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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Hi Everyone,
A friend recommended this site to me and I am so happy to read everyone's experiences! I have a 10 yr old, 80lb pitbull who fell last night and has a spiral fracture in his rear hip area. Upon x-ray 3 different vets diagnosed him with Osteosarcoma thus the fracture. He is obviously not a candidate to repair the fracture and they have advised two options: amputation or putting him to sleep. He does have arthritis in his hawks and they are inflamed all the time. He has been on Tramadol for a long time and we have tried everything from acupuncture and laser therapy to different pain meds to try and manage his arthritis.
I am concerned about amputating his back leg and his other leg is not in the best of shape. X-rays in chest and other rear leg came back clear. The doctor did mention his heart is slightly enlarged. He is otherwise in great shape! Average age for pitbulls can range from 10-14 years. I am nervous about his recovery since he was already weak in his back legs! Am I doing the right thing? He is a big guy. I just want to know that we did all we could to give him a great life. Any input would be great! He is home right now with a Fentanyl patch and we are going in tmrw morning at 8:30am for possible surgery!
Anyone experience doing an amputation with their dog having existing arthritis?
Thanks,
Bianca
Hi Bianca and family, welcome and thanks for joining, your future posts won't require moderation and appear immediately.
So it sounds like you're probably at the vet clinic right now? If so, what did you decide?
You did great by getting other vet opinions, did they all agree on whether or not he is a candidate for amputation?
Many Tripawds with arthritis have done well on three legs with careful management of their condition, strict weight loss and weight management and making sure their activity levels aren't too crazy. Although a dog's stamina and strength will be reduced after losing a leg, it by no means reduces their quality of life if you can keep an eye on these things and be proactive. It sure sounds like you are.
Please let us know what happens this morning, we'll be thinking of you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I just want to offer my support. My Willow already had arthritis when she had her amputation and she did well. She was smaller at 50 lbs, but you can read about other dogs here who were also big dogs with arthritis and did very well.
Let us know what you decide, and how things are going. Everyone here will support you no matter what decision you make!
Hugs,
Carol
Hi Bianca..
Although I do not have experience with the arthritis situation, I just wanted to offer my support as you go through this time. I know how devastating the news is.
Keep us posted!
Cody and Family
Cody is our 7 year old Australian Heeler mix boy. Diagnosed on 2/20/14 and became a tripawd 2/21/14! We chose a homeopathic approach and he is being treated by Dr. Loops our of NC.
I am in the same boat as you...just two days sooner. I am glad that I found this forum as well. I had so much anxiety about things and the good posters here put me at ease. My golden had him amputation on Tuesday and he has been in good spirits with each of our visits. I had so much relief that we chose amputation after I got to see him the nxt day...so full of life. This is a new lease on life for your dog...no more pain from the cancer
Hello Everyone!
Thanks for your support! Cash did have his left rear leg amputated today at our local Humane Society. He is staying overnight and I went to visit around 5pm and he was recovering well! He even tried to get up but is on lots of pain meds right now.
So the surgeon was very glad we decided to have the leg removed because it was swollen and bruised. We consulted with the surgeon for an hour and decided to proceed. The surgeon also stated that the osteosarcoma did not look "typical" and is not the typical location such as the knee or joint. Biopsy has been sent off to Colorado State University and we will know the results in a week. I don't know what to think!
My main concern right now is whether his good rear leg will be strong enough to support his weight. He is 80lbs but is not overweight he is just very stocky. Another concern is helping go outside to potty and how best to help him without interfering. We have a sling but I am looking into getting harness as it seems that most folks on here recommend it.
How do tripawds do with stairs?
Thanks everyone,
Bianca
Aww I'm so glad he's doing well! Sounds like he's getting some great care, I like that they're working with CSU (we're biased, we love those folks!).
First things first....the potty issue is one that surprised most people. Dogs do figure it out almost instantly. It's good to be ready with the sling and walk him with it the first few times to hold him up (he will be groggy from drugs...maybe, he is a Pittie after all, and they tend to bounce back pretty quick). But chances are he's not going to need that level of support unless he's achy.
