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 put in the position where I have to choose by bascially tomorrow if I'm going to amputate my poor pips leg with soft tissue sarcoma in his hind right limb ankle. It grew into the bone of his "pinki toe" and it right up against the next metatarsal. If I decide to do the limb spare which would be to cut off the infected toe and up right above the tumor he will also have to under go 3 weeks of radiation 5 times a week since a clean margin won't occur. There's an 80% chance the cancer won't come back but I don't know if I can take the chance and not sure how the radiation will affect him. The other option is to amputate which I'm afraid of because what if something happens to his other leg. However I think I know that's the best choice but if there's a way to save the leg so I want that but not if its going to be worse for him. Thank you!
Hi again. I went back and read your Original Post to refresh my memory on your story.
Why the push to decide by tomorrow? This is a pretty big decision and you need to be comfortable with what you decide to do. Did the specialist or oncologist offer any insight on the effects of the radiation therapy? I've know people who have undergone daily rad treatment and other than a burn at the site of treatment they had limited issues. However I believe dogs have to be anesthetized each time for treatment so that is one thing to think about.
One question I would ask you- if you chose limb sparing and radiation and the cancer comes back will you have the resources to pay for an amputation surgery? It is one factor you should consider, and don't feel bad about it. We all wish we had unlimited funds but most of us don't and so money does come into consideration.
To me a 80% success rate is pretty enticing, especially considering one knee being repaired already. Depending on funds and how your pup handles radiation treatment it might be worth exploring.
Let us know what you decide, we will help all we can no matter what path you choose.
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
We considered limb sparing - our vet thought Otis might be a candidate due to his size and mild arthritis in his hips. The surgeon was not particularly in favor. He felt Otis would do fine as a Tripawd and was concerned that it might be hard to find a good fit for the implant - Otis had broken his wrist so we also didn't have a lot of time. What really decided it for me was the high risk of infection and follow-up which would be needed. I am a single dog mom and work full time, plus we knew he would need chemo either way. Horrible as it sounds, the amputation was just a cleaner option in light of what I thought I and he could handle. Otis is doing fine as a Tripawd, so I don't regret the decision at all. Sorry you are having to deal with this, and best of luck!
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Ditto on what others have said. You need to be comfortable with the decision and if getting a second or even third opinion helps, do it. What clinic are you working with? When a vet mentions limb sparing I would want to make sure they do MANY of these every year, because it is a very complicated procedure that only the most skilled vets have great success with. Sounds like your vet does, since most don't even present it as an option, so that's good.
And yes, limb sparing recovery and radiation can be quite labor intensive, and expensive, especially if complications occur, whether that's because of infection or the need to amputate after all. If you decide on limb sparing, being financially prepared is an absolute must (I'm guessing the surgery is somewhere around the $7k-$10k mark?).
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks guys to reply to some questions:
i have to decide real soon before the tumor invades the other bone and then the only option is amputation. The oncologist said the sooner the better. Jerry- we are going to blue Pearl in NYC. The oncologist consulted with two surgeons and a radiologist and they recommended the full amputation as the best plan because they think he could handle it and have a good quality of life but they also said the limb sparing could work. I'm not sure how much either surgery is but I know this hospital is more expensive than the rest, but they are better in my opinion. Also I don't want to think about cost as a factor cause I want the best option for him but I wouldn't be able to afford an amputation after limb spare if needed.
Every dog is different...you can use the Advanced Search function above to search for existing forum topics with feedback from members. A quick search of all blogs returned these results for limb sparing.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
To update everyone.. Bentley has his consultation with a surgeon next week to remove his leg. I would love to do the radiation and limb spare but it is way too expensive and unfortunalty I don't have the funds to do that with only an 80% chance of success rate. It sounds like a lot but i also don't think he would do well under radiation. (I could be telling myself this though because I can't afford the option I want) I know he will be happy and proud to be a tripawd I just have to remember this is better for him in the long run.
Okay, you've done your research and now you, along with the professionals, have decided on amputation as the b est course of treatment for your sweet Bentley!!! As hard as it is to get to this point, there is a bizarre sense of relief knowing you are now moving forward to giving Bentley a pain free quality life!!
You are a very powerful advocate for your Bentley! I knkw he had a rough beginning. I also know your love and care wiped all that away. All he knows nkw is your love, your friendship, your compassion and your ability to spoil him to pieces!! Look at that happy face in his avatar! How could you not spoil him?!
One thing we know around here is statistics don't often mean much. Although that 80% figure may look enticing, it does not take into account how rough the limb sparing and radiation process can be on a dog. Funds or not, and I usually don't express my "opinion" like this, but I really believe the amputation path you are taking is ABSOLUTELY the best guarantee of a pain free life for Bentle! Yes, surgery has a risk. All surgeries do...simple or major...human or dog. The thing about amputation versus the other, it's ONE surgery, about two weeks of recovery and the sparkle comes back bigger and brighter than before....without having to go back and forth to the vet constantly for months!
You knkw your Bentley better than anyone! You have a "sense" he wouldn't do well with the radiation. Sometimes listening to that little inner voice is the where our answers lie. Sometimes it's the way our dogs "communicate" with us.
We are right here by your side cheering for you and Bentley! Cheering loudly!!! Stay connected! We understand this nourney like no others can! Let us know if you have any questions about recovery at this point. You'll want to get non skid scatter rugs for traction if you have hardwood floors.
Sending 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!
Every dog is different and every situation is different and you have to make a decision based your own circumstances and the best information you have. This is what you have done and it sounds like a very good decision to me.
I just wanted to offer my own experience, of a different dog in a different situation of course, but in case you find it helpful. Meg had a total elbow replacement which went wrong. There followed eight months of further surgeries, months in hospital and, when home, treatment four times a week. In the end she lost her leg due to a chronic infection, which could not be got rid of because of the implant. The cost was astronomical both in financial and emotional terms. There is no question that in our case amputation would have been the best option for Meg from the start. We didn't know that and there is no point looking back. I'm telling you because I don't want you to look back either. To think 'if only I'd had the funds to do the leg spare surgery' etc. Even if you had had the funds you cannot know that it would have been successful. Odds are all very well, but what if you're in the other 20%? You cannot know how Bentley would have coped with radiation. You made your decision out of love and concern and compassion for him. It's a good decision. Don't look back.
I will be thinking of you and Bentley this week. Best of luck with everything and please keep us posted.
Meg and Clare xx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 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 Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
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