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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
Hi everyone,
Ive spent the last few days arguing with myself over what will be best for my Binx and Id like to see if I can get some success story inspiration.
Binx is a 10 year old lab at 42kgs and losing, hes on diet food and has recently been diagnosed with an osteosarcoma in his left front upper leg. I work at the vet and theyre confident that we can do surgery and he should make a decent recovery to add a few years to his life but the rest of my family think Im being cruel in wanting to give surgery a try before we give in completely. He does have mild arthritis in his back legs but before this cancer iffy he could walk a km around the park no problem. My thoughts are that once the leg is gone he can start to heal from the pain and learn to balance and thrive.
Anyone who can back me up on the older poochy learning to manage?
Thank you
My thoughts are that once the leg is gone he can start to heal from the pain and learn to balance and thrive.
Your gut instinct is spot-on. Although friends and family mean well, they have no idea about the excellent quality of life that Tripawds can have if they've never gone through it with a beloved animal. Only you know Binx better than anyone else. Labs are such happy, go-lucky dogs, they do really well as Tripawds for the most part and as long as you're dedicated to keeping his weight off, he should do fine. And you work in a vet clinic too? What a lucky boy!
Be sure to stop by Jerry's Required Reading List , it addresses many of your concerns. And our wonderful community will chime in shortly too!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
When my almost 11-year-old Cocker Spaniel Rocky and I were facing the cancer diagnosis (right forelimb), I mentioned to my mom that we might be looking at amputation. "Oh no! You can't do that to him!" she said.
About a month ago (and two months after the amp) we were over at my parents house and my mom watched him hop around. "He looks so much happier without that bad leg," she said. "No doubt you made the right decision."
It's a decision I wish I didn't have to make, but under the circumstances I have no regrets.
David and Rocky (and Baxter now too!)
Rocky had his right front leg amputated on Valentine's Day 2017 after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
He joined the September Saints on September 3, 2017.
He is the toughest, bravest, sweetest and best friend I'll ever know.
My Otis had mild arthritis in his hips, but did just fine as a Tripawd. Our walks were very short, but everything else was the same. I don't regret the amputation for a second. We didn't get as much time as I would have hoped, but it was really good time together.
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.
""Oh no! You can't do that to him!""
That is spot on Rockys dad... My mother said the exact same thing. While I was at work yesterday she sent my sister with Binx to be dropped off with me for euthanasia. My shift ended at 2pm and I sat with him in my office and in our little back garden for hours thinking maybe I'm making the wrong choice but wherever I went he would shimmey himself into balance mode then hop along behind me. It wore him out to follow but can you blame him if hes lugging around a dead weight forelimb? And yet every time I turned around he'd give me his best wag he could do while balancing then plonk into my lap once Id settled again. His appetite is still great so by 7pm when my partner came to join me and potentially say goodbye we last minute decided to pump him with morphine for the night and he will be having surgery this morning. As far as my family knows he was put to sleep but nobody asked and I'm not great with forced decisions. Rebellion is probably the one thing Ive brought with me from childhood. If the osteosarcoma is too out of control we will make the decision to let him go during the surgery so he wont be afraid or know any better. Let us hope for success!
Oh my gosh! I don't even no what to say! I certainly won't pass judgement on anyone who thinks they are doing what is best for Binx...or for you.
I'll just say this! I'm really, really, really glad you are giving Binx a chance! And I'm glad for you this is the route you are taking REGARDLESS of the outcome! If you had followed through as your Mother had planned, you would have FOREVER second guessed yourself!
So has Binx had xrays yet of his lungs? Has yiur Vet done the preliminary work ups required to make sure he's in good shape as far as a candidate for MAJOR surgery? Is your Vet an Orthopedic Surgeon? Does your clinic have an Oncologist or access to one?
PLEASE STAY CONNECW and let us know how Binx is doing in the morning, when surgery is over, etc. Is your Vet a 24 hr hospital where Binx could spend the night and be monitored?
It sounds like Binx gave you a sign he's ready to have that painful leg removed and get on with living life to the fullest!
We will all be cheering for Binx and looking forward to your updates.
Just curious. Will Binx be going home with you...as opposed to your sister or your mother?? And I don't mean this to be unkind or harsh, but I would not want to leave Binx in their care, especially during recovery. Recovery is rough for a week or two. Binx needs to be around a strong and confident packnleader whonwill be cheering him on! He'll need total rest and just short potty breaks. It may take several days to get hus sea legs, but that is normal.
Let us know what questions you have and how we can support you! Try and get some rest. Binxnis high as a kite right now and seeing pink elephants!
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!
Thank you Benny55 those were my thoughts exactly. There was no chance I would've been able to let go of an otherwise happy dog... Fortunately much as I might be disowned at the end of the day, its my signature on the consent form that counts.
Yes hes in pain and suffering at the moment but once that leg is gone we will go from constant deteriorating bone pain to surgery pain that will heal and get better. Hes already learning to put his good leg more central to balance so all that's left is to be rid of the dead weight.
