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 all,
My 9 1/2-year-old 125 lb Akita has osteosarcoma (95% likely as they saw a bone lesion on her scans and she stopped walking on it yesterday due to pain) in her right front leg. When I was talking to the receptionist who is also a vet tech and I have known for years at my vets, she asked if I talked to the orthopedist about the recovery and her walking again because it may be a problem because it is her front leg (vs her back) and how big she is and that maybe it is something I need to really consider.
She is in so much pain, I want to take it off yesterday to make her more comfortable and it is my understanding that her lungs are clear and except for the bone lesion and a mild elevation of her alkaline phosphatase, she is in perfect health. But if she isn't going to be comfortable or happy, then I won't do that to her and I am now devastated.
Is anyone's dog as big as mine who did well with a front leg amputation?
Thanks,
Grant
gbtphd said
Is anyone's dog as big as mine who did well with a front leg amputation?
Welcome and best wishes for your pup! What's her name.
Browse this forum or spend a little time searching the Tripawds Blogs and you will find many examples of giant breed dogs Loving Life On Three Legs . Yes, bigger dogs do have a more difficult time, but we have had members with much larger dogs recover quickly and adapt well.
The most important thing is weight management. Once all healed up, also consider consider consulting with a certified rehab vet/tech for a professional evaluation, treatment recommendations, nutrition plan and exercises you can do at home to keep your big girl fit and strong. Visit a CCRP or CCRT and the Tripawds Foundation will even pay for your first visit from the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab!
FYI: We have moved your post to its own topic here where it will get the attention it deserves rather than being buried in the thread where you first replied. Please keep us posted. Your future forum posts will not require moderation.
While you wait for comments from others, use the Advanced Search above to refine your forum search results with specific phrases, and you're sure to find lots of helpful feedback. You can also search all blogs here . Or, consider downloading the Tripawds e-books for fast answers to common concerns and feel free to call the toll-free Tripawds Helpline anytime!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Love her avatar picture! Can't wait to see more pictures.
We all certainly understand what a kick in the gut it is to hear fhis type of news. Of course, you're sweet pup hasn't heard a word and isn't co cerned at all! The bliss of being dog!! 🙂
Good news that xrays are clear!
Unless an Othropedicw Surgeon has concerns zbout his remaining legs, there is NO reason that yiur sweet boy can't ha dle three legs nust fine! As Admin Guy said, we've had puos much bigger than 125 lbs.
*My own Happy Hannah (a "fluffy" Bull Mastiff) weighed in at 125 l s before her surgery. She was up and walking within 24 hrs after surgery.
*Rufus 190 lb Newfie front leg amp
*A 135 lb Rottie named Sassy was up and walking with 24 hrs.
*Tazzie, anEnglishw Mastiff, had her front leg amputw at 170 lbs. If I recall, it took her about three days to get ..mobile.
*Eurydice, a magnificent Great Dane (and I've forgotten her weight, maybe 170 lbs) had her front leg amputated and handled three legs like a Ballerina!
*Big Louie 170 lb Neapolitan Mastiff
So yes,'larger dogs can handle three legs just fine. The first several days, or a bit more, some of the really large dogs may need he@p with a harness during the first part of recovery.
The surgery will remove that painful leg and give her a chance at extended quality time for more tummy rubs, treats, sunbathing, spoiling, butt scratches and snuggles!! 🙂
Sure, recovery is no picnic for a couple of weeks. It is MAJOR surgery and it hurts! Keeping the surgery pain managed can be a bit tricky, but you and your Vet will find a balance. Most dogs come home with Tramadol, Gabapentin, Rimadyl and an antibiotice. Some come home with a Fentanyl patch for a few days.
If you have hardwood floors you'll want to get non-slip scatter rugs for traction . No stair climbing for at least the first several weeks. Front leggers go UP stairs easier than tjey can go DOWN stairs. Reverse for rear leggers.
Remember, you are doing this FOR her and not TO her!! Sounds like your pup is not ready to give up and is looking forward to getting in with a pain free life! I know this isn't an easy decision. I even cancelled my first surgery appointment for her because I was so fearful. This was before I found this site!
STAY CCONNECTED and ask any and all questions that come to mind! We're here for you.
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!
Hey sweetie 🌺
As Sally beautifully pointed out there are tons of huge dogs here who went through amputation and had the happiest life after surgery.
You need not be afraid, your gourgeous girl will pull this one through and show you how happy life can be on three legs.
And, as others pointed out, you are getting rid of her pain for good!
Recovery can be difficult and exhausting, especially for a big dog, but it doesn't last forever.
Generally our babies make huge improvement as soon as stitches come out.
We are all here for you so do not hesitate to ask for any advice and support any time!
And please do keep us updated!
Sending you a big hug and XL cuddles 😘😘🐮💫✨🌟🌹
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 :-)
eurydice said
You need not be afraid, your gourgeous girl will pull this one through and show you how happy life can be on three legs.
And, as others pointed out, you are getting rid of her pain for good!
Recovery can be difficult and exhausting, especially for a big dog, but it doesn't last forever.
Generally our babies make huge improvement as soon as stitches come out.
Yes to all of this...I posted the same question about my sweet Otis and all of these wonderful people told me he would be just fine! He was 118 pre amputation. We said goodbye to his very painful front right leg a month ago! We're going on short hop walks a couple of times a day and he is going up and down stairs easily! He lopes...not quite a run yet...across the backyard. Traction for our hardwoods has been key, but so glad I let all of these wonderful people convince me that big dogs can be front leg amputees and do just fine!
