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, We are Dave and Melissa from upstate New York, What a great site, been reading and reading, and feeling better, about our worst fears have come to light.
We took our 9.5 year old smooth haired collie (Lee) to the have his teeth cleaned and I just happened to mention, look at his right leg he has been limping. Well after a few x-rays, we got a call that he has Osteosarcoma in the leg, the x-rays of the lungs showed some spots, but they could not confirm it had metastised. Needless to say we were dumbfounded, bewildered, confused and very emotional, (yes, 57 year old men cry). We went to another specialist on Wednesday, and he confirmed that ,but wanted to take a few x-rays etc, he came back and basically said the same as the other vet, that the spots were inconclusive and they very well could be just small lisions that older dogs get, as they follow a pattern. They took some Bloodwork and thank the lord above nothing has gone to any organs. Both agree the leg has to go to get rid of the pain ,and then chemo. From there only the lord above knows.
Our little baby has been suffering, we are heartbroken. He is on pain meds for now, and tomorrow, Wednesday is the day to have his leg amputated. After reading so many posts here, we have renewed hope and faith, and thank all of you who have posted about there experiances, so that others like us can have an understanding of whats to come. We are both scared to death for our little baby. Any advice would be certainly appreciated. We know it will be a long road.
Thank you
Dave
FAITH IS NOT BELIEVING THAT GOD CAN, IT IS KNOWING THAT GOD WILL
Welcome Dave, Melissa and Lee, you future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry you had to join us because of cancer- but as you see this is the best place to be when you are dealing with the cancer diagnosis and the decision to amputate.
You should look through the e-Books available here, lots of information from this site on what to expect. Also Jerry's Required Reading list is a good place to find answers.
You will find lots of support and experience from members here. We have been there (with one cancer or another, ours was mast cell) and we can help. The first couple weeks after surgery can be full of ups and downs. My little pug Maggie made me think I had made the wrong decision by choosing amputation! But our pups are wonderfully resilient, and after a couple weeks most pups start to get their sparkle back- especially when the bum leg has been painful.
Find yourselves something to keep you busy tomorrow, waiting for the post-op call from the vet is sooooo hard!
Good luck.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi Dave, Melissa and Lee,
So sorry your sweet guy Lee has been diagnosed with the ugly "c", but you have definitely found the best place to help you out. I love Collies....I think it goes back to my younger days and watching Lassie, although I know they were rough coat Collies.....they have always been one of my favorite breeds.
I do not have experience with osteosarcoma, my sweet Lab Polly dealt with hemangiosarcoma, however, I can tell you that opting for amputation for her was the best decision we could make for her. We were also lucky that she bounced back immediately from the surgery. Every pup or kitty is different, and they all have their own schedule as far as healing and feeling like themselves again, but the huge majority do very well after their amp. I also believe that many here have dealt with osteosarcoma, and I know they will join in at some point with their experiences. There are many success stories in dealing with this type of the ugly "c".
This will be scary, though, none of us knew what to expect when we entered this unwanted journey, but the help here is amazing. You can lean on all of us here, we have been through this and there is a ton of knowledge here as well.
Keep us updated on Lee, and I am keeping all of you in my thoughts as you prepare for his surgery tomorrow.....
Bonnie & Angel Polly
HI DAVE, MELISSA AND PRECIOUS LEE!
Yeah, this is a scary time, no doubt about it! Everyone here understands like no others can. Everyone here understands the love and devotion between you and Lee.
Just remember you are doing this FOR Lee and not TO Lee. The first week or two after surgery you may forget that! Recovery is no picnic. The amputation will get rid of the pain once recovery is complete. You will be amazed how well Lee will do on three legs.
Also remember than Lee is not worrying about a thing. He doesn't care about statistics, prognosis or his tomorrows. All he knows is he his with humans he loves and who love him. Stay in the present with Lee and just keep things chunked down day by day. No dog comes with a time frame stamped on his butt! Heck, six quality months is the equivalent of over three years in dog years...a year equals seven!!!
And it is not uncommon at all to see lesions on xrays in older dogs. So that's probably all they are so don't put any energy into worrying about something that isr there.
I guess Lee is spending the night. When you do go pick him up, doe even look at his incision. Just look into his druggy eyes and happily tell him what a good boy he is and just praise the heck out of him.
