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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Aloha Everyone--I'm hoping to learn more about life on three legs for Nalu, a 72# Bluenose Pitbull recently diagnosed with bone cancer. Nalu belongs to my parents who are in their 70s. Their vet says that large dogs like Nalu don't do well on three legs so I'd appreciate and advice and suggestions to helpl us get through this. Mahalo nui.
Welcome and thanks for joining, your future posts will publish immediately without requiring moderation.
At 72 lbs, Nalu is not necessarily a big dog. While larger dogs do sometimes have a more difficult time rehabilitating, if she (he?) is otherwise fit and healthy, Nalu should do just fine on three legs.
Hopefully you'll hear from hugapitbull, her beloved pittie Trouble lived a happy 27 months after amputation due to cancer. Another large breed dog Loving Life On Three Legs is Nova the Great Dane.
Will you, or someone, be available to help your parents with Nalu if necessary during the first couple weeks after surgery? You'll find lots of recovery and care tips in Jerry's Required Reading List, and for immediate answers to the most common dog amputation questions download the new Tripawds e-book Three Legs and A Spare.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
welcome nalu. there are alot of tripawds who would dwarf you - tazzie the mastiff, fortis the cane corso, etc. it's always a good idea to keep a lean figure, but don't let the vet just make a blanket decision based on size. gayle is about 70 lbs, and lost her right front leg february 2010. she does fine - we think it's all the medicinal napping... hopefully some of the 'larger' tripawd brothers and sisters will post their experiences to give you some re-assurance. the first two weeks are rough, as admin jim said, but you just have to know it will get better. bone cancer is very painful, relieving the pain is paramount for nalu's well being. good luck with your decisions, you'll do the right thing.
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
72 pounds is not too big for amputation! Our Ginger is a beautiful 10 1/2 year old golden retriever that was about 85 pounds before her back right leg amputation and a (fairly) trim 70 pounds now. She gets around great, and next month will be one full year on three legs. Like Charon and Gayle said, bone cancer hurts and amputation removes that pain. We are sure you will help make the right decision, but know that life is just great as a Tripawd!!
Ginger's pack
Welcome to Tripawds.
I had one of the smaller tripawds so I can't help much with living with a large tripawd. But our local friend Cemil is a 150# Anatolian Shepard who lost his front leg over 2 years ago, and still going strong.
We have Danes, Mastiffs, Grt Prys, a couple of Newfie mixes here, and lots of pups Nalu's size who are doing fine on three. It is more about how otherwise healthy Nalu is, not his or her size.
Amputation is a big surgery with some risks, and that always should be considered. But bone cancer is very painful, there is no way to permanently stop the pain except amputation. Once past the recovery period most of us found that our pups had a great quality of life, and that is the most important thing.
Do your research and decide what the best path for Nalu, you, and your parents is. We are here to offer our experiences and support you no matter what decision you make.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Aloha! Trouble, also a pit bull, was 69# when she was diagnosed. Her diagnosing vet didn't think she was a candidate for surgery because of her weight and the fact that the breed carries so much of their weight in front. 24 Hours later, we had a second opinion consult. This is the consult that saved her life. The consulting vet was convinced the only way to stop the pain was amputation. He agreed she needed to pull off some weight, but that we would tackle that once she was on the road to recovery.
Trouble had surgery in November 2008, we elected to do chemo because her tumor was contained and there was no evidence of spread. By the time her chemo was completed in March 2009 she had dropped 14# without any change to her diet. She had no other issues with her weight until mid 2010 when she started piling on the pounds. We put her on a reducing diet, dropped the extra pounds and kept her on the diet until we had to say goodbye to her last week. She was 27 months 20 days cancer free when we let her go. She left us due to old age issues, not cancer. We can truly say she beat the disease.
Best of luck to your folks and Nalu. Feel free to PM me with any specific questions you may have.
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.
My Dante, another pitbull is also doing GREAT on three legs. Mind you he's been a tripawd since he was a pup - but he's about 55/60 lbs now (been a while since we weighed him!) and he has the typical dense, stocky body with his weight in the front and his left front leg is the one he's lost. He gets around just fine! Good luck with whatever decision your family comes to. Nalu is gorgeous by the way!
hugapitbull said:
He agreed she needed to pull off some weight...
FYI: You can read all about Trouble's canine reducing diet in the Tripawds Nutrition blog .
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Is Nalu's cancer on a front leg or back leg? My suggestion would be to talk to an oncologist and get a second opinion. It is amazing what some vets have said that makes us at tripawds drop our jaws. Unless Nalu is overweight for her breed or size I don't think she seems to large to do well with an amputation.
The recovery can be difficult for the first couple of weeks. Will you be there to help your parents? If they are spry 70s they will probably be okay but if they are feeling their age they may want to think about hiring a vet tech or vet student to help with Nalu's care for a few weeks.
Good luck. Keep us informed on Nalu, Remember though, the only way to remove the pain is remove the cancer. With osteosarcomas there are not a lot of choices.
Debra
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Big dawg? Nalu? No way dude! I just got weighed and I'm 78 pounds! Big Tripawds rule!!!! OK small ones do too. But big dog, you ain't. I'm betting you'll do just fine.
My advice: a second opinion means so much. A vet who doesn't believe you won't do well just doesn't have enough of that good juju to help you recover quickly. Find a second opinion and if that vet believes you can make it on three legs, stick with 'em!
Good luck my friend. Keep us posted OK?
Wyatt Ray Dawg . . . The Tripawds Leg-A-Cy Continues!
Read all about my adventures at my Tripawds Blog
Nalu, I just want to welcome you to Tripawds and let you know that we are here to help OK? Your family sounds like they really love you a lot, what a lucky pup you are.
Should you go through amputation, I really do like Emily's Mom's advice having your folks get some help for a few days to look after you. Heck, even for those younger than 70 having someone around to help would be like a blessing. It's not something that lasts forever but it can be exhausting for the first few days. Hopefully not though, but it's good to be prepared.
Keep us posted OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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