Big hugs,
Camille & Otis
My Otis, a lab/Dane mix was 106, also a front leg amputee and very barrel chested. He did just fine on 3 - pretty much did everything he did before. He could go up and down stairs, chase cats and squirrels, steal food off the counters. Our walks were just very short - about 7 houses, with a long rest stop at house 5.
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.
Hi sweetie 🌺
How are you and your cutie Akita?
Any news ???
Sending you lots of kisses and cuddles 😘😘😘🐮✨💫🌟🌹
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 :-)
Hi there
Im wondering as well how you are doing with your beautiful boy? Are you in recovery with your boy? We are all thinking of you!
Stewie is my 110lb, Bernese/Rotty X, who had his very painful front left leg removed 7 months ago and he has exceeded my expectations in every way shape and form. I hope you and your boy can have as much joy as we have had with Stewie.
Take good care of yourselves and all the very best
Petra, Stewie 🐾 & his Pride >^..^< Spike, Chester, Miss Lily & Ted.
Remember...“live in the moment!“
Hi all,
sorry I never replied but I had trouble finding the post and would give up...
it was quite a journey...post-surgery she got a severe super infection in her incision, which set us back and she never really got the hang of walking/hopping on 3 legs and when I tried to take her out (we live in an apartment building), she would either pee in every inappropriate place and/or lay down and refuse to get up...so I set up extra large human under pads for incontinence in a large area on my terrace and by the doorway do she could go whenever she wanted and I or her dog sitters just cleaned up behind her.
between the surgery and treating the infection, which required them putting her under anesthesia, cleaning out the incision, packing it with antimicrobial materials and wrapping it up for a week plus systemic antibiotics, and putting her on a raw, low carb healthy diet, on top of all of the necessary equipment for a Tripawds (over $15k), I could not afford $1100 a pop for chemo and I did not want to put her through that and dragging her back and forth while she was sick from it...so I kept her home andcomfortable and gave her all the love I could and pain meds
before the lung Mets (she had started having bouts of clearing her throat often) could take their toll, her back hip that had some arthritis gave out and even with pain meds, she could not walk, so yesterday, with all my love, compassion, and gratitude for the 5 additional months I got to spend with my sweet girl, I sent her to be with the angels in heaven, where she is no longer in pain and is at peace.
thank you again for all of your messages. I wish I could have given you better news.
with a heavy heart,
grant
Oh Grant, we are all crying with you. It breaks our hearts to hear this. So very, very sorry. So sorry.
YOU TRIED!! This piece of crap disease really leaves us with no option but to TRY!! AND YOU GAVE IT EVERYTHING YOU HAD!!!! But because you did try, you did get some extra bonus time that you would not have had back in February had you not tried!!
Geez, sorry that darn infection happened. The treatment she was going through to get it handled was pretty standard care un the cases we've seen here. And yes darn it, we do see thos sometimes after amputation .
And absolutely, for whatever it's worth, I don't think anyone here would have pursued chemo under those circumstances. And many, many don't pursue it anyway. There are NO guarantees with it.
I had to smile a bit at how you arranged for jer to have pee pads...extra large pee pads, placed at strategic places so she wouldn't have to exert herself to go out! A BEAUTIFUL EXPRESSION OF YOUR LOVE AND DEVOTION ❤
Five months of spoiling and loving is three years in human years. I know the .love and care you gave her every single day, and especially those last bonus months, were more than most dogs get in their whole lives!
You made such a loving and selfless decision to release her from her earth clothes befor the scales started tipping out of her favor. You didn't wait for a crisis, you didn't wait for her good days to disappear all rogether, I salute you for having the courage to put her best jnterest above all else.❤
The void will seem unbearable. The break in routine will seem unbearable. It will seem as though your grief will never end. I does lessen. We promise you that.
Slowly a happy memory will come to the forefront, then another and another. That's what your sweet girl would want. She wants you to fill your heart with joy as you recall all the happy times you had.
PLEASE share more of you lives together when you can. It just dawned on me, I'm not even sure I recall your beautiful Akita's name. It woild be such an honor to get to know her even better when you can.
She will send you a sign that she IS still with you, just in energy and light form. Right now she's probably having a blast at the Bridge running free on all four legs like a young whippersnapper! And there is always a "Welcome Home" feast for all new arrivals at the Bridge. They are greeted with massive amounts of steaks, cheese pizzas, ice cream with sprinkles and CHOCOLATE cake!! And that's just the first course! For any interested, they are given scoops of deer poop and cat poop, as well as lots of stinky things to roll in😎
Stay connected Grant. This is not any easy time. We understand the joys of extended timemand we understand the depth of despair when the earthly joirney ends.
And if you need any help posting pictures, let us know,okay?
Love from all your Tripawd Family❤
Sally and My Chunky Spiritual Being Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie
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!
Grant,
I am so sorry to hear about your baby crossing the bridge. Our hearts are breaking with you. She is with you and will continue to be. Grief is a hard thing and it comes and goes in waves.
Watch for signs she will give them to you letting you know she is still with you.
We are all thinking about you.
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Oh Grant, I'm so sorry about your sweet girl. I hope that you will come back and share in Coping with Loss so we can honor her life and memory with the community.
You both fought so hard to overcome such a bad hand she was dealt, what a heartbreaking situation! What a tough time to endure, it was so unfair. I have no doubt that throughout it all, you were there for her every second, always putting her needs first and showing her how much she meant to you. She was loved and treasured with every breath she took, and you helped her go to the Bridge knowing she was a loved doggie. What a gift.
Please do return and share your memories with her OK? We are always here for you, and send lots of condolences and love your way. Thank you for taking time to share your sad news with us, I know it wasn't easy.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
1 Guest(s)
