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. I am a new member. Our 10 year old Shepherd/Lab mix Sadie was just diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in her front right leg (proximal humerous). We are debating whether or not to amputate. Can she truly live a quality/pain free life after the amputation? Any input on the matter would be greatly appreciated!
Can she truly live a quality/pain free life after the amputation?
In three words…. YES SHE CAN! 
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Shoot, this place is crawling with pain-free-3-legged-dogs! Have you seen the pictures? They're everywhere, and most of them are smiling! Really! Look at Sammy and Catie, for instance. Catie left our tripawd family very recently, but she was here for a good amount of time and had the biggest smile. These dogs have FUN!
Love, Dakota (3-legged, not hurting, gnawing on a bone and wrestling with my baby bulldog)
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
I just cannot imagine how if must feel to fall asleep with 4 legs and wake up with 3. Although she barely uses that leg right now anyway. Did anyone notice a personality or emotional change in their dogs? Did anyone have any problems with the chemotherapy, or opt to try radiation before amputation?
Sadie won't even know that she is missing a leg. Skyler had a mast cell tumor on her right rear leg. The first 2 weeks after surgery were rough because of the surgery itself & the pain meds. After that, it was smooth sailing. Skyler was her old self in no time, playing with her sister Chloe & enjoying life. She did chemo every week for 8 weeks, and never had any issues with it.
Amputating Sadie's leg will rid her of the pain & cancer. I'm sure you'll hear from many others here regarding their experience. It's a tough decision to make, but whatever you decide...it will be out of love. Best wishes to you, and am sending many golden hugs.
Please keep us posted.
Cathy
Our primary concern is alleviating Sadie's pain so her quality of life is improved. As we understand it, there are three ways to relieve her pain:
1) Amputation
2) Radiation and Bisphosphonates
3) Pain meds
Chemo would be coupled with any of these options to slow the spread of the cancer, so for now we are trying to decide how to best manage the pain. Our vet recommended amputation as it is the only way to completely remove the cause of her pain. However, she (the vet) also mentioned that there is a theory that removal of the tumor (i.e., leg) may trigger a more rapid spread of the cancer in other areas, most likely the lungs. The thinking is that when the tumor is present the cancer seems to focus its energy on feeding the tumor, so if the tumor is removed the cancer is more free to spread. There is no empirical evidence to prove this theory, but it does seem that the spread sometimes accelerates after removal of the tumor.
For this reason, we are wondering if radiation might be an option worth considering as it would alleviate the pain (though probably not as effectively as amputation) while shrinking the tumor but still leaving it in place, possibly slowing the spread of the cancer. This might be a good option if it maximizes her longevity by preventing the spread (in conjunction with the chemo) while also significantly improving the quality of life by reducing her pain. This would also leave open the possibility of amputation at a later point if the radiation was not effective.
So, did any of you pursue radiation as a course of treatment, and if so could you share your experiences? Would you do it again, etc.?
Miss Kessa is fourteen days past surgery......She is twelve years old....uses a 12 step staircase....walks with Mac...her Husky brother..and Tony ...her cat-who -is an-honorary-husky brother......
She just had her stitches out.....She smiled and wagged and visited at the Vet Hospital in Guelph. Her tail wags more every day....
She is doing ALL the things she did before....accepting pats, and watching cheeky squirrels with a glint in her eye. I never thought I'd go amputation route...at twelve...but we got our whole girl back with a future......
Cheers!
Sandy
I am not a vet (Tazziedog here is so hopefully she will respond), but my understanding is that radiation, while frequently relieving the pain, predisposes the bone to break--which leads to amputation.
As far as how it feels to go to sleep with 4 legs and wake up with 3, substitute the word "pain" for "leg" and read the sentence again. Hopefully it sounds better that way and helps you with your decision.
