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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Summer is our oldest puppy. She is a Beagle Mix a bit overweight as she gained a bit after being spayed, but has always been an active pup. She was heart worm positive about 2 years ago, but has been on ivermectin orally to control this in a more conservative manner. She began getting a swollen shoulder that I chalked up to Arthritis from digging in our large lot for gophers... She wasn't favoring that leg much at all, if any... Until Last Monday...
I went out to feed my dogs and Summers whole left front leg was swollen and what I thought was a swollen shoulder was now a big mass and she was unable to bear much weight on her leg.
I took her to the vet Wednesday and the vet took fluid from the mass (blood came out) and XRays which looked fine except for a slightly enlarged liver... He noted the pitting edema in the distal limb. He didn't have much for a diagnosis, but did rule out any masses in all organs and bone structures. The blood that came out of the mass has him thinking Cancer but he prescribed some anti biotics, lasics and anti inflammatory drugs along with gentle water massage. We are reassessing this Wednesday.
Well 4 days on the drugs and massage and the poor pup is now dragging the limb and looks no better if not worse... I am not sure what to do. The vet did mention amputation at the shoulder girdle but I am not sure how her health will tolerate this. Luckily she was pretty active before hand and ANYTHING has to be easier than getting around the way she is now...
What would you do? Is my pup too old to even consider amputation. I am willing to pay for it, but not sure what the cost may be and if it is cancer, would surgery just make it spread...?!
Just looking at the big picture hoping some of you that have been through this may be able to give some pointers to me...
Thanks!
Hi Jon,
Thanks for joining us here (we're sorry you had to though). We'll try to help any way we can. Let's start by trying to help with your questions:
First off, exactly how old is Summer? We have seen many senior dogs here (some as old as 12 at amputation time) do just fine but so much depends on their existing health situation.
When it comes to being a Tripawd, smaller dogs do have an easier time. But if Summer is too big for her frame, she may experience challenges during recuperation. Remember that for every one extra pound on a dog it's like having five extra pounds on you. It adds up. Her extra pounds are by no means a deal breaker, but it does mean that you need to make sure she loses weight. Is she free fed along with your other dogs? If so, you'll probably need to separate them at feeding time to ensure she only eats her share. We have loads of tips here about losing weight.
Is she an outdoor dog, by any chance? If so, you'll need to commit to keeping her indoors during recuperation and then carefully consider making her a full time, indoor dog. It's a far better situation for a Tripawd.
Lastly, is your vet going to do any more diagnostics to see what the icky mass was? I would definitely want to know more specifics about what, if any, kind of cancer this is before proceeding with amputation.
She does sound like she's in a lot of pain, so I would move quickly on this.
Hope this helps. For more resources and information please see our Required Reading List or check out our eBook, "Three Legs & A Spare," to learn more about amputation's benefits, drawbacks and what life is like on three legs.
Keep us posted and let us know what you learn OK? Hugs to Summer.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
First off, exactly how old is Summer? We have seen many senior dogs here (some as old as 12 at amputation time) do just fine but so much depends on their existing health situation.
She is 10 years and a month.
Her extra pounds are by no means a deal breaker, but it does mean that you need to make sure she loses weight. Is she free fed along with your other dogs?
She is about 38lb and should be about 28... She has never been free fed, she eats about a cup of food, twice a day. She blew up after being spayed.
Is she an outdoor dog, by any chance?
Yes, she is an outdoor pup along with our lab. We would have no problem keeping her in during recovery and permanently if needed.
Lastly, is your vet going to do any more diagnostics to see what the icky mass was?
I hope so. He was kinda sorry he didn't have a diagnosis, but was able to rule out a lot of stuff... I guess he would want to run a blood panel and whatnot too see what shows up...
To throw a wrench into the mix, I have a 2 week old newborn baby at home and have not even received the bills from the hospital... I am willing to spend money to fix her, but not sure where to draw the line... I will not let her suffer but not ready to let go either...
Thanks for the help!
Well wish us luck. Her leg is even worse and now she slowly losing her appetite. I have kept her leg clean but it is now oozing and just a mess... I sure hope amputation is an option at this point... She sure is too sweet to let her go! 🙁
Oh poor Summer! I'm so sorry.
Jon, you've sure got a lot on your plate right now. Congrats on the new baby!
It sounds like Summer is in a lot of pain and that's the most important thing to take care of first. Is she on any painkillers? When will she go back to the vet?
Amputation will take care of the pain but as far as getting rid of the cancer it just depends on what kind of cancer it is. That's the benefit of doing the biopsies but they can always be done after the amputation if you're sure that you would agree to amputation. Hopefully the vet bills won't be too painful. Yikes.
Try to keep her appetite up by feeding her things like scrambled eggs, boiled chicken (no bones) and even stinky meats like liverwurst if you have any. Dogs tend to eat when presented with unusual foods, but if she's in excruciating pain she probably won't eat much.
Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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