If you have hardwoods, place non skid scatter rugs to prevent slippage. If you have a lot of stairs to go in and out, you may want to build a ramp. Raised food and water bowls help ease strain too.
B R E A T H E......B R E A T H E......EAT LOTS OF CHOCOLATE!!! Stay connected to us and remember you are not alone! We are walking by your side and here to help in anyway we can.
Surrouning you with a calm and a knowing that all is well in Lee's world!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
Welcome Dave, Melissa and Lee-
So very sorry to hear about the diagnosis, but I'm so glad you found this site. Nothing can describe the inability to breath when the vet delivers that news. We have been there and want you to know that we are here to help all of you through every step of this challenging journey.Please know that if you need support, advice or (often) someone to just make you smile - there is always someone here. The next couple weeks are the most difficult as both Lee and you adapt to his new normal. Just be there for him and love him as you always have. He's still the same dog with just a minor alteration. Remember that it's the little steps that are important and we love to celebrate each and every one (first pee, first poop, eating). They all call for a party!
This journey will teach you to appreciate each moment and never take anything for granted.
We look forward to hearing updates.
Take care-
Luanne and Spirit Shooter
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Hi Dave and Melissa and Lee,
So sorry you had the occasion to find us but you've come to the right place. This is an amazing, supportive community. You've gotten some great advice already; it's natural to feel everything that you're going through (and we have some experience with lung mets pre amp, btw).
The E-books and Jerry's Required Reading List that Karen posted will be a huge help for many of your basic questions and for how to prepare at home, etc.
Check out the Size and Age Matters forum for some good 'what to expect' threads too, as many of us with dogs age 9+ have had similar questions. And the advanced search function in the forums is excellent to search by topic if you have additional questions.
In our case the surgery and post op for the first 5-7 days was great, and Lexie was so happy to be free from the pain of her tumors. It's not uncommon to regress a bit in the first month and we had a few more issues 2-3 weeks post op than we did three days post op, but things got a whole lot better. There are peaks and valleys as you'd expect, but keep thinking positive because things do get better!
As evidence, here is Lexie at a Tripawds party in VA celebrating her 14th birthday around 2.5 months post-amp; you'll see that she was getting around pretty well. 
For what it's worth, Lexie had visible lung mets at the time of her amputation (you can see a snapshot of our journey in our signature). We've tried a variety of oral chemo and herbal treatments, and one thing we've been on pre-amp that wasn't for mets specifically but seems to help with her breathing -- and I'm guessing has helped slow the mets down, though I can't prove it -- is something called Yunnan Baiyo (you can search the nutrition blog for more info on it).
Our vets are pretty amazed that her lungs sound as clear as they do and that she is breathing pretty well most of the time compared to what the X-rays say. Of course I hope Lee doesn't have mets, but just wanted to let you know that a number of us went forward with surgery anyway -- and we're so glad we did.
Also, one book that I wish I had gotten earlier in our journey is Dr Dressler's Dog Cancer book. If you order it via the Tripawds Amazon link from this site a small percentage will go to help support the community -- so it's a big win-win. Great info on so many aspects of cancer and very easy to read and digest in chunks. Highly recommend it.
Take care and keep us posted, and we'll be thinking of you guys Weds.!
Deb and Angel Lexie* Diagnosed at age 13. Tried radiation first; wish we had amputated upon diagnosis (even with lung mets). Joined Club Tripawd April 2014 & Lexie loved life on 3 legs! Advice: Start physical therapy as soon as your vet clears it, especially hydrotherapy if available :-) See Lexie pics here.
Hello Dave, Melissa, and Lee - I feel for what you are going through. My wife Amy and I just had to make the same decision yesterday to have our Kota's front leg amputated. The cancer started in his paw and unfortunately after a week of bandage changing (he initially had 2 digits removed), the wound was not healing. Believe me the last thing I expected to hear from the surgeon yesterday was "Mr. Braverman Kota's wound has opened up and I am afraid that there are still cancer cells preventing it from healing". That plus the pathology report that stated "dirty margins". So after some deliberating on a three way call with my wife and the surgeon, we agreed that we needed to do this for Kota. As I have been reading on this site, one of the hardest things as a parent of an animal is the initial reaction you express to your dog. Dogs can read what you are thinking so you have to remain strong and look at Lee directly in the eyes and smile and let him know that things will be ok. Of course I have not picked up Kota yet so I am also preparing for the initial shock and trying to get my head in the game as well. The people on this site are very sympathetic to what we are all going through as they have been there as well. Just hang in there and continue to be the best parents you can for Lee.
