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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Our leonberger Chewie has been our first dog and she has been wonderful! But 5 weeks ago we came home from a beach trip and she was limping on her left hind leg. We went to the vets and a week after the painkillers didnt work she had an X-ray. It showed a tumor just below her knee and the vet gave her 3 weeks. Life stopped....they took a biopsey and it came back as a spindle cell soft tissue tumor, not the aggressive type! We have been down to Cambridge vet hospital for 2 radiotherapy sessions which has turned her shaved leg black, but she still limps and it hurts her and now I write this on the evening before she goes back to Cambridge to have her leg removed. We have found it so hard to decide what to do and I still sit here wondering if we are doing the right thing. A Leonberger with 3 legs?? Reading what you guys write on here as given us hope that she will be fine, but tonight is a hard one to get through. Thanks to all the threads that are here telling us how it's going to be, I think it's going to be a hard few weeks, as she will stay at Cambridge for a few days before we get her back. I'll post back as things happen and hopefully the story will get better.
chewbacca said:
A Leonberger with 3 legs?
Why not? What are main concerns? Most big dogs do fine, and all Tripawds cope with recovery easier than their people do. Consider reading Without Regret for help managing the human emotions your felling. Or Be More Dog and take it day by day.
Best wishes for a complete speedy recovery!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I was nervous about going through with the surgery for our Bo too. But, looking back on it, Bo painfully limped out to the car and into the vet's office the day of surgery. The very next day at noon when we picked him up, he came barreling out of the door, literally dragging our vet behind him. Any regrets I had flew out the window at that point.
Surgery recovery for us had some ups and downs, but Bo started feeling better around three weeks post-op. He's 6 weeks post-op now; rolling in the grass, swimming, and wreaking havoc on the squirrels in our yard.
Good luck to Chewie and family!!
Welcome! Sorry to hear all that Chewie has been through. She will do fine after the surgery. Just make sure you get lots of rest. Please keep us posted on her recovery.
Cathy
Well if you would like to see how a dog who is a SPINDLE CELL CANCER survivor is doing a YEAR later then come check out our blog!!!
Chloe's Blog: http://nbobco.t.....pawds.com/
Here is a quick summary. Last summer, Chloe (9 yr old husky hound mix, 70lbs at the time) was diagnosed with spindle cel sarcoma on her left hind hock. She too did not have the aggressive kind and my family and I were hoping that amputation would effectively cure her. It did. And in 2 weeks we will be celebrating her 1 year ampuversary (1 year of being a tripawd). Last month she had her yearly check up and all her tests (blood, poop, etc...) came back with good news. She is still a healthy, cancer free girl.
On my blog you can read her "Post Ampawtee" story which gives a summary of the 2 weeks post amputation and everything she and I went through. I hope Chloe's story can be an inspawration to you and Chewie, for I fully believe that Chewie could have the same, wonderful outcome. If you ever need anything feel free to drop a comment off at the blog or PM me. I've been there!!
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Welcome Chewie and family!
It's emotionally tough, we understand! That's why we are here!
But just try to focus on eliminating the pain; which means the leg. If you just keep that in you mind, you'll be so happy with the results. I had a 3 legged dog for 12 years (birth defect), and honestly after about 2 hours of first having her, I didn't really notice she was 3 legged. It becomes so natural after awhile.
Best wishes!
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.
The evening before Tate's surgery I was in such emotional turmoil, I think I know how you are feeling. And the morning of the surgery, I had to keep on reminding myself that we made this decision when I was in a more rational frame of mind. It will be really hard to drop your girl off tomorrow but be brave!
Keep us posted, okay?
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
I dropped her off yesterday and she hopped away with the surgeon, it was a very slow and quiet 2 hour drive back home. we received a phone call yesterday evening saying all had been done and she was beginning to come round and trying to stand up already, the guys there were surprised that she was trying to get up so soon after the surgery and they are very pleased with her recovery. They are going to call us today to say how she coped over night, but signs seem to be good so far. hopefully we'll be able to go and pick her up in a couple of days.
Sending good thoughts for a speedy recovery.
Now for my advice, the important one I give over and over. Get some rest. You will need it. And when Chewie gets home, rest when Chewie rests. Fight the urge to sit and watch her sleep. You will hear her if she needs you. If you feel the need to sleep beside her, then do, but get that much needed sleep.
I had a dog named Chewie many years ago. Seeing the name brought a smile to my heart.
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.
Sounds like Chewie is off to a great start! Please keep us posted on her progress.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Chloe was much the same way after surgery, trying to stand even though she had full use of her 4 legs pre amp. When I went to pick her up 2 days post op, it was all the tech could do to keep Chloe from hopping to my open arms. Keep us updated!
-Chloe's mom
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Well, the first big milestone is over with. You are on your way to happier times!
Jan
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
To echo what most people have said- get some rest, the first couple weeks post amp are the toughest, but you will be surprised how quickly she will adapt to life on 3 legs. I think you will be pleased with your decision when you see that she is no longer hurting- it's a tough decision, I wavered several times but I could tell as soon as I saw Chili Dawg after the surgery that it was the best decision we could have made because his pain was gone. Good luck and keep us posted!
Diagnosed with OSA: 5/2/2011 Ampuversary: 5/11/2011 OSA returned in hip: 8/26/2011
Chili Dawg crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 8/30/2011 & is now pain free. He was my heart dog, and I miss him every day.
So amazed with all the response not only from this forum, but also from the Cambridge Vet Hospital, they call us twice a day to give the latest updates. The latest is she has eaten a plate full of chicken! They want to keep her over the weekend and make sure all is good, alsomthey will make sure she is beginning top become stable on her rear leg. She seems to be doing very well. BUT what do you think, we have received a letter from the insurance company saying they have looked at the clinical history of Chewie and decided to impose a clause in the cover, of course the clause now excludes her rear limbs!! I dont think they can do this,not only the trauma of our decisions, but now a fight with the insurance company. First i think we get Chewie back on track, then put our efforts on the insurance company.
chewbacca said:
... decided to impose a clause in the cover, of course the clause now excludes her rear limbs!!
How can they impose a clause that is not in your contract? Not exactly something you need to deal with right now for sure. Fight it!
A couple years ago we had a member who fought a similar issue with their pet health insurance provider, and won. Or at least got the bill reduced. Check out this topic for any tips and advice that may help you.
Treatment, Recovery and Ongoing Care
Ins Pet Claim Denied/Pissed off
PS: What provider is giving you this hassle?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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