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 am so glad I found this group! I have a 7 month old Great Pyrenees mix that was hit by a car a few nights ago. Unfortunately his femur was fractured just above the knee, and on his growth plate. Our options are surgery or amputation. I'm really struggling with this decision! Dusty is so young, so I hate to "take his leg away", and I immediately decided I would opt for the surgery.
When I brought him in he wasn't stable enough (he also had a collapsed lung, and so the vet wants that to heal more before putting him under anesthesia, which would stress the lungs and potentially make that issue worse). Since I've had a few days to think about it I can see risks with both the surgery and the amputation, and I guess I'm turning to you guys as part of my research.
With surgery my biggest fear is that I will spend $2500-$3000 and if the bone isn't set well he may develop arthritis or some other complication, and then it's back to amputation. That would just be the absolute worst! To spend the money on the surgery and then end up amputating anyway! We are on a budget, and while I "can" pay for this surgery it is a stretch. My original rationale was that if I can, then I should. He's my dog and if I can fix him, then that's what I need to do. But if, for any reason, the surgery wasn't successful as a long-term solution it would be pretty devastating to have to go back and spend more money on an amputation.
So that brings me to you.... How many have performed amputations on large/giant breed dogs and seen the LONG TERM effects? I know in some cases, such as cancer, you may only get a few more months. But in a case where it is due to an injury and the dog is otherwise perfectly healthy, could a 120lb dog support all that weight on only three legs (and one hip) without complications? I do worry about his remaining hip and the strain created from loosing a leg.
It's such a difficult decision. I plan to contact my veterinarian, as well as a few others to get opinions if possible. I have not priced out the cost of the amputation from the veterinary hospital, but there is a "clinic" that offers amputation for $655. So please, advice away! I just want what is best for my Dusters in the LONG TERM. But it's so difficult to know what that is!
Hello and welcome, your future posts will not have to wait for approval.
I'm sorry to hear about Dusty's accident, that must have been terrifying!
My current Tripawd is a rear amp, she lost her right rear leg at 7 months old after being hit by a car. However Elly is a pug mix who weighs about 15.5 pounds. I adopted her after her surgery, my understanding is that the femur was shattered to the point that it could not be saved.
You do have a difficult choice and I would think at least another opinion from a orthopedic surgeon might be helpful. I don't know how successful a repair would be when the growth plates are involved.
You will hear from others with bigger dogs who can share more applicable information on long term rear amps. I will send a PM to the Oaktown pack- they have 3 rear amp Tripawd GSDs, Codie Rae is closing in on 10 years on three.
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
Hi Dusters and family!
im so sorry to hear about the accident and the situation in which you now find yourselves.
I went the surgical route with my Meg and it ended in disaster. Multiple interventions, huge expense and she ended up losing the leg anyway. I'll spare you the details, as frankly I feel I've gone on about it quite enough and I'm sure everyone's sick of hearing about it, but if you want to read a full account of what can go wrong, there's a pretty extensive one on this thread http://tripawds.....of-action/
Your situation is, of course, different, as every situation is. What I would advise is to get multiple opinions at this stage from the very most highly regarded and experienced specialists you can find. There will be a cost to this if cpurse, though they should be able to share the scans. Personally I think this expense now will be very worthwhile in the long run.
Cross question them, ask absolutely everything you need to know and if you don't understand anything ask them to explain again. Listen to your gut, not only with regard to their expertise but also their ethics. Ask yourself, do you trust them?
Meg isn't facing cancer either but she is much smaller than Dusters. I'm sure people with big dog experience will chime in soon, so stay tuned.
Good luck with it all and keep posting. This is a really tough situation and we are here for you.
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, November 2023, adopted January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Elsie Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
You have come to the right place! Sounds like there is no right answer but would agree that more information from the best specialist would be most helpful at this point. My last Pyr had a rear leg amp when he was middle aged. It did not turn out the way we wanted BUT he managed completely and totally fine as a LGD both in and out of the house with TWO legs. He did not care one whit that he was down to two. Of course, we made accomodatiins but, in the end, the OSA and not the legs- or lack of them- were the enemy. We also had a dog who genetically had a inoperable/ unfunctional leg as well as heart failire and, true story, that WonderDog ran faster than any of my others and did not care one whit that he had three and a nonfunctioning one. I would say get as many opinions as possible and go with your gut. You will have many, many wonderful years ahead no matter what the decisio. Is. Best wishes! CharlieBear and his mom.
So what did you decide to do for Dusty? I am so sorry I did not make it on here sooner to give you my 2 cents worth! Hope things are going well,
Martha, Codie Rae, and the Oaktown Pack
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
Oh just saw this post. Novak had a knee fracture that was not operable and I SO wish it would have. In your situation, I would problably see different specialist(orthopedic) and decide from there, but if there a chance your dog could keep his leg and be healthy, I would try to save it(but that me). If later, problem did occur, I would deal with those in the future and maybe keep an account to save money to make sure Im prepared for all alternative in the future.
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