, she never shows it! I keep telling myself I have to keep it together when I see her after surgery. That is going to be the hardest part. She does have to spend the night after her surgery. I'm going to try like hell to swallow my tears when I first see her. I have been looking at pictures to try and prepare myself. I am not one who gets grossed out by stuff like that, but seeing it on her will be hard. Not that I will be grossed out, just sad.
Sally, that mantra, that got me right in the feels REAL hard!!! Because, I have felt like I am doing this TO her while feeling that I am also doing it FOR her. I am going to keep telling myself this is FOR her! Thank you for that!!!
I will take a look at everything you have given me!
Thank you again so much you guys!!! I can't say it enough ❤️
Trisha she is getting care at Cornell? It doesn't get any better than that! She is a very lucky dog, they are amazing.
I think you will surprise yourself about how you react when you see her. Watching a dog be so darn resilient is life-changing. You will be a different person after this experience, and your bond with her will be even closer than before. I know that's hard to imagine now, but it's true!
You can do this!
Thank you so much Jerry!!! Yes, my local vet referred us to Cornell to see the Oncologist. She sends all of her cytology and path up there and she has also seen the same Oncologist with her own pets. They were absolutely wonderful up there. I hope they call me soon for her surgery. The tumor has already grown more since she was seen and I noticed today that she has begun lifting her paw and limping a little bit. She wasn't doing that before. Of course, it makes the anxiety worse for me, hoping that it has remained in her leg and hasn't started to spread to her lungs. I just want it over with, like yesterday!!
Hi Trisha,
From my recent experience you are in the hardest stage right now. Just coping with what is going to happen but still in limbo because it hasn’t happened. So you have all the anxiety and the stress about the amputation and all of the what ifs. For me this was the worst part. Then waiting for the call that he made it okay. Cornell sounds wonderful so I think they will take great care of Lola.
I have always had a bizarre phobia and nightmares about losing a limb. So when this happened and I had to have Roger’s leg amputated I didn’t know how I would react when I saw him. It took a little getting used to but it was fine. I completely agree with Jerry that it’s a life changing experience and not in a bad way. I know it’s a sad process but it really does end up being a happy one. It’s really hard to explain.
It’s just one hurdle at a time and you just do the best you can and in a month or two you will be looking at Lola knowing the tough decision you made was the right decision and you will see it in Lola’s face too.
Really the waiting stage is the hardest part. Not to say the other parts are easy but once it is done you just keep doing what you need to do everyday for Lola and then one day you realize you are mostly through it and then one day you realize you are through it and then you basically forget all about it.
Wishing you and Lola the best.
Glad you are feeling a bit more "relieved". Maybe reassured is a better word. Regardless, you kmow your are not alone! Wise words from Roger's Mom sharing the way she has felt and how she reacted on this journey.
YOU'VE GOT THIS!!!!
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Good news!!! I received a call from Cornell this morning. Lola is scheduled for Wednesday 10.30.24 for her consult with surgery the next day. I am so thankful they were able to get her in within a couple of weeks.
Now, I have to figure out how to make her as comfortable as possible pot-op and keep her separated from my bulldog Titan. I do have a baby gate that can separate them, but, any other suggestions or advice you have would be greatly appreciated! I also work from home, so I will be able to be here with her all day!!
Thank you SO much in advance 
Whew! Glad you finally got a date set. Now time to plan, it'll be here before you know it.
Have you seen our Tripawds Recovery Shopping List yet? You'll find all the basic ideas, as well as lots more detail in our e-book Three Legs and a Spare .
As for being around siblings, yes, it's a good idea to separate if Titan is really energetic. Most dogs do know that the other one needs space when they come home from surgery, and they probably think the vet smell on them is weird, so you'll need to play it by ear to see how they are around each other.
That's great you work from home! A major bonus for sure!
Thank you again Jerry for your information. I will definitely take a look at the list and the ebooks! It is more helpful than you know
What are your thoughts on the recovery suit that is in the store here? Lola is notorious for managing to chew her stitches out and she HATES the cone, which I'm sure most dogs do, but, she shakes and is stressed with it on. Hence, the reason she has been able to chew stitches out in the past lol I despise those cones and though the incision she will have may not be as easy to access, I want to make sure she is comfortable and can't get to it. I just wonder if it will cause irritation against her incision and sutures?
Aww you are so welcome.
Thanks for asking about the VetMed Wear Recovery Suit! We carry that product because it's specifically made for amputee dogs and cats as a cone alternative. We like that the area where the suit's leg hole would be is covered up and protected with soft padding.
However, nothing will guarantee that Lola won't chew through a recovery suit, so for more aggressive chewers we do recommend at least another barrier, like an inflatable cone. But if she is less stressed without a traditional plastic cone, it's likely that she will not be as wild and ready to attack the source of her frustration when she's wearing the suit alone.
We are confident the fabric won't cause irritation, as we've felt it (soft fabric) and used it on our own dogs, and have never had anyone mention this as a problem.
In the early days of recovery, if a dog is attacking sutures, there could be pain involved and that's why s/he's doing it. So generally better pain management will reduce the chances of incision problems caused by biting etc. Later, as days go by, incisions start to get itchy as they dry out and scab over. There are vet approved topicals like Vetericyn or others that your vet can suggest, to minimize any itchiness.
This is perfect and exactly what I needed to know!!! I will absolutely be purchasing the suit for her!!
Thank you again
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