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 11 year old lab mix has a sizeable tumor on his left rear foot. He recently had a tumor removed from his mouth that also was cancer. this was approximately two weeks ago. I put off lopping the leg because it seemed to not be bothering him too bad. That circumstance has since changed. My conundrum is that, though his leg should clearly come off, I nor my vet know how much time was bought with the tumor that was "de-bulked" in his mouth that will likely return. I've been told by my vet that the cancer in his mouth will not spread but without radiation it will come back. Just want what is best for him but I'm struggling to know what that is.
Welcome! What's your pup's name?
While every dog is different, and only you and your oncologist can decide what is best, the answer may depend on the type of tumor you're talking about, and some cancers are much more aggressive than others with more potential for metastasis.
Reardless, it's all about quality of life, not quantity. Amputation may not remove the cancer, but it will get rid of the pain. Others will surely chime in soon. In the mean time, use the Advanced Search above to refine your search results with specific phrases here in the forums, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here . Your future forum posts will not require approval.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello and welcome.
I'm sorry you are dealing with cancer in your boy, what's his name?
What kind of cancer has he been diagnosed with? Is it the same cancer in is foot and in his mouth?
It's hard to give input without knowing the type of cancer you are dealing with so more information would be helpful.
You might want to read through the links in the The Required Reading List for lots of info on amputation and recovery, there may be answers to some of your questions there.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Hi there! Sorry to hear about your sweet pup. It's always a tough decision when there are multiple things going on health-wise and having a senior dog complicates matters as well.
Do share with us more about your baby. I will tell you that I made the difficult decision to amputate my 12 year old American Bulldog's leg last September and was told she would gain 4 to 8 months of life or so, depending on whether or not I did chemo (she has Osteosarcoma). It's a year later ... so all I can tell you is that you just never know.
One thing I can promise is that this community is such a wonderful resource and support system. We will all be here with you, no matter what you decide is best for you and your baby.
Keep in touch - we're here to help!
Amy & Izzy the 3 legged wonderpup
Momma to the world's most beautiful American Bulldog, Izzy!! Lost her front leg to OSA 9/18/15. Diagnosed w MCT in June 2016. Celebrated her 1 year ampuversary with knee surgery on 9/18/16! MCT recurrence in Dec 2016. Happy & hungry til nearly 14, earning her wings on 7/31/17.
Hi there and welcome to our community ❤️🐾❤️
I agree with the others, it is hard to give you specific advice without knowing the type of cancer.
My girl Eurydice is a Great Dane who lost her right front leg to osteosarcoma May 4th and she is doing incredibly well.
In our case, the decision to amputate (although unbelievably difficult for us) was taken very quickly because osteo pain is excruciating and there is no amount of pain killers that can help 100% and also it is a very aggressive type of cancer.
Please let us know more!
There are lots of senior dogs who went through the surgery and I'm sure you will be hearing from their pawrents soon.
In the meantime stay strong for your baby and get as much information as you can, we will help you along the way whichever his circumstances may be.
Sending you lots of pawsitive energy and a big cuddle to your boy 🐶🐾
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
My Otis was a 106 pound lab/Dane mix. He was about 8 1/2 (a rescue, so not entirely sure), with mild arthritis in his hips. He broke his front leg due to osteosarcoma. Unfortunately, he passed 3 weeks ago, almost 7 months post-amp, but I have absolutely no regrets. We had a wonderful 7 months together and it was all totally worth 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.
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