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 All
I'm new here but found this group in a google search. Our not quite 3 year old English Mastiff has a very serious infection as a result of his second luxating patella surgery...long story (three surgeries on the same leg in 6 months - TPLO, 2 lux pats in 5 weeks). Yesterday he developed a severe infection and while we wait for the fluid culture to come back, our orthopedic surgeon says is very concerned as its extremely serious. Bottom line is that worse case scenario is that he looses his leg (LR). So i started search for mastiff amputees online and found ya'll. Otis is a puppy mill rescue and we knew he would be screwed up, but we just didn't know how badly. The main thing he has going against him is his unusual size. He will be 3 y/o in June weighs about 180 and is about 4' tall at the top of his head. i'm wondering if any of you have XL dogs that have recovered well from amputation and how things are going now. He does not have cancer, but if we find the infection is in all the ortho implants, we may have no choice but to amputate or put him down...geeze, I can't even go there....thank you!
Carole
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry you have been through so much with your boy Otis!
We have had many giant breeds here who have done well- you can search this forum for lots of examples.
My two rear amp Tripawds would weigh 34 pounds together so I can't be of much help with size. The good news for Otis is that if it does come to amputation it will be easier on him losing a rear leg.
Being so young it will be critical to keep his weight down and really focus on building his core strength.
You will get some good insight soon from some of our large and giant breed parents.
Here's hoping he keeps his leg, but if not you have found the best place for information and support.
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
TULIP!!! Oh my goodness! A huge chunk of love named Tulip!! 🙂 🙂 PICTURES PLEASE!!!
Yes, absolutely we have had many LARGE dogs have to deal with amputations! Great Dane Eurydice, Mastiff Tazzie, just to name a couple. I think Gazzie weighed in around 200 lbs.
My Bull Mastiff Happy Hannah is the condensed verstion of your Tulip, but she weighed in at 125 lbs and did extraordinarily well.
Sorry you are having to deal with this awful scenario. And yes, legs have been amputated here for simil reasons as your Tulip is experiencing.
For now, just take one step at a time. We are here vy your side the whole way. Should you need to go the amputation route, we can offer all sorts of advice on recovery, what to expect, etc.
It is ONE surgery....the bum leg is gone....the pain is gone....and Tulip can start living life to the fullest!
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!
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!
Hi Sally
Actually my user name is Tulip, but my mastiff's name is Otis :). once i figure things out here a bit more i will post pictures. i did try one, but it reverts back to my hero photo from when i started a blog a few years back..its my other dog Angus, a 110# lab. Right now Otis is fighting a massive serious infection from his last patella surgery and we are waiting for the fluid cultures to come back. most likely this thursday. we hope for the best of course, but our orthopedic surgeon said he's very concerned and when i asked about worse case scenario, he said amputation....that's what landed me here. So i will be on the look out for great ideas and support from all of you...thank you so much already! oh, and btw, i've been dying to name one of my foster's Tulip for years...guess i need to get on it 
.
Carole
tulip said
once i figure things out here a bit more i will post pictures.
Here are detailed instructions for adding photos to forum posts . If you don't already share photos online somewhere, you can start a free Tripawds blog any time and upload them there. Need further help? Post in the Tech Support forum and we'll be happy to help!
...i will be on the look out for great ideas and support from all of you...
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Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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Hey there Tulip .. ups ... Otis 
Eurydice the Great Dane Mom here.
My girl is not as tall as Otis but isn't probably that far away, 98cm to the base of the neck.
She has done GREAT after amputation of her right front leg.
Recovery can be challenging for a big dawg but it doesn't last forever!
AND, you have all of us here to guide you and help you all the way.
The BEST news is Otis doesn't have cancer so he'll have a loooooooong life ahead of him
Which day is his birthday?
Eurydice will be 6 June 1st.
If you wish to see how well a gigantic breed can do I've recorded her travels in the Anything Goes forum under "Eurydice's travels in Europe 5 months after amputation" "Eurydice's travels in Europe with lung mets 7 1/2 months after amputation" and "Eurydice's travels in Europe with further lung mets 9 months after amputation"
Just scroll through and I 'm sure you'll see Otis doing everything on three as well as my baby girl.
Sending you much love and zillion cuddles to your XL cutie 
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 :-)
i hope this works ...
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 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 :-)
Gosh, Otis, I am beside myself with excitment to have been able to copy these links.
Now go and get some popcorn and enjoy the travels with me
Sending you lots and lots of slobbery kisses and hugs to your humans from Mom
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 :-)
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