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, my 4 year old rottweiler has been recently diagnosed with osteosarcoma of right rear leg. One day out of no where he woke up with a limp (just the day before we started our cross country move). We thought of it to be the limp due to his hip dysplasia which he usually gets after rigorous activity ( he was boarded a week before, where he played a lot). After a week we reached the destination and the limp did not go , so we took him to his new vet. X-rays were taken and he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma on distal end of tibia(ankle). We wanted to get a second opinion so we took him to an emergency clinic along with the x-rays and the vet there said due to his age, location of the tumor and how it looks on the x-ray she is also suspecting osteomyelitis(bone infection) so she suggested us to get a biopsy done. Being hopeful, we did get the biopsy done that very night and the results came a week later saying "inconclusive due to not enough bone sample". it said suggestive of osteosarcoma but not conclusive. At this point we wasted 1 week of precious time and also put him through pain for bone biopsy. We immediately took him to an oncologist and she said it is bone cancer, ankle is also a common place for a tumor( at this point we felt like the emergency clinic just wanted to mint money and wasted precious time). We opted for amputation which is scheduled after a week. We regret the whole idea of taking him to an other vet and letting him go through the bone biopsy. But at that time we thought it is worth to be sure before amputating his leg, because the vet said it did not follow rules of cancer. He is a big boy weighing 120 pounds and has mild dysplasia of rear legs.
Can you all please suggest what to expect after the amputation, during recovery ( we have an other dog and also steep stairs so we planned to keep him in hospital for a week after amputation)and how long does it take. what is the quality of life later, in what kind of things does he need help from us. We also want to treat him with chemotherapy, a light on what to expect during chemo will also be good. And are there any scenarios where they lived longer than what vets say (12-14 months) with amputation and chemo. He is our baby and we are lost since the time we got the news and trying everything we can to give him a fighting chance. Thank you.w
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
Is his name Leo?
I'm sorry you got the OSA diagnosis. And don't beat yourself up for doing the biopsy- you made the best decision with the information you had.
You might look at The Required Reading List, there is lots of info there on what to expect with amputation, recovery and treatment.
If you browse the forums here and the blogs you will see lots of stories of pups who out lived their prognosis. My Pug lost a rear leg to mast cell cancer. Her prognosis was 6 to 9 months and she lived almost 4 years. With cancer you just don't know- the survival times they give you are based on years of stats and are not based on your pup! Live in the moment and appreciate each day, around here we call it Be More Dog .
Unfortunately I have to run right now, but I wanted to get your post approved so others would see it and at least point you to the Reading List to start.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
I'm in the Tripawds Chat right now if you want to talk. Back in a sec with some feedback.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
First, try not to hold regrets in your heart. You did the best you could with Leo's best interests in mind, and that's all that matters. Also, I don't know if this will help you feel any better but most ER vets are often new to the field, right out of vet school, so it's most likely that the vet had Leo's best interests at heart but just didn't have the experience to get a good sample. Don't worry, you didn't waste any time at all. You're moving along with a plan and that's what counts.
Before you know it, your boy will be feeling good again in no time at all! 120 pounds is large but not the biggest Tripawd we've ever had join us. You guys will do great as long as you keep a good attitude during recovery, because attitude is everything -- our attitude. Your boy will rely on you to set the tone. Set a pawsitive one and things work out!
Meanwhile we have been working on a series of articles called "What to Expect" which may help ease your mind.
As for longevity and how cancer behaves....one of the most important lessons you'll learn is that cancer is unpredictable and sometimes that works out in our favor! We've seen many many dogs live way beyond the projected life expectancy. With or without follow up chemo or vaccine injections, you never know how long your boy will have so hope for the best and spend every day in celebration that you got more time with him. It's the best medicine there is!
I hope this helps you feel better. We are always here for you so as you think of questions just bark at us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
My dog Kaiserin is a large german shepherd who had a right rear leg amputated just over 8 months ago. I also went through a lot of stress about decisions I made trying to save her leg. I put mine through 7 general anesthetics to do radiation treatments that didn't work at all! But you can only work with what information you have at the time and make the best decisions. Then you just move forward and try to continue to make the best decisions.
As far as quality of life goes, my girl is doing way better than I ever could have imagined. I believed we would never walk in a park again and never walk on a beach. We have done all this and more! She has a few restrictions but does almost everything she did before and most importantly, she is her same happy loving personality she always was.
The recovery experience is a bit tough for about two weeks (based on my experience). Everything started to really turn around afternoon the stitches came out and the medications were all done. On pain meds, she just wasn't herself and she hated the cone. My biggest advice is to just let her rest and don't rush recovery. Set up a recovery room and confine her there. Stay with her as much as you can. Just take it easy and be patient for 2 weeks. I think I was in a bit of a rush to get her back to normal and at the beginning. Until the stitches come out, just rest and make sure she doesnt lick the incision. Icing the incision early on seemed to help with bruising and swelling.
Oh, and I also have another large dog. I did separate them when I couldn't supervise at the beginning. Now they are great together. I do have to stop any oeverly rough play so she doesn't hurt her remaining back leg but have worked on teaching them good ways to play together, like playing tug. If things get too crazy, I do sometimes separate them for a few minutes (my young guy was only 1 when she had her aputation and can get too much).
Good luck!
kaiserinmom said
But you can only work with what information you have at the time and make the best decisions. Then you just move forward and try to continue to make the best decisions.
Great advice! Thank you for sharing your perspective, it's so helpful for others to hear it from those who have been there. We are thrilled Kaiserin is doing so well!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
YOU ARE. NOT ALONE! We understand!
Sorry you find yourself here. As you can see though, there is no better place for support and information...first hand information from people who've "been there".
Can only ditto the great input you've already gotten.
And yes, many go through the "biopsy experience" following the "professional's advice" just as you have. We don't know what we don't know. And yes, "inconclusive" pops up a lot, as well as soreness from the procedure.
Kaiserin's Mom gave good input from her recovery experience. Recovery from major surger is no picnic fot a couple of weeks. Every dog is different, every recovery is different. Some dogs takes av ecen take several days to get their sea legs and to be able to take a few steps on their own. Some handle it quicker. No worries along that line, okay?
Most dogs come home with Tramadol, Gabapentin , Rimadyl and an antibiotic. Pain meds are generally needed for the first two weeks, sometimes three or four, but with tapering off. Your Bet can guide you that area.
Stairs need to be treated with caution. It sounds like stairs cannot be avoided at your home as far as going in and out for potty?? Guessing your boy may be to hard to carry? A harness will be a necessity, or a towel sling. Just have to be sure that the incision is well padded if you use a harness while stitches are in. Front leggers have a hard time going down, moreso than going up.
While it's hard for us hoomans not to focus on longevity. Dogs flow from one happy moment to the next. They live in the ow, in the present! Dogs could care less about days on a calendar! And they do not have a timeframe stamped anywhere on their butts!! And, thankfully, dogs do NOT listen to statistics!! PUG MAGGIE didnt listen! We have MANY success stories like that around here. Great Dane Queen Nova went in for another five years. Murphy crammed in four great years of quality and spoiling. Obviously, some dogs blow statistics out of the water, some don't.
The best thing you can do for Leo and yourself, is to follow Leo's lead, live in the now, ake ecery moment the best moment evvvveeeer!!! All Leo cares about is being spoiled, pain free and bei g mpre spoiled!
You can decide on chemo later, For now, keep things chunked down. You have enough on your plate, okay? I, along with others, will be glad to share why, or why not, we went rhe chemo route with our dogs. There are NO right or wrong decisions when it comes to that, okay?
Okay, deep breaths, eat lots of charcoal and STAY CONNECTED! We are by your side the whole way!!
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!
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