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, I have a 12 year old lhasa apsos named Mickey...he will be 13 on May 24th. He developed a tumor on his front right paw and it grew really large. The vet had him on prednisone which shrunked it a bit and kept it under control. We kept it wrapped so Mickey woukd stop licking at it. Last week somehow he burst it and blood was everywhere. We took him to vet and vet said tht it wld really be hard to remove because of location, it would be complicated and most likely all of it wld not be removed and it will grow back. I asked if we cld just amputate his leg and he said we could and wasn't sure we wanted to go that route. Mickey is really old and we hope that he will be okay to have this surgery and hv a good recovery. The vet said that Mickey is a strong boy and thinks the surgery will be fine.
I wanted to get opinions from you all on tripawds...has anyone had their older pet go through this and was the recovery a good one?
Hi Mickey and family! Thanks for registering, your future posts wont' need approval.
Please forgive me I have to run out for a bit but I'll be back with some more indepth tips. Till then stay tuned for feedback from this great community and do check out Jerry's Required Reading List , as well as this Size and Age Matter Forum, for some insight. Thanks.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I'm glad to hear your vet thinks Mickey is a good candidate for surgery, that's wonderful news. While it's not wise to rush into anything, chances are good that nasty tumor hurts and it's likely to explode all over again so you probably want to move at a good pace to get this handled.
Has the vet done a biopsy or plan on doing one once the leg is removed? It's important to do one if you plan on doing any follow up chemo. If you think you will, a consult with a board certified oncologist is so important and helpful. See if your vet can refer you to one.
Also, when it comes to age, for a small dog, Mickey probably still has many good years left on him. As long as he's in otherwise good condition, he's not overweight and you know he has the heart of a fighter, he can handle this. Most small dogs do great on three legs no matter what their age. There's always risks with surgery but in general they get over the recovery phase with little difficulty.
Be sure to ask your vet about pain management too, and what types of pre-and-post op meds he will receive. Anesthesia methods have been modernized lately to reduce the risks on small dogs but some vets out there haven't gotten word. Again, check Jerry's Required Reading List for tips about finding a vet, pain management , etc OK?
Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Have you asked your vet about leaving part of his leg since tumor is on his paw. That would make him a candidate for a prosthesis maybe in the future. Just a thought. I now own my second Tripawd and can tell you they usually adjust quite well. They do not have the same attachment to their limbs that we do. They just pick up and move on. There are a lot of stories on here that have been older dogs. Shelby is one that comes to my mind, she was over 12 and did well. You know your dog better than anyone. Keep us updated on how he is doing. Lori, Ty & the Gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
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