But as Cathy rightly pointed out, only you know what is best for your dog, and as long as you make the decision with love in mind (which can also include finances), it's the right one. Nobody here judges anyone for whatever decision they make, so don't be concerned about that. We don't like knowing a dog has to be in pain, but we also know how many factors there are in deciding. We all had to walk the same path you're on now, regardless of the reason for the surgery.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Thanks for joining, sorry to hear about your pup. Please see our latest Tripawds Health video interviews with veterinary oncologist Dr. Johnny Chreting discussing how amputation is the only way to totally eliminate tumor pain. He also discusses radiation, and chemotherapy side effect.
If you have not already, also be sure to bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for lots of links to more helpful advice and information. best wishes with the decisions you face, please keep us posted.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So- Here I have found a web site to present our dilemma. Baer, our 10 year old, 85 lb Norwegian Elk Hound has had changed mobility over the last few months. Has stiff left rear leg, runs little, pants much. Stopped leaping into the car, ran with an increasingly turned motion on left rear leg, and cries when lifted into car. After consultation with experienced, dedicated vet, today went to the vet for surgery to remove likely "fatty deposit" in hind quarter, and got the call that it is a HUGE mass, encompassing muscles bone, etc., could not excise it. Yet does not appear to be beyond femur and blood work ok. Lab tests back in a week, as well as a consultation w/oncologist. We have felt in the past that amputation is selfish, and also don't want to subject Baer to continued pain and increasing bad life, yet am looking for objective advice You all know my and Baer's choices, what to do for Baer? Seems like many dogs have good lives afterwords- Baer is older, strong in all other regards, and large- and very loved.
davem said:
don't want to subject Baer to continued pain and increasing bad life...
Then please seriously consider amputation. The selfish choice would be to not do whatever it takes to eliminate the pain.
We by know means promote amputation, only wish to present the facts about how well the vast majority of dogs do on three legs. Yes, members have shared tragic stories of their giant breed dogs not coping well with recovery, but we can literally only think of a few from the past 4+ years of the Tripawds Blogs community.
If Baer has a soft tissue tumor, removing the leg can possibly get rid of the cancer for good. If he has osteosarcoma, it is the only way to eliminate worsening pain and avoid traumatic fracture.
Best wishes with the difficult decisions you face.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
after taking Baer in for removal of fatty depositethismorning, and getting a call that it's a tumor, then touching base with your website about amputating the leg. it turns out the surgery was to invasive on the tumor- should have been a biopsy after discovery. the manipulation disturbed too much tissue, caused too ,much bleeding, and Bear could not over come the strews and died as we were chasing to the vets. We sais an emtionalo and tearful goobye to his still warm body- yet to take a dog in for preventive surgery, a healthy dog that we walked this morning, etc., and have him die suddenly is beyond words. farewell, Baer, you deserved a better more loving departure.
Oh no Dave! You are aboslutely right--Baer DID deserve a better departure. He deserved much more than that. It doesn't happen often that a dog dies in surgery, but I know there are some here who did. But yes, the shock of a happy, bouncy, alert dog suddenly dying during surgery is overwhelming. I am so sorry. Baer and your whole family were cheated out of a lot of goodness. It's not supposed to end this way.
Shari
From abandoned puppy to Tripawd Warrior Dude, Dakota became one of the 2011 February Furballs due to STS. Our incredibly sweet friend lived with grace and dignity till he impulsively raced over the Bridge on 12-15-12.
Dakota's thoughtful and erudite blog is at http://shari.tr.....pawds.com/
Wow.
Beyond words indeed Dave, we can't tell you how sorry we are. Please know you did all you could for him and that dogs do not ever hold regret or anger in their hearts, he knows you gave him all you could and then some.
May you find comfort in the life you shared. I'm just so sorry it was too short.
With our deepest condolences.....
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
we are sorry to hear that baer didn't make it through his surgery. our deepest condolences. love never ends.
charon & gayle
Life is good, so very, very good!!! Gayle enjoyed each and every moment of each and every wonderful day (naps included). She left this world December 12, 2011 – off on a new adventure.
Love Never Ends
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