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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi Eustacia. Thanks for your comments. I'm so sorry about your diagnosis. I don't know much about stereotactic radiation/chemo. From what I read, it doesn't seem to apply to bone cancers, but I'm sure I'm wrong if that's what they recommended. I'm sure the message board angels can chime in here. I only got the amputation/chemo option, but it worked for us. Her growth was small but you could see in the xray her bone was compromised so it made sense to me. I would just make sure you feel comfortable with the vet doing the amputation since it's a large breed. We were fortunate to have UCD nearby.
I was surprised and impressed with how Lacey got around once she recovered. The way she navigated was so precise. You could see her eyes scanning her path before she would go, like a Terminator. I would always tell her she's a rock star. She was 110 lbs when I got her at 3 yo, then about 100 lbs when diagnosed. After amputation, about 95. She did lose weight in her later years, went down to about 90. But, that just meant I could better assist her. The great thing about this breed is they are lazy. At least Lacey was. A trained protector, but mostly lazy. So she wouldn't be up and down as much as other dogs. I also made accommodations for her with the 3 legs. When we walked I would park the van down the street, estimating about how far she would get, then we'd walk to the van and I'd lift her in. She never liked to backtrack on walks so I had to find a way and this worked great. Stubborn breed too.
I do have news on Lacey that I've been avoiding posting. We crossed her over the Rainbow Bridge on June 22nd at exactly 11 years old. Since her diagnosis I got an additional amazing 1 year and 8 mos with her. She was truly active and alert until the last month. I would do it all over again with her. Her amputation didn't take anything from her but her leg. She was still her spicy self, protecting her family, demanding treats and attention and lounging in the backyard all day like always. I miss her so much but with the lung mets, the big growth on her neck and how she couldn't get up anymore, barely lifted her head, I knew we had to let her live in the afterlife.
Please keep me posted on your progress and let me know if I can help in any way.
Oh gosh, crying while reading this. I know it was so hard to come back. I guess deep down we knew not hearing from uou probably wasn't good news. As hard as it was to update us, you were able to share more of Lacey's delightful personality and that had me smiling through the tears.
As you know, we all fell in love with Lacey and cheered every milestone she conquered When we say she is an inspiration for big dogs, you have no better proof than the post from Eustacia. Like all of us, she's struggling with the decision to amputate or not, etc. One of her concerns is if a big dog can be happy on three. You and Lacey have proven it can happen!!
Lacey absolutely is a Tripawd RockStar and she will aways be a role model to show the world big dogs on three rule!! And she had you by her side the whole way encou her and loving her and spoiling her. That's the best "therapeutic treatment" ever invented!
You said something so simply profound and from this point forward it will always be part pf Lacey's Legacy :
I would do it all over again with her. Her amputation didn't take anything from her but her leg
And I have no doubt when she ran free to The Rainbow Bridge she scanned the path before her like a Terminator...neverlookedback...neverback tracked.... ran free and Happy and full of your love in her heart.♥️
Thank you so much for the privilege of getting to know Lacey and the beautiful bond you shared. Lacey's Legacy is definately one of hope and inspiration and showing is all what's possible💖
Surrounding you with Lacey's eternal light and slobbering kisses🥰
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!
Amy,
I’m in tears right now for you. While a year and 8 months is a win for sure with this disease and I’m afraid to dare hope for that much, I’m sure the time went by quickly and saying goodbye so hard. You did such an amazing job for her and I only hope I can navigate this with Honor as well as you did for her. I truly appreciate that you came on here to give guidance and help even as you’re still grieving.
I love your idea with the parking the car ahead on your walk! I think I will use that idea now. He also has that pyr stubborn streak on walks where he doesn’t want to turn back to go home. We used to walk around a loop in our neighborhood but now he can’t make it anywhere near that far. With the stereotactic radiation/chemo it was presented as trying to preserve a functional leg for him for longer then going to amputation at some point if the bone gets too weak and looks like it will fracture. My concern though is this plan resulting in higher chance of spread. We have a couple more consults tomorrow so will see what they say. It’s all very confusing. If he was a small dog (or if I was a larger person), it’d be an easier decision to just go directly to amputation.
Amy, I'm really sorry Lacey got her wings, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for finding the courage to share this sad news with us. I know that wasn't easy.
You went to the moon and back to do everything that would give her a chance at enjoying life after amputation, and she DID! What a strong girl, and a forever role model to all of us here, especially those of us with big dogs. Her legacy lives on in our community, and you are always part of our family too.
Lots of love and hugs coming your way. 
1 Guest(s)
