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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I am brand new here and my dog Ava was recently diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, we have decided after much discussion and heartbreak to amputate her left front leg. In all ways she seems so healthy and she's eating well, and one of the most important factors for our family is that she is only 4 1/2 yrs old. One month ago playing like crazy with our three other dogs to now barely able to get around.
So with all that said my family and I are real believers in holistic healing methods and have besides our oncologist and surgeon a holistic vet working with us a s well. The oncologist believes that chemotherapy is the best course of action after surgery and believes that is best chance for success for additional time for Ava. However my holistic vet believes that while chemotherapy is a viable option that her treatment of herbs and supplements could offer as much success if not more in natural healthy way.
As I said my family is a strong believer in holistic healing and prevention, however I have no basis for any belief for my dog Ava. There is strong evidence that this could work but is simply don't know. After all she is going through and about to go through I want to give her her best fighting chance as a young dog.
Does anyone have any experience with post op holistic treatment without chemotherapy. Any advice would be so helpful we have three days before surgery and we are frantically trying to find some help in this area. Thank you and wish Ava all the positive energy you can she will need it.
Thanks
Ava , Steven , Michele, and family
Hi guys, welcome to Tripawds, so sorry you are dealing with cancer but we'll be here for you every hop of the way.
There are lots of members here who went the holistic route, or did a combination of both. You can find a lot of treatment stories by perusing our Tripawds Nutrition Blog, in many of our other blogs like Tripawds Downloads, and here in the forums and searching for words like "holistic" and "alternative." We personally chose a combination of both holistic mushroom therapy and metronomics (at home) chemotherapy), and our Jerry made it two years post op!
It would be great if you could find an oncologist who is willing to work with you by combining both holistic and conventional medicine. Dr. Dressler, author of the Dog Cancer Survival Guide, is a firm believer in both (he calls it a "full spectrum approach) and has great tips in his book. I highly recommend getting a copy, it will help you tremendously.
Thanks so much for joining us, we look forward to helping out however we can. Do you have any questions about the upcoming surgery or recovery? Just holler if so. We are in the chat right now, feel free to stop by (you'll usually find folks in there during evenings).
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Ava , Steven , Michele, and family!
We went the holistic route with the metronomic protocol with cyclophosphamide. Polly didn't take to the cyclo well and had to stop after 6 weeks. However, we did stay on the herbs and powers. At this time we are 1.5 years post amp and diagnosis. We switched her diet to home-cooked food with supplements. The vet monitors her levels every 4 months and so far all is well. Polly was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and this treatment was developed by my vet for that specific diagnosis.
As for chemo vs holistic approach- that is tough. We want to do what is absolutely best for our babies and there is no answer that is right for everyone. I say trust your gut and don't allow yourself to ever feel guilty for that. I'm not 100% convinced any of the treatments work- and that its all the fight in your dog.
Whatever choice you make, know someone on this forum has made the same one and there isn't a soul on here that will judge you for it. Good luck- this can all be so scary!
Thank you for your responses it is truly appreciated. I will look into some of the protocols you mentioned and will keep you posted and our decisions and progress throughout this journey. We are set for 8 am Thursday morning and while we are all very scared and concerned, he are also very hopeful. It's becoming increasingly difficult for Ava to walk and she laying around a lot more, although her appetite has seemed to suffer much(thank god). I just realized what I haven't mentioned is Ava is a huge female Great Dane at 160 lbs and not fat at all just a big silly girl, so that was another one of our concerns but that was alleviated by seeing Abby the three legged Great Dane, and Angus another Great Dane. Both of those pups and others made our hearts soar when we saw how well a big dog can function on three legs we were all truly amazed. Seeing those videos made me think that I need to document Ava's journey as we'll and that perhaps some really good things could come out of this. So as of two days ago I started to video Ava and will continue to tell her story and maybe someone can find comfort someday in what we hope will be a miraculous story (at least for us each extra day with her will be a miracle). So we will continue to do some more research talk to our Oncologist and Holistic vet in hopes of putting the right therapy in place for Ava and who knows maybe we find something that works that not only will help Ava but other dogs who have this America awful cancer. Fingers crossed....positive thoughts and energies for Ava and all the dogs battering cancer we are all one family now.
Oh pawesome, let us know how tomorrow goes. Meanwhile, here's another Dane who will lift your spirits. If it wasn't for Moose, Tripawds would not exist. We did not believe that life on three legs could be great until we saw his YouTube video, at the time, one of the only ones out there. Here's the vid and an article his dad wrote for us:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello Ava , Steven , Michele, and family,
Welcome here to this special family, with support everywhere.
Our story with Tahoe was/is somewhat similar to some folks here, as Tahoe had hystiocytic sarcoma in the right front elbow which we amp's March, 2013. Subsequent to the amp we proceeded with 5 rounds of CCNU (lomustine) while at the same time we commenced treatment with Dr Loops, a well-respected homeopathic vert used by many people here. We have added various supplements from day 1, and cannot really say if any one thing has added quantity or quality but Tahoe has had some good quality up until now.
Wishing you all the best!
Stirling and Tahoe
"Tahoe" - Our Amazing Superman and Best Friend.
Dec. 01-03 to Aug. 19-14
Diagnosed with Periarticular Hystiocystic Sarcoma Feb 14-13; Amputation March 18-13, and diagnosed with STS April-14. Tahoe touched so many people while visiting us, leaving a massive void in our lives. Always Missed, Never Forgotten!!
Thanks again for the support and advice. at this point it looks like we are going to go with a hybrid approach of limited chemo and holisitc treatment. Right now our focus is on Thursday and getting her through the next few weeks. I certainly will keep you all posted on her progress.
On a side note i read my last post, and sometimes I cringe at my typos but I guess we're all used to it now with text messages, so in the future if i sound like a knucklehead it just means I probably am...lol
thanks again you've been so helpful.
Just want to add my wishes for a speedy recovery for the Magnificent Ava. Sounds like she's already used to three legs to some degree so that will be a plus.
I KNOW this is a scary time and you feel like you are stuck in a nightmare. The fear does start to subside as you see how well Ava will do as the recovery process begins. Yeah, recovery is no fun and we encourage you to stay connected to us and let us support you anyway we can. You are not alone, okay??
Another inspirational story you may want to check out is Great Dane Atlas! Due to many issues, including Wobblers whic affects mobility, the first Vet suggested euthanasia. FORTUNATE L Y, Atlas's mom got a second opinion! Atlas recently celebrate over a YEAR AMPUVERSARY!!!
Keep it chunked down for now...get through the surgery, do your research, you can decide on treatmenta bit later.
Sending you hugs and supportive energy.
Sally and Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle 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!
HA,!! I just read your post while I was typing mine! I say HA because typos.....I can't even understand what I was trying to say when I see what comes out once I hit "reply"
Love that you may be proceeding with a "combo" treatment approach.....so much is about "gut instinct".
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle
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!
No such thing as typos here....just ask Sally! 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Tat be white jry...know tipoos aloowd hear
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!
All of you are so awesome, I needed to laugh tonight. We are all spending time with Ava tonight and giving her lots of love, she got a tough road ahead but not without lots of family and friends to support her. We also feel like we have a great group of vets between surgeon, oncologist and holistic vet to work through this with us, and now our new friends here who have gone through this and remind us that we aren't alone, and that Ava and our family will get through this. Her pack (A St. Bernard, and two Pit mixes) know something is up especially tonight and they are all being very sweet to her as well, I think they sense something from us (the humans in the house...lol) So tonight Michele and I will sleep with her all night, wake up tomorrow and remove the pain that has taken over our 160lb baby girl, with hopes of seeing her play with her pack again really soon,she so wants to now she just simply can't. So as hard a decision as this has been we are now at peace that we are doing the right thing, in no small part to the support that we've received here. Thank you all again and please please send all your positive energies our big girl will need it.
We will keep you posted on the outcome of the surgery.
Steven, Michele, Carlo, Gianna, Ava, Luca, Lola, Tessa ( The first 4 are the humans and the last four are the dogs in the house)
PS
We're an Italian family if you couldn't tell by the names...lol
WAIT- Hold up. You have a St Bernard, 2 pits AND a