We did do radiographs and blood tests and his lungs and heart are great as well as his liver and kidneys so the anesthetic wont be a problem.
My vet is not a specialist orthopedic surgeon but I do have all kinds of faith in her. She is also not the type to do the surgery because it is 'cool' and not mention if anything looks worse than expected once she is in there. She will tell me immediately if she goes in and finds that it is worse than expected and then I will know that I tried and gave him a fighting chance before saying goodbye.
I do have an oncologist friend just a few cities away to go further as needed and although we aren't a 24hr vet we do have assistants living on the property that call the moment anything happens at night and I'm just down the road. I'm hoping to hang on to Binx at the practice just for a couple days for the best pain control post surgery and then Ill be taking him from there. My game plan is to harness up and try exercise the good leg slowly just to get a bit more muscle up front. Hes still going to have his diet food and Ill be supplementing him with glucosamine to help a bit with those arthritic back legs.
Overall I think he can do it so toughies to everyone who thinks I'm a monster for trying
Last Update on Binx
Before surgery during prep while Binx was being shaved we found out he had an incredible amount of bruising underneath him gathered in his chest area and the vet told me to brace for the worst as it is a sign of another aggressive type of tumor unrelated to the osteosarcoma.
He went into surgery and after an hour I was called in halfway through the amputation to see that there was a vicious fist sized black mass that was hiding behind his shoulder blade and it had ruptured and was oozing black muck into the rest of his body. I had to make the decision on the spot to admit defeat and let my boy go. I couldn't keep going with the surgery knowing that he'd lose a big chunk of leg and muscle, go through the effort of adapting to being a Tripawd and potentially end up with this other type of cancer spreading over the rest of his body within a week. This osteosarcoma and extra mass took 3 weeks to develop and I can only imagine how short a time it would be before needing to deal with more masses.
He was under his anaesthetic in my arms and blissfully unaware when we euthanized him and his heart came to a stop.
Sweet dreams my big Binx 
I only wish things could have gone in another direction
Candice, I am so sorry for your loss. I would have loved for you to get to the point were you could have told everyone 'see? It was the right decision!' And I would have wished you many more months with Binx. I believe in my heart that all you did was exactly what he would have wanted and what was right for him. I am so sorry.
Tina
Guardian of Manni the Wonderdog. -Or was it the other way around?
Osteo and amputation in Dec 2015. Second, inoperable, primary osteosarcoma found in June 2017.
The end of our adventures came Dec 10, 2017. 2 years to the day.
I am so sorry to hear this outcome, but you truly did everything you could for Binx. He had a home, a family and lots of love, and I think that is all a dog could possibly want.
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'm so sorry to read this ... You did all that you could and Binx was in your arms when it mattered the most. Sending you love ... I know he knew you were there.
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
I'm brand new to tripawds and found your post looking for info on forelimb amputation in an older dog (just turned 10). I'm so sorry for your loss of sweet Binx. May I speak here about my Dodger, who is in a perhaps similar situation, but now 3 weeks post surgery? Please forgive me for adding on to your post, I'm not sure how to start my own at this point. Dodger had extensive bruising also and the surgeon was wary of what the biopsy would show. However it showed only osteosaracoma, but one that had spread out of the bone, had a mitotic index of 14 and his ALP is elevated, all aspects which, according to the oncologist who saw him afterward, would not indicate a good prognosis. He has had a hard time with recovery, mostly I think due to confusion, puzzlement at the loss of the leg, muscle spasms, and perhaps arthritis in the remaining legs. The look in his eyes is not one of relief but one of hurt, and my heart breaks. I probably should have already started him on carboplatin, as suggested by the vet, but haven't been able to bring myself to add to his discomfort. It's not easy for him to get around and he doesn't want to walk out of the yard. On the positive side, he's starting to come into the kitchen looking for treats and I'm thinking maybe I should start the chemo now. Thank you for posting about your Binx. I'm wishing you comfort.
My heart goes out to you, I'm so sorry about Binx. How I wish things could have turned out different. As painful as the decision was to make, you did spare him from more pain and he is no longer hurting. But I know that's little solace when your heart is grieving. I hope you will return here and share more about Binx's life with us. We're keeping you in our hearts, now and always.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
dodg said
Please forgive me for adding on to your post, I'm not sure how to start my own at this point.
Hi and welcome. No need to apologize, we're just glad you joined us. We would love to follow along with Dodger's story and he definitely deserves his own topic. Please start a new topic in "Treatment and Recovery" if that's an appropriate area for your questions. If you have questions we're here to help, just email if that's easier. This is how you add a topic if you're on a desktop:
Meanwhile, about Dodger's situation:
his eyes is not one of relief but one of hurt, and my heart breaks
When you start a new topic, please tell us more, like what pain medications he's on, the dosage frequency, etc. The more you can tell us the better we can help you pinpoint things to ask your vet and get back to a happy life again. See you over there OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
