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 miracle pup but we are now at the point we are having to consider amputation. Kip is a 105 pd lab/rottie mix. About a year ago he went in for his 2nd TPLO on his right hind leg and overnight, he stood up and his OTHER femur (the left) broke - the next day we did an emergency surgery to fix the left femur with rods etc. We did the biopsy and it came back as an osteosarcoma. I brought him home with essentially two broken hind legs. We took care of him and he got so strong! Because of the TPLO on the right, we couldn’t do an immediate amputation so we did the limb sparing efforts with palliative radiation and chemo. Kip was a champ and did wonderful (even gained weight).
Now here we are 10 months later. His lung xrays are clean but the insert in the femur broke so we had to remove that. His limp seems a bit worse and for quality of life and pain management his vets are recommending amputation. What do you think?? He’s been on a diet (down from 113) - I know he can get under 100. Is an amputation too much at this point???
Hi Kip and family, welcome. Your future posts won't need approval so post away.
I'm sorry you are faced with amputation after all you two have been through. It does sound like Kip has everything it takes to do well on 3 legs, and it's terrific that his vets are giving the green light too. We have had many members with dogs who needed to drop weight at the time of amputation, and they managed to do it thanks to their human's dedication (check out Lady's story for an example).
What is your gut feeling about how he will do?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thank you 🙂 Lady looks a lot like Kip! I started the diet (cutting table food and dry food back) Friday just in case.
Kip had SO much spirit and life in him so I want to do what’s best for him. He’s been such a good sport with EVERYTHING. His surgeon has been calling every few days to check on him so I’m worried the bone could break at any minute. I’m lucky because The house is all prepped with runners / high bowls etc. I just worry this will be the thing that breaks his spirit. I just want what is best for him no matter what. My gut says he’ll be standing up the day after surgery being “Kip”. He’s been such a good patient after the TPLO/femur surgery which was a big one. After about 1-2 weeks, he starts to return to normal. Just don’t want to push my luck with him
Katie
Online
Holy cow!!! WOW! Jist WOaw! Two TPLO on the same leg....then the other leg fractured on the same day as the second TPLO surgery??? Have to say, do ot recall anyone here with those exact circumstances!!
This is one of those "forced choice" situations where knowing your dog and his attitude and his zest for life can help as uourocess your path forward.
It also comes down to how to feel abput "trying" and things may, or ,at not go well.....or not try and always second guessing the "what ifs", or "if only". So it kind of goes to which scenario would cause you the least regret or second guessing.
And there are NO right or wr decisions! Clearly you adore Kip and want to do what is best for him. Any decision out of love is the right decision. Ypi have already gone to great lengths to give him the best quality lofe possible....moreso than many would.
FWIW, of the Orthopedic Surgeon believes Kit is a good candidate, that's helpful to know. And YAY for good xrays!!
Curious, how long between the first TPLO and the second? Was there a particular "reason" that the first one failed?
I can tell you that, of you've already been through those previous surgeries, you have an upper hand when it comes to recovery. There is about a two week period of recovery from the surgery itself. Good pain ,management is crucial. Rest, rest, short leashed potty breaks and more rest.
We are here to help you in anyway we can, okay? And give that Miracle boy a big smooch for is!! And good job of gett that weight managed. That's a huge plus!
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 so much!!!! We’re leaning towards proceeding with the surgery. Sorry for being unclear - both TPLOs are good - he’s had one on each leg. He had one in 2017 on the left then in Nov, 2019, we went to do the right leg. That surgery went fine but his left femur broke overnight so he had to have surgery on the left femur after getting the right TPLO done. It was a lot to handle. I actually started sodding my patio to give him a short walk from bed / potty since I live in a condo building - hoping that will really help when he does the recovery.
will give Kip a kiss!!! He is my baby - I rescued him from a pound when he was three weeks old and bottle fed him - his mom had been hit by a car with a few of the puppies :(.
Wow what a story. Sounds like he would do well as a tripawd. You know Kip and you and him have a talk about what he wants. . Rene and Sally gave great advice. I am cheering for you guys.
Michelle, & Angels Sassy, Bosch and Baby Simba
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, okay. Got it.
Awww....three weeks old and he lost his dog Mom and siblings...but found the best furever home with her loving hooman♥️
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!
What a warrior!
I can't imagine that an amputation would 'break his spirit' after everything he has been through. I've been through two knee surgery recoveries and a rear amputation recovery (although in two different small dogs) and the amp surgery recovery is much, much easier and faster than the knee surgeries!
And since he is limping now you know that leg is very painful- I bet he will be feeling so much better once it is removed.
When I've had to get my dog's weight down I supplement with green beans. I used canned- but it's important to use the NO SALT ADDED kind. Or use fresh if you are so inspired. Green beans are low calorie and high in fiber and so are filling without adding pounds. My dogs now actually get green beans with most meals and for snacks.
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
Thank you so much!!
I really hope removing the leg will get him out of constant pain. Today I went to do laundry and grabbed keys to check mail and he heard the keys from the bedroom and sprinted out (basically on three legs). I think he misses car rides, going to parks and being out and about with people! He is such a personable pup with a huge character that I’m starting to think he’s depressed being stuck at home.
How did you get your pups to start eating fruits / veggies ? I tried a banana today with a little bit of peanut butter and he sniffed it. .. I walked away and came back to his paws in the peanut butter and smooshed bananas (he fell asleep without even trying one)!
How did you get your pups to start eating fruits / veggies ?
I should disclose that I've had 3 Pugs (one currently), they will eat pretty much anything 
. My current Tripawd is a little rear amp Pug-Mix who is much more discerning. She wouldn't eat green beans when I first got her, and this is the first year (I've had her almost 5 years) that she will eat strawberries. To be honest, I'm not sure what changed her mind about the food she wouldn't eat... maybe becasue she sees my Pug boy chowing down? She still won't eat blueberries or bananas. Pug boy Obie goes crazy for watermelon, Elly wouldn't eat that either at first but now she will.
I don't feed raw veggies because Obie doesn't chew enough and will swallow large pieces. Elly is not at all interested in raw veggies- I thought carrots would be good for her but she won't touch them. But just like with the beans and strawberries I try once in awhile to see if she will try them.
You might try keeping a food log for a couple weeks to see just how many calories you are feeding, I found this helpful when trying to get weight down. Sometimes you find you are feeding something that really has lots of calories. A year or so ago I was working really hard to get Pug boy Obie's weight down (he's had the two knee surgeries and is now 14 years old) but the weight wasn't coming off. I couldn't understand it- we were being so careful. Then one day I realized I hadn't accounted for the dental chew he got every night (recommended by our doggie dentist and advertised as low calorie). I had to research to find the calorie content on-line and discovered the chew was nearly 50 calories. Well that's between 20% and 25% of his healthy daily calorie intake! No wonder the weight wasn't going down, we adjusted some other food amounts and got him back to his ideal weight.
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
Love this! Thanks for the tips. Kip is going on for the amputation tomorrow. Please send as many good vibes as you can to him!!!
Alrighty kIp! Let's get that bum leg gone so you can get on with living life pain free!!!
Will he br staying at an overnight staffed clinic? Most dogs spend one or two nights. That's the time you can use to recharge yourself and catch up on yourr sleep. Kip will have some good hospital pain meds in him and enjoy seeing a few pink elephants.
We'll be sending pawsitive energy to your boy for a successful surgery and quick recovery. Let us know any questions s you have about navigating recovery, okay?
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! Yes - 24 hour emergency hospital and staffed. Hoping they’ll give him two nights there so I can prep the condo (Home Depot does sod deliveries Weds so I want to put fresh sod on my balcony for him for the first few days). Stressed bc we have house guests but putting the surgery off wasn’t fair to Kip SO just trying to balance everything. Kip is my #1.
Rooting for an easy surgery for Kip!
Keep us posted on how he is doing.
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
Sending all the good vibes to Kip & family!!!!
I was reading your story and can totally relate to all the questions/ feelings pre surgery, but I can tell you that even though I was super cautious (and afraid) of how Lady would respond to the amputation, she really did just adjust and continue to live life as the happy lovely Lady that she always has been. I am sure Kip will do the same!
Please let us know how recovery is going. I leaned heavily on the community forum here in those first few weeks, and I'll continue to check in on Kip to see how he's doing 🙂
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