Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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This is definitely a question for pam in the Ask A Vet forum. We are sorry to hear the news, but I might seek a second opinion regarding the amputation. Every dog is different, but if performed by a qualified surgeon your pup should recuperate quickly and easily get the hang of life on three legs. Best wishes ...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
This dog really needs to have his leg amputated ASAP. The culture results are showing normal bacteria so you must have some type of tumor. Is there another doctor you can take your dog to for another opinion or to schedule the surgery? I would not waste time with a biopsy; just take the leg off and send a piece of tissue then.
Pam and Tazzie
Meiyoong,
We agree with our favorite vet, Pam. Why waste any more time. Find a doctor to do the amputation and then do the biopsy if you want to. Biopsies are more painful than the amputation itself. Why put your pup through such agony, and then through an amputation that will need to happen regardless?
It sounds like your current vet isn't confident enough to do the surgery. Is there anyone else in your community who can?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The vet already performed biopsy since last 2 weeks. We are now waiting for the biospy result. We have consult second vet earlier, the another vet also have the same opinion saying that the amputation for my dog is not easy because the x-ray also shows there are some unclear area around his hip joint. It might due to the broken bones. What should i do? It would be risky to put him on the amputation. I really out of my mind. Every decision i make, seems critical. I must carefully consider each step i take.
I think I am confused- are you still waiting for a biopsy result after 2 weeks? I know when they did a biopsy on Wrigley we got the results back right away. How long did they say the biopsy result would take?
Do they know what is the cause of the broken bones in the hip joint? Is this new or old? Do they say why they feel it is so risky to put him through amputation?
I know this is a difficult time for you and yes each step needs to be considered carefully, but if your dog is in pain from either broken bones or the cancer that needs to be taken care of ASAP.
How is your dog acting these days? are you still having to hand feed him? What kinds of pain meds is he on right now to control the pain?
I know you say you have already been to 2 vets, but maybe you need to get a third involved for one more opinion. I would make sure all of the vets you see are ones you trust and feel are doing what is best for your dog. Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to.
I hope you find out something soon.
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
meiyoong said:
I'm so down now. Before i was praying hard that it would turn out to be bone infection. Hope miracles will happen.
I know this may be difficult to hear, but you can't rely on just miracles alone...we, as doggie parents, have to take charge of the situation especially when our baby is in pain and from what all of Zeus' docs told me, bone cancer is the worst type of pain that our babies can have. The biopsy results should not take 2 weeks to get back. I know that you said that every decision that you make is critical and therefore it seems you want to take your time with the decision making process, but you can't take a lot of time with this disease - bone cancer is aggressive and extremely painful and though amputation seems dramatic when you are faced with it, as you can see on this website, our tripawd dogs go on to live very happy lives and most importantly PAIN FREE.
Please take into consideration all our suggestions and find a doctor who is able to help your poor baby immediately.
We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Heather and Zeus
Heather and Spirit Zeus - Our life changing journey…from the earth to the heavens…one day at a time…always together
I echo all of the posts encouraging you to take immediate action. This disease does not wait for you to make a decision, it will take your dogs life in the blink of an eye....not to mention the excruciating pain your dog is in. AND YOUR VET SHOULD KNOW THAT!
I dont mean to sound harsh but you are not using common sense. Get your dog to another vet and get it handled. Any vet that takes 2 weeks to get a biopsy result on a dog that is diagnosed with cancer is NOT one that you want to be treating your dog not to mention amputating a limb.
Is there a school of veterinary medicine close by or a well known vet clinic?? I drove Max an hour and a half one way to get him the best care available in my area. You are going to have to make sacrifices if you want this to have a good end result...and I fear that you may have wasted too much time already. My heart goes out to your dog...the poor thing is SUFFERING horribly.
PLEASE get him to a vet that can help him. If you are unsure of what they are telling you, take another person with you for a second set of ears. It helps to have 2 people in the room to process the information.
You came to this site for help and advice...all of us have been through this with our dogs and some of them have passed away in very short amounts of time. Take the advice that we give.
Paula and Spirit Max
meiyoong said on May 30:
He suggested us to do a biopsy to confirm the real cause behind all these. Whichever the cause of it my poor beagle's leg has to be amputated as the whole stretch of his leg bone already bristle based on the x-rays.
I am afraid you have wasted way too much time on making the decision. I'd question why a biopsy was suggested when it was clear that regardless of the result, the leg has to come off. The vet could have sent the leg for biopsy after the surgery.
Biopsy result is finally out. Confirmed it is a fibrosarcoma. Does anyone has experince on this cancer before? My beagle looks fine for this few weeks and eating well. He is on antibiotics and pain killers (metacam & clavamox). Besides the medicine, we also feeding him with the Transfer Factor. Weare scheduled for amputation surgery next week. I'm worry about his quality life he enjoy after the surgery. I know we should bring him for surgery ASAP at the same time we also still undecided. Because right now he is doing fine except with a little tired after taking medicine.
Ok.....remember that dogs dont show their pain like humans do. They will tolerate ALOT before you realize how bad they are hurting. Max limped for a few days and then would be fine. All that time the cancer was growing inside his leg and I didnt know it. YOU KNOW IT!!!
If you are worried about the quality of life...then take alook around at this site. See the pictures at the top when you bring the site up?? Those are ALL tripawds after their surgery. They get along fine unless there are complications...say from waiting too long to make a decision. I am not familiar with Fibrosarcoma, but will say that ANY type of cancer is not good and letting it grow while you sit there and try to decide if you should amputate or not certainly doesnt help your dog.
We cant give you the answer...its something that you have to decide on your own, but what we can give you is alot of experience and examples to look at that show that amputation is a very viable option.
I wont be posting again....its very frustrating for me to see you put your dog through this. Its not YOU thats suffering, its him and you need to put him first instead of worrying about yourself.
Paula and Spirit Max
No need to worry about his quality of life on 3 legs! He will not care he is "missing" a limb. While the first couple days may be a little difficult while he adjusts to his new life as a tripawd (learning how to stand, being on medicine, possible phantom pain ), pretty soon he will be running around like nothing ever happened. It can be scary for us humans since we pay more attention to what people/doggies look like, but to our dogs, it does not even matter! All they want is your love and your treats (especially the treats). Jack is 2 weeks out of surgery and chases his ball and yells at his brother just like always! Have comfort in knowing that once the leg is amputated, the tumor is GONE! It will no longer cause your precious beagle any pain. Best of luck to you guys as you start this new journey <3
I too am very worried about your dog. I know this is a very difficult time for you , but your dog is in pain and it is your responsibilty as his owner to take care of that. I am not familiar with this type of cancer, but agree with all of the other posts- it can't be good to just not do anything. PLEASE do something for your dog.
Paula is right. Dogs will tolerate a great deal before you will see just how bad it really is. By the time Wrigley exhibited so much pain she just didn't put weight on her leg the bone we saw on the xray was practically eaten away from the cancer. She still seemed "fine" by other standards. She was eating, she was wagging her tail, she still looked "fine" but couldn't walk. I tell you though there was not enough meticam around to ease the pain she was in. Amputation was the only solution to taking the pain away.
I am still unclear what you are undecided about. If it is just a quality of life- it can't be said enough. These dogs that have lost a limb contintue to live full and happy lives.
I have a few questions-
1.Where is the location of the fibrosarcoma?
2.Which vet is this that is making this diagnosis- is this the second one? The first diagnosed OS. How was the first diagnosis made- just an xray.
3.You mention in the earlier posts that xrays show the leg is already "bristle"- and needs to be amputated- so why are you waiting?
4.What is the vet who gave you the biopsy results recommending?
I can't believe there is a vet out there that would allow a dog to live in so much pain. I know when our vet gave us the diagonis for Wrigley we had two choices- put her down or amputate the leg. He would not have allowed us to let her live in that much pain.
So please take responsibilty for your dog and get him the proper care he deserves. He will remain loyal to you no matter what, please return the favor. I know you are confused and this is difficult but unfortunately you must make a decision.
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
meiyoong said:
medicine, we also feeding him with the Transfer Factor. Weare scheduled for amputation surgery next week. I'm worry about his quality life he enjoy after the surgery. I know we should bring him for surgery ASAP at the same time we also still undecided. Because right now he is doing fine except with a little tired after taking medicine.
Everyone has said what I wanted to say. I do not know what else we can do to help you understand that it is the human who visualize how hard we would have to cope with the loss of a limb ourselves, and rightfully think that dogs would be feeling the same way.
Think of this, are you worried about his quality of life after amputation? or yours after his surgery?
Your mindset has to be on the same page as your action. You have booked the surgery for next week, and yet your mind has decided to be undecided. That would not work. Any cancer patient (human or animal) needs the full support of family members and friends. You have to commit in following through , and being a responsible pawrent, you should be physically and mentally involved to fight this battle by his side.
It almost sounds like a broken record now in this topic, that I still have to stress one point which other members have already said… Dogs mask their pain very well, they are not whiners like us human. Yes, your beagle “looks” fine, “seems” fine, and just “a bit tired” after taking medications; but in reality, something is really wrong with his health, he is having the kind of pain you could never possibly imagine. You have been allowing the time bomb to continue ticking in his body.
Regardless of what meds and supplements you are feeding him, he is in pain.
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