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, I am very new here.. Just got the news a little over a week ago that my sweet 10 year old Pomeranian YOGI will need his front right leg amputated due to cancer. He has a type of cancer that generally does not spread and the docs have assured me by doing this surgery we are looking at a full cure. So after MUCH thought and 3 seperate medical opinions, Yogi will have surgery this Tuesday. I AM A WRECK. I have researched and researched and hear all these great stories of recovery, problem is, I have found none regarding to "little" dogs. Yogi weighs 12 pds and I am not sure if his little size will make recovery worse or better for him? I see all these beautiful large dogs on this site who are AMAZING and I wonder if its because they have size and muscle behind them?
Any words of advice would be so much welcome as I truly am stressing this decision. Sincerely, Sharon
Welcome Sharon! Glad you found our little support community although it would be ok with me if we never added any more cancer victim members 😉
I'm not a vet, and I have a medium size dog, but I can't help but believe Yogi will recover just fine and thrive. You will find lots of support here to get you through the recovery - the first two weeks are pretty rough for most of them. I know Maggie the pug does real well, and I'm sure she will come in and welcome you.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hi Sharon and Yogi
As you say, there are lots of big and bigger dogs on this site. But there are a few small ones (some of the "Maggie's", Lulu a Chihuahua, Cheek a toy poodle that just showed up from Japan).
But small stature should make the adjustment much easier. Our surgeon had a 3-legged dachshund. You'd think the long back might make it hard. But I could not even tell it was missing the leg, since the legs were so short and close to the ground. They were able to cycle more quickly so you didn't get the hopping gait that you see in our bigger dogs. (I'm not saying your dog won't 'hop', but this dog had a pretty typical walk).
You also don't have the concerns about weigh presenting additional stress on the joints. It never hurts to give glucosamine chondroiton as a joint supplement, but I doubt a little Pomeranian would be as prone to arthritis as our larger dogs.
You are very fortunate if the surgery will contain the cancer. Of course most of us would say proceed full speed ahead even if it did not, because your dog will return to her happy self and you will have great times together again.
As humans we all anguish over the amputation decision. Amputation is a horrible word to the human ear. The dogs generally do face a week or two or three (usually more for larger dogs and less for shorter) to recover and get back to being a dog. But life on three legs seems just as good as life on four for a dog. It is probably better because they get so much extra attention. I sometimes feel sorry for the quadrapawd dogs who end up with a tripawd sibling!
Susan
Hi Sharon
Found a link to Cheek, who is a recent addition to the "tripawd family", see below. Also a link to LuLu the Chihuahua at the time of surgery and early recovery. She had mast cell cancer and unfortunately they found that her cancer had spread beyond the leg by the time of amputation 🙁 . But she did just fine hopping around on 3 legs.
Cheek: http://tripawds.....ek/#p22434
LuLu: http://tripawds.....urgery-day
By the way, there are even two legged dogs out there. Have you heard about Faith, who walks around like a human, or like a hopping kangaroo when she goes really fast? If not, Google her and check out her amazing videos. Some friends told me they say a story about her in the newspaper recently!
Hi Sharon,
Welcome to tripawds. I am Karen, my pug Maggie is one of the smaller dogs here, she is now about 16.5 lbs and about 12" at the shoulder. She is a rear amp and gets around fine.
Here is a link to her blog:
http://maggiesj.....pawds.com/
There are a couple of videos there that show how she gets around. Open the tab at the top of the blog called 'Maggie's Story' if you want to read about her background.
Small dogs do fine with amputation, and my opinion would they have at least the same and maybe an easier adjustment time. There are some advantages that small dogs have in dealing with amputation. One big advantage is that you can just pick them up if needed, onto furniture, in and out of my truck, although I like to let Mag get around on her own as much as possible. Once she healed from the surgery and got done with chemo she would regularly walk a mile or more, up curbs and up and down hills! The biggest problem I have with Mag is stairs. Because she is so little more than a couple of stairs are hard for her. She comes down them fine, but now that she is almost 11 I am less inclined to let her, I am thinking of the long term health of her joints.
You will read that In general rear amp dogs have it a little easier than front amps. But through this site I have meet several front amp dogs, and other than a more pronounced hop in their gait they do just fine. If you look at the NOR CAL tripawd video on Mag's blog you will see Maggie as well as severl front amp dogs.
What kind of cancer does Yogi have?? Since the prognosis is that he will be cancer free after surgery you have another advantage over many dogs here. You can focus on his surgery and recovery, and look forward to lots more quality time with Yogi.