Hi Dave, Melissa and Lee,
You have indeed found the right place. We were vacillating back and forth about amputation, for our 4 mth old GSD Serge, who was born without a hock in the left hind leg. There was so much advice and support offered by the wonderful people and their 'tripwads' families, during this worrying period. Serge is now 7 months old, almost 4 months post amp. and is having a great time, chasing and playing outside with our 5 yr old GSD Raven. I had a lot of questions after the operation, and was overwhelmed by the response to every question.
I hope everything goes well for Lee, and a good recovery post surgery...
Regards
Richard
"No matter how eloquently the dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his master is poor, but honest".....Bertrand Russell
UPDATE ON LEE,
He is out of surgery and everything went fine, the vet said, very well, he will be watched overnight and tomorrow they will try to get him up and see how he does. Even trying to eat and go pee and poop. We are very excited and happy and feel we have made the right decision for him.
Thanks to everyone for all your comments and thoughts. We are learning a lot from the site. Next comes recovery for Lee and us too, we are drained going through this. We will keep you updated on progress.
Thank you all
Dave
FAITH IS NOT BELIEVING THAT GOD CAN, IT IS KNOWING THAT GOD WILL
I'm so happy to hear that Lee made it through surgery without complication. As you mentioned this experience can be very tiring. Try to get some rest tonight and know that Lee is doing just fine in lala land right now.
As others have mentioned just be positive and upbeat when you go to pick up Lee. Another thing I'd like to mention is to keep a close eye on how Lee is behaving when he comes home (ie restlessness, whining, pacing, panting). These could be signs of either being too loopey on pain medication or not having enough pain medication. As Jerry has mentioned before you want to stay ahead of the pain and not try to play catch up. There are MANY different pain medications available so stay in constant contact with the vet in case alterations need to be made.
Also, depending on how Lee does he may feel like he can take on the world when he comes home. Be careful for the first couple of weeks that he doesn't over-exert himself. His activity should really only consist of potty breaks and a lot of resting.
A tip that was mentioned to me by Leland's surgeon was applying warm moist compresses. One it feels good and two it aides in the skin healing. We would take a dish towel and wet it down and microwave it for 50-60 seconds and then apply it to the incision. Once the towel cooled then we'd remove it.
Sending positive thoughts to Lee and his family for a speedy recovery.
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!
Hi Dave and family.....
So happy to hear everything went well for Lee and the surgery.......his picture for your avatar is beautiful of him. It's good he will stay another day in the hospital, most do, just to watch them and give them a chance to manage their pain before letting them go home. I remember picking up my Polly, and she literally came running down the hallway of the vet surgical hospital with her silly happy face, and new 3-legged self, so excited to see us. I had to also remember to be as happy as she was, and not be shocked at her appearance.....I thought it would be very hard to do, but we were so happy to see each other, I just laughed and clapped at her coming down the hall toward me. That would be the only advice I have, is just be in a good frame of mind when getting Lee. They pick up on our moods for sure. And we all truly understand the "being drained" part......but we will all be here to help you through this.
Continue to keep us updated on his progress...... now your journey has truly begun......Lee will do great !!
Bonnie & Angel Polly
Yaaaay! So glad he made it through surgery. Rest up, breathe and remember that like Bonnie said, focus on his eyes when you see him, you will just be so happy to see Lee that the love you feel for him will outweigh any emotions you have about his new appearance. He will heal, the fur will grow back, and your Tripawd journey will be filled with so many blessings you never imagined. It's hard to think of that right now, but you'll get there.
Keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So glad to hear surgery went well. I agree, you will just be so happy to seep each other, the leg, or lack there of, will fade into the background. His pain will have already been lessened by the surgery. The meds will probably make him tired or loopy for a bit. Hang in three, after the first couple of weeks, it gets easier. Most pups bounce back pretty quickly. Keep us posted on how his recovery is going. You have come to a terrific place for support and advice. Lori and Ty
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Thanks for the update. Sending healing thoughts your way.
Luanne and Spirit Shooter
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Sorry you have to be here, but...this is the best place to be for GREAT advice! We all are here because we have been through it. I have found it a great place to ask questions, give updates, and vent if you need to. It is amazing how resiliant dogs are and you will see it first hand. Keep us posted as we all care.
Laurie
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