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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Hello everyone - I'm Peter and today I heard news that came as a complete shock to me that my 10 year old Sheltie, Kota would need to have his left leg amputated. A little over a week ago we took him to the Oncology Vet Center here in West Chester, PA and after a good visit with the surgeon and oncologist it was discussed that Kota would need surgery to remove 2 digits on his left paw. The surgery went well and we were told that the surgeon had gotten "great margins" so we were very pleased. A little over a week had passed and we finally received the results of the biopsy - dirty margins. The surgeon was not happy to tell me this especially after she was so high on the initial surgery. We were presented with three options. (1) go back in again and try to remove even more tissue (not much left from initial surgery); (2) not to do anything and let the cancer run its course (not an option); (3) amputate his leg as this was a very fast moving cancer with a very high Mito count (22) and if we waited there is no idea on what would have happened. So, my wife and I made the difficult decision to have my little buddy's leg amputated. I have had Kota since he was 6 weeks old, so to have to make this life changing decision was not easy. In the end though it was the right choice. We are now waiting to see what the test results say. We should hear something by this Friday, so fingers and toes crossed that it all comes back ok. But he will now be a member of the TriPaw community along with the many other dogs on this site.
Thank you for listening to my story, and if I may ask, how long did it take for some of your animals to adjust to only having 3 legs?
Peter
Welcome Pete and Kota, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
First- what kind of cancer are you dealing with? Did Kota lose a front or back leg?
I'm not going to lie- a mitotic index (I think that is what you meant) of 22 is really high and does indicate an aggressive cancer.
It is difficult to make the amputaion decision and it can make you sad, but now that Kota is a Tripawd you have to start looking for the positives and show Kota that everything is going to be fine. You are giving your boy a chance at more quality time with you, and that is a huge positive!
Once you read some stories here you see that many pups are getting back to themselves in two or three weeks after the surgery. Some bounce back faster, some take more time like my pug Maggie. There are lots of meds for them to deal with, and they start using muscles differently so they tire easily. The first couple of weeks they should be quiet and walk only for potty breaks and for meals- that's what our vet required.
When will Kota come home?
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
Hey Karen! Well I'm Kota's mom, Amy. He had his front left leg removed. He comes home tomorrow ahhhh. He has malignant melanoma of the paw. Chest is clear and lymph nodes are not swollen. So they biopsied the node when They did the amputation. We should have the results Friday. If all looks good he can get the melanoma vaccine. So prayers are flying! He's a spunky boy with a deep soul and has been dealing with a problem paw since last fall. Problem is it started as a staph infection and eventually turned. We are scared for what's coming up. It will be able to handle it. Everyone says these pups are resilient and the oncologist and surgeon both felt this was the right course of action. It was a tough tough day and I do feel we made the right call with how aggressive it is. Here's to,hope!
Hi Kota's Mom, welcome to you too. We are in the chat room right now if you want to hop on over. Wait for the box to load, be sure to scroll down. I'll answer your post next...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm so sorry he had to have the amp, it's such a life-altering thing to happen to the pack. Rest assured though, he will handle it a lot better than you! Promise. Plus, because of his smaller size, he will have an easier time getting around. Have you seen Chance's blog? He's a Sheltie too, I know you'll be inspired!
While you wait for your reunion, be sure to check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-books , they will answer a lot of your questions, and of course our pawesome community will chime in too. Ask whatever questions you like, we are here to help. When can Kota come home?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Welcome Kota and Family-
Nothing makes that news any better, but know that whatever help we can give - it's yours. You will be surprised at how well he will adapt - that doesn't mean the first couple of weeks are a walk in the park, but Shelties are so agile and tough that he will amaze you. Hisage will be no problem. Shooter was 13-1/2 and handled the adjustment pretty well.
Sending pawsitive thoughts your way.
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.
Sorry you have to be here, Peter and Amy, but you are in the best possible community to find resources and support. Btw, props to Peter for being on here too! I feel like a number of us have male other halves who don't quite 'get' the whole online community thing.
The E-books and Jerry's Required Reading List 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. 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; we actually had to slow her down and baby gate the stairs. And search for Rosco, Lexie's ampuversary buddy, for a super-fast senior Tripawd! That said, keep in mind that 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. 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 playing with Elizabeth's fun boy Tanner. 
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 please keep us posted!
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.
Thank you all for being supportive and sharing all of your personal experiences. From what I have read and the information you have all provided I know that my little buddy will be ok, but again it's just the initial shock to see him without that front leg that will get to me. I know Amy and I have to be strong with this situation and show Kota that we are always going to be there for him and continue to treat him like he's always been treated - with just a few more hours of rubs and scratches - haha! He gets to come home today and we could not be happier. Now it's back to the waiting game to see whether the lymph nodes are in tact. Should hear something by Thursday or Friday (fingers and paws crossed).
I will warn you.... Tripawds just become so gosh dawg cute without that leg!!! AND.. belly and chest rubs are so much easier without that leg in the way!!!
Everyone has given you grest advice.. and you have found a great spot to come for questions, ansers, advice, yelling, screaming, crying.. and especially sharing!!!
Keep us posted!
Christine..... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
Yes, keep us posted. my daughter actually lives in West Chester. I would be interested in what you think of the vets there. It is only 2 hours from me and I was driving over an hour. Just wondering. Kota will do quite well on 3 legs. Most all do. Get a harness or cut the sides out of a canvas grocery bag. This helps a lot with support the first few weeks. Also helps to put them in and out of a car. If you don't have carpet, runners are a good idea. Ty was a front, right amp and he seemed a bit unsure going down steps. We have 2 no matter how you go out. Keep a big rug at the door he comes in. Ty took all but 1 of his face plants inside the door after coming in. There was SO much snow. (yeah, you experienced it also) He would miss the rug. Had to just put a path of rugs. I am so glad he gets to come home today. I was surprise that I was not really shocked by the leg being gone. He was still my Ty Guy and his tail was still wagging. 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.
DEB AND LEXIE....I COULD WATCH THAT VIDEO A.MILLION TIMES AND IT A OULD NEVER BE EN O UGH!!!!! This.is my "go to smile video"!!!
nd Peter, Lexie had her fourteenth birthday at the Va. Pawty
Kepp us posted, okay?
Sally and 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!
Hey all!
So our little resilient buddy just got picked up by his daddy. Per the vet techs, no loss of appetite, he's already pooped and peed and has tried to walk faster than he should! That's our boy! Tail was a wagging when he saw daddy. So they should be home soon and he'll get some rest. Prayers needed for good results to come back on Friday! Paws crossed! 
Great! Celebrate all those milestones, some of us had to wait days for all those things to happen!
Don't get discouraged if he seems to regress a little when he gets home, it sometimes happens.
Sending the best, positive thoughts for good biopsy results.
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 Peter and Amy,
So glad to hear the great news of very successful surgery, and that Koda is up and around, and very happy !! My own sweet girl Polly was the same way after her surgery, it sure made everything so much better to see her bounce back so quickly. So I know you feel the same as I did, and help to relieve some of the stress involved with this new journey. And I agree with what Karen said, as far as possibly taking a step backwards once or twice while recuperating.....it does happen occasionally to some.
You have my prayers, and positive thoughts for the biopsy, keep us updated on that as well.
Bonnie & Angel Polly
That update is great! So glad to hear all is going well.. Sending pawsitive 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.
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