Please do let us know what your specialist has to say.

I am sorry you are going through this. Our 11-year-old Lab Loa was diagnosed this past June, and had her amputation in early July. Such a shocking diagnosis. We have chosen not to do chemo and had many of the same concerns you do--primarily, about her quality of life post-amp.

She is doing so well. And is clearly happy to be rid of that awful tumor. Like your pup, she was so spunky and full of life other than her limp from the tumor that I couldn't bear to put her down. Our vet declared her a good candidate for the surgery, so we went for it.

I don't know how long we'll have with her, but she's more than two months out and doing fantastic. Loves her walks, the dog park, the food I now cook for her every day (read: spoiled rotten!) and just being loved on. For us, it was very much the right decision.

All our best to you and your pup!

Welcome to the site! Sorry you needed us but glad you found us.

You say that Duke is a mixed breed, but any guess on what he is? How big is he? Since smaller dogs generally live longer than large breeds, that can make a huge difference in your decision, I think.

Lots of people can't bring themselves to have their dog's leg amputated. But you aren't at a site like that. And lots of people wouldn't think of doing it if they knew they dog might not live terribly long afterwards. But you aren't at a site like that, either. And I imagine there are people who do it and regret it. But in general, you aren't at a site like that, either.

For the most part, people here will tell you all the positives that will come from having Duke's leg amputated. And they are absolutely right. But even with those positives on the table, you are the only one who knows what is best for Duke. You know what he's like when he doesn't feel well, or how quickly (or not) he recovers when he's sick, or how he adapts to big changes.

Not every dog is a good candidate, but every dog will lose the terrible pain of cancer if they lose the leg. You won't find much regret here, which is a good thing. I'm only pointing this out because your sample here is very biased toward the good stuff. Most of us simply don't have experience with the bad. And that's good, too. You've found yourself in the middle of a large collection of optimists. We want Duke to feel better and live long and be happy and have fun. Knowing how big he is and what kinds of breeds are likely in his makeup will help you know if he has a good shot at that.

What does your vet advise? 

Shari