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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Everything started in the fall of 2023 when we discovered a mass under our Labernese's paw. At the end of December 2023, she had it removed, and in January, we received the news: Kelly has a high-grade mastocytoma. Her life expectancy is therefore between 6 months and 1 year.
We met with the oncologist and he suggested chemotherapy treatments, which we started. We alternated between injections and medication, but at the beginning of February, a new mass appeared, this time on her leg. Despite our good care, it was growing rapidly, so the oncologist suggested amputation, given the high probability that another one would appear if it was removed. Despite our reservations, we finally agreed, and it took place on Friday, March 1st.
On Saturday, after reading the book "Three Legs and a Spare : Essentials of the Canine Amputation", we decided to be proactive. I registered on the site, we bought a sling, non-slip mats, we already had a harness and an Elizabethan collar, and we built a support so she could eat and drink at a height.
Back home, Kelly is slowly but surely starting to adapt. She is now able to stand up on her own, lie down with almost no help, and she is starting to feel more comfortable on our very short walks. In two weeks, we have an appointment to remove the stitches and discuss new chemotherapy treatments.
In the meantime, I was wondering if any of you have had experiences with mast cell tumors? How did your dogs fare? Additionally, are there any tips on how to desensitize yourself to the fact that your dog may fall? I try not to panic, but I sometimes have emotional reactions... I wouldn't want to traumatize her. Also, do you do any exercises (e.g. physiotherapy) with your dogs or do you wait until the end of the convalescence? Thank you for your support!
Awww that face! She looks so sweet and dignified!
I'm so glad you guys are on a good recovery track now. You are doing everything right and her environment sounds like it's well set up for a senior dog's recovery. She's already doing so many things that show she is getting her mojo back!
There are many folks here whose dog lost a leg to mast cell cancer. Karen is one long-time member whose posts you want to look through as she gives lots of good details. There are a lot of places where she describes how her dog did with mast cell, and what treatment was like.
I'd say as far as how dogs do after losing a leg to the disease, is that all situations are so different and all cancers graded so differently, so it's probably not best to compare. Usually though, we see dogs with mast cell fare better than dogs who have other types of more aggressive cancers like osteosarcoma. And, as we say around here, whatever the cancer, dogs don't have an expiration date even with a prognosis, so don't get hung up on life expectancy once you see that pathology report. We see cancer play out differently all the time and we always hope for the best and make the most of every day together with our Tripawd!
We always recommend making an appointment with a physio as soon as surgery is over. Usually they are booked at least two weeks out, and therapists tell us they like to see dogs within 10 days of surgery, sometimes sooner when they are older. I would call now so that you can get her on track to an even better recovery. Best part is Tripawds Foundation can pay for your first rehab visit so please take advantage of the program!
Let us know if you'd like help finding a physio, happy to help. So glad you posted. Senior dogs are especially near and dear to us, and incredibly inspirational!
Forgot to answer:
Additionally, are there any tips on how to desensitize yourself to the fact that your dog may fall?
Don't panic, don't make a big deal. I know it's hard not to! I did that a lot when our Jerry lost his leg. Cried buckets! But as my husband reminded me, my tears did nothing to help him, or the situation.
Yes falls may happen. But it's going to hurt you more than it hurts her.
Keeping her walks very short so she doesn't get exhausted and stumble will help a lot. Physio will also help her get better balance and strength so that those occasional falls are minimized. You already have your house Tripawd-proofed so you are doing the best you can. You can do this!
Hello and welcome.
I'm the Karen that Jerry mentioned...
My little Pug lost a rear leg to mast cell cancer way back in 2006, you can read about her amp, recovery and chemo if you like- the links are in my signature below. Just remember that Mag's chemo was 18 years ago- there are drugs available now that were not back then.
I was wondering if any of you have had experiences with mast cell tumors? How did your dogs fare?
What you need to find out from the path report is the grade of the tumor as well as the mitotic index- those will give you a better idea of the aggressiveness of the cancer. Also it's helpful to know if the lymph nodes in the removed leg had cancerous mast cells since the lymph system is one of the places mast cell cancer goes.
All that being said, while mast cell cancer can be very treatable it is also very, very unpredictable. In our case the unpredictability worked in Mag's favor- there were lots of cancerous mast cells in her lymph node and her prognosis was poor, with chemo she was given 6 to 9 months post surgery. We did do chemo and Mag lived almost 4 more years and did not pass from mast cell cancer. She also developed several cutaneous MCTs after her amp- we removed some and then left them alone as we were dealing with other health issues. Always be looking for new tumors- a dog that has more than one will tend to keep getting them- that happened to Mag as well has her little sis Tani. I think Tani ended up with 12 or 14 tumors over her life. Tani passed at almost 14 years old, not from mast cell cancer.
If she does develop more tumors you can ask your vet about stelfonta- a newish med that is injected into the tumor to kill it. You can look on FB for Dr. Sue Cancer Vet- she posts about it a lot. I don't have any experience with it, it's one of the drugs that came out after our cancer journey.
Additionally, are there any tips on how to desensitize yourself to the fact that your dog may fall?
Your dog most likely will fall- it's a part of Tripawd life. A good reason to see a rehab vet and get an exercise program. When their core and remaining legs are as strong as possible it will help them keep their balance. A good harness is also helpful so you can help her on stairs, in and out of the vehicle, rough terrain, etc.
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls and Boy
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Thank you for your response! We have started the process of getting an appointment for physiotherapy for our dog following your advice. We are just waiting for the surgeon's approval, and then we will be on the waiting list, which is 6-7 weeks for a first appointment.
Moreover, Kelly had her surgery 6 days ago, and she is already starting to get back to her old self. She is eating well and wants to run around everywhere. We have to keep her calm so that she can continue to rest and recover.
We are not worried about the prognosis. We are just enjoying every moment we have with Kelly.
Thank you for your continued support.
Oh I'm so happy to know you got the ball rolling. That's a long wait, wow!
Super super news that Kelly is doing so darn well! Yes, rest is really good for her and you guys are doing a great job being mindful about that.
While you wait for rehab please holler with any questions at all.
And thank you Karen for answering!
Thank you Karen for all the information! I took the time to read the two articles you mentioned and they are very inspiring. Congratulations to Maggie and to you for all the help you have provided! I also learned a lot about possible treatments, by consulting the website of Dr. Sue Cancer as well as the Veterinary Cancer Society, among others. We will have good questions to ask the oncologist next time and we will be able to better understand his proposals.
Currently, Kelly often (if not always) lies on her left side given her amputation on the right. We have noticed that when she gets up, she limps a little on her left hind leg, but it goes away afterwards. Is there anything we can do to help her?
You know some folks have mentioned that kind of issue with their dog, and we think it's that the leg falls asleep, just like we have limbs that fall asleep when we lay too long. It may have always happened, only the other leg was able to do the heavy lifting until the sleepy leg awakened.
If you see her a little wonky when she gets up, do a gentle massage (like you would on a baby) on her hips and leg and see if that helps "wake it up." Let us know if that works.
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