Yes, harnesses like the Ruffwear Webmaster are extremely helpful for assisting dogs on slippery floors, stairs, getting in and out of cars. We can't say enough good things about them.
As far as stairs go, Tripawds do well but for his safety you want to be with him the first several times he tries anything more than three or four steps. This is where the Webmaster comes in very handy, it has a top handle to allow you to support him. Rear leggers tend to have more challenges and hesitate going up, while front leggers have the opposite issue when they go down stairs. In time they do get the hang of it but it's always a good idea to be there when they're tackling stairs without traction .
I hope you get to bring him home today! What a great name he has, I really like it 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oh here's a video of the crazy stairs in our old house, and how after a while they weren't a problem at all:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I love the way he used the wall as his fourth leg when he went downstairs.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Aww yeah wasn't that genius? 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Ok! We are home today! He has slept a lot the past couple hours and drank a ton of water when we first got home. He is oozing out of his incision a little. The doctors are aware and may want to put a drain in. I was in the backyard with my other dog for a few minutes and when I came back inside he had tried to get up on his own and was laying on the floor and his incision was oozing! So scary! Vet recommended putting an icepack on his wound to help with swelling which we are doing.
Any tips on how to keep him not mobile the first few days? My boyfriend wants to put up a play pin sort of barrier but I don't think that is going to help as Cash will just tumble it over.
I know this first week will be the hardest!
Thanks everyone,
Cash & Bianca
Welcome Bianca,
Glad to hear Cash is home, because there really is no place like home. We kept our boy in a dog playpen,for the first two weeks. Rest and sleep is really important for theses guys, it's a major surgery. We aided him with a sling for going outside, and for pretty much most movement. We put down rugs for traction
to help with slipping and also to make him feel safe and secure, and we also had gotten an elevated food and water bowl. Snoop is a front amputation, I think backs manage somewhat easier but I'm sure someone will share their experience.
Also any concerns don't hesitate to contact your vet.
Keep us posted with the recoup, and jump on live chat, you usually find folks in pm. Everyone's available for support in any way. Last get rest when you can, your going to get pooped out too.
Esther and her Snoop
Hi Bianca sorry I missed you in the chat earlier. I'm so glad Cash is home!
You don't necessarily want to keep him immobile but keeping him calm and not doing more than going outside for a potty break will help tremendously. Confinement will help keep him calm but I know you have an extra challenge with the other dog around. Others with multi-dog households will be able to give you better insight that I can about that situation.
For the seroma , don't worry, they are usually harmless and the fluid will re-absorb into the body. Sometimes a drain is needed if it gets worse. As long as the fluid is more watery than bloody and doesn't smell it's normal, but do keep your vet in the loop.
You're doing great so far!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi All,
We are going for a re-check on Monday and I will speak further with the vet about the fluid. It is pink in color but more clear on a paper towel. I have called the Humane Society Animal Hospital and they have been so great in answering all our questions! I am a little worried Cash has a smell coming from him and I don't know if it's just the incision or what... Also, Cash has been seeping poop a little and it's yellow in color. I am trying to feed him some rice and chicken so calm him stomach.
I noticed today he is doing much better! I was able to help him outside by myself and he can stand on his own and was trying to walk quickly across the yard! Can't wait to see in a week or two if his leg will be able to hold his weight.
I have been bringing the water bowl and feeding him at his bed. My other dog, Subie, has not interacted with him at all.. she is acting very standoffish. 
She usually lays with him and they clean each other but she just wanders over to him and smells him and walks away. Cash didn't try to get up or move from his bed today, I tried not to get him too excited We are trying to find a play pin sort of gate that will hold him in.
We are also going to buy a harness tomorrow! But will wait to use it until he is healed.
I am anxious to get the biopsy back from CSU and really know for certainty!
Sounds like the seroma is pretty normal but yeah definitely talk to your vet, especially about the yellow poop. Is he eating anything different that may be causing it?
Really good to hear that he's on the path to healing! Don't worry about Subie, she's likely just giving him the space he needs to heal. Dogs are really good at doing that.
You may want to start putting his food in his normal place to encourage him to move around a little more this week. Here's a great video that talks about how to be a strong pack leader and help your pup heal.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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