I'm sorry I have to go right now- check out the links above from Susan (Tazzie) and Maggie's blog. I'll check back tonight and see if you have more questions. You can PM me to if you want.
Karen and the pug girls
I can't thank you enough for all your replies... what a wonderful and supportive group of people. I am devouring everything I can get my hands on regarding amputation and recovery... want to be fully knowledgeable and prepared for everything that might come our way.
Yogi has a hemangiopericytoma. It seemed to appear out of nowhere...
http://tripawds.....8;search=1
Hi Sharon
Never heard that big word before. But I pasted it into the tripawds search engine - varooom - and a few results with dogs with the same condition in the last year or two did come up, see above link. Not sure these links will have anything useful to you, but thought you'd want to know if you haven't done this already.
Welcome Sharyn, thanks for joining! As you can see, you'll receive lots of advice and support from Tripawds members. You probably haven't heard much about small dogs here because they usually handle amputation much better than larrger dogs. Best wishes for a perfect procedure and speedy, complete recovery. Just be sure to remain strong around Yogi, so he can follow your lead and heal quickly.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Sharon,
Welcome to Tripawds!!!
I'm sorry to hear about Yogi's diagnosis... I know that you must feel devastated right now!!! I think that small dogs might have it a bit easier after the amputation... but that all depends on if there are no complications after surgery. Any surgery can have some risks.
We are all here for you... if you need to vent, complain, cry, ask questions... whatever!!! We all love our babies so much, and just want to do the best for them, so that they can continue to enjoy their lives, for as long as they can!
Angel Jake's Mom
Jake, 10yr old golden retriever (fractured his front right leg on 9/1, bone biopsy revealed osteosarcoma on 9/10, amputation on 9/17) and his family Marguerite, Jacques and Wolfie, 5yr old german shepherd and the newest addition to the family, Nala, a 7mth old Bengal mix kittie. Jake lost his battle on 11/9/2009, almost 8 weeks after his surgery. We will never forget our sweet golden angel… http://jakesjou.....ipawds.com ….. CANCER SUCKS!
Sharon and Yogi,
I'm sure you're going through a lot right now but you're not alone. One of the best parts of Tripawds is that we all support each other no matter what. You should also start a blog about your journey for other small dogs who go through the same problem.
I have a 6 month old cocker spaniel who lost his leg about a month ago because he was hit by a car. Although it sounds horrible, Jedi is doing just fine. At the moment, he's probably about 15 or so lbs.
The positive about being a small dog is that they have less weight to place on their additional joints. Many of these bigger dogs on the site have problems with their other joins after a while. Along with that is the fact that small dogs are said to be less of wimps then bigger dogs. I doubt this is completely true, but hopefully that will mean that Yogi will take the surgery well.
Good luck Yogi and Sharon!
Lucky Amputation 10/29/09 Adoption 12/5/09
Jedi Amputation 12/18/09 Adoption 02/04/10
"I am not afraid, I was born to do this." Joan of Arc
imap1rate said:
Along with that is the fact that small dogs are said to be less of wimps then bigger dogs.
Okay, I'll take the bait. I can't say I have EVER heard that "fact" about small dogs or seen small dog stoicism in action. Some might suspect the opposite to be true. But maybe it will apply in Yogi's case. (I expect the Mini-Maggies Club will now rally in defense.)
Aww - just saw your avatar pic Yogi. Very sweet.
As for you Lucky, I love your cool glowing blue eyes. Are you part Jedi like your brother?
Bring it on Tazzie. 🙂 Maybe it's just the big dogs I've had over the years that are whimps, but who knows. I'm just trying to be positive for Sharon.
I've concluded that all tripawds are part jedi. I mean, Luke Skywalker lost his arm in Star Wars but it didn't hinder him. He was still able to be an awesome jedi! Jedi matches out little puppy as his tail is much like a lighsaber as it HURTS when it hits you.
Lucky Amputation 10/29/09 Adoption 12/5/09
Jedi Amputation 12/18/09 Adoption 02/04/10
"I am not afraid, I was born to do this." Joan of Arc
Well, Lucky my pal, certain breeds, of different sizes, are known to be more stoic and some are known to be far less stoic. For the sake of continued good relationships with all of our tripawd buddies, we are best to not venture there, however tempting it may be 
So, are you in the process of collecting tripawds 
Well, truth be told, Yogi is pretty much a big WHIMP!!! I am hoping he rally's when he really needs too! The way I look at it, I am a big whimp myself but plan to be strong for him, so counting on him to do the same! Thanks for making me smile today!
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