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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My good looking dog, Leo, got diagnosed with bone cancer in his front right leg Monday afternoon.
Leo has been my best buddy for the past 7 years, and gave me a reason to keep going after my really bad car accident, that gave me a brain injury and burns. Leo got me ok enough to get up and keep trying. I would not have made it this far without him.
He started limping slightly about a week ago, and his limp got gradually worse. I took him to the vet yesterday, where they did some X-rays and found a sizable tumor that appears to match the description for osteosarcoma.
So far, the plan is to have his entire right front leg removed Thursday morning. Then his tumor will be sent to oncology for testing to see what to do next.
Hi Leo & Family, welcome. We're sorry for the diagnosis. Many of us have gone through it ourselves and understand the worry you feel right now. But take heart, Leo will still be a good looking dog after surgery and in fact more people than ever will fawn all over him when they see what a superstar he he is!
Please be sure to check out Jerry's Required Reading List and the Tripawds e-book library, there's a lot of information there that will put your mind and heart at ease. Just bark if you have any questions and keep us posted on how he's doing OK?
P.S. We edited your post to comply with our Tripawds Community Policies About Personal Fundraising. Thanks for understanding.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
So, take a deep breath.
Leo will come home with a big dressing on. He will probably hop out to the car on his own - I was totally surprised when Murphy did that! I was not sure exactly what to expect, but I took my son with me thinking that I would need help getting him into the car. Murphy came home on 3 different pain medications - Rimadyl, Tramadol & Gabapentin. Some come home with a Fentanyl patch or with antibiotics. Make sure that you give Leo his medications spaced out around the clock so that he gets good coverage. The first 2 weeks or so will be the hardest, it will be a roller coaster of emotions for you and you will wonder if you did the right thing, but it will get better.
We will be here for you, so don't hesitate to reach out!
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
So sorry you find yourself here. As you can see, there is no better place to be for support, understanding and information. You have gotten some great insight and links from Jerry and Donna.
You and Leo clearly have a very strong loving Bond. Just as Leo help you get through your challenges, you will help him get through his.
Neither you nor Leo are alone, okay!? we are all right here by your side on this entire Journey. We also have a tripods helpline available that you can call anytime should you have any questions, or feel like you need to be pulled back from the edge! Yeah, we all get to the edge quite often and need to be pulled back on this crazy Journey!
1 844 TRIPAWDS
STAY CONNECTED! Recovery is no picnic for a couple of weeks. But once recovery is over and that painful leg is gone Leo's Sparkle will return bigger and brighter than before. You will learn to live in the present with no worries just like Leo. He does not have a time frame stamped on his butt, nor does he care about days on the calendar. All he cares about is being loved and spoiled by you like he has already been every day for 7 years with you.
Let us know when he is out of surgery, okay? We're cheering for Leo! When you can, tell us more about him. How much does ne weigh? Does he love snuggles? What's his favorite food?
Love and 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!
My Otis also lost a front leg to osteosarcoma. We are 4 months post-amp, and he is doing great. The first two weeks will be hard, and Leo will spend a lot of time sleeping when he gets home, with short leashed potty breaks. You will also have several medicines to give him, and will have to monitor his pain signals so that you can work with your vet to make sure that his pain is properly controlled. For now, think about tripawd proofing your home - nonslip floor mats on any wood or tile surfaces where he will walk, a good bed (tripawds generally prefer firmer beds), raised food bowls are great. Consider also sleeping arrangements - if you have bedrooms on a second floor, and Leo is used to sleeping with you, you might want to gate off the upstairs and move your mattress downstairs. (Otis now can do the stairs easily, but he didn't try until month 3 post-amp). Depending on how big Leo is, you might want to consider a harness - I love the Ruffwear Webmaster Plus harness that you will find in the gear blog. Front amps can't use it right away, however, so you have some time on that. Anyway - about two hard weeks, but once the staples come out (about day 10 for many of us), Leo will probably amaze you with how well he recovers. Things are different for Otis as a tripawd, but not in important ways - shorter walks, but more time just sitting out in the sun and way more cuddling. Good luck in surgery today, and feel free to reach out to this community with questions or frustrations. We have all been through it!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
I am so sorry you are here but you have gotten some great advice from others .... I just want to send you love and healing energy and let you know that we are all here for you!!! Ask us anything!!
Hugs!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Welcome and thinking of you and Leo today. Please keep us posted on his surgery and recovery we are all here to help. Love and hugs to you both!
Linda, Riley & Spirits Mighty Max & Ollie
We have a recent front leg amputee here, though Pofi's was for a different cancer. There is such great information here and so much knowledge and support. We will be here for you and Leo!
We've been lucky to have a fairly smooth time post op - and I attribute a lot of that to having the right meds, all of them, from the start. As Donna mentioned above, we had Rimadyl, Tramadol & Gabapentin and they are three different modalities to treat pain. Managing the pain means your dog can rest and heal better from the surgery.
Very best thoughts for Leo and your wonderful best friend, Leo. Please do let us know how everything is going.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
I hope the surgery went smoothly!
As several people have mentioned, dogs are sent home with several different pain medications after surgery. I was sent home with just tramadol and it wasn't enough to control her pain - I had to go back to the vet 4 times over the course of the first week to get the right mix of pain medication. She was eventually on the three mentioned by Lisa, as well as methocarbamol. Don't be afraid to contact your vet if you have questions about Leo's reactions - every dog responds a bit differently.
Thinking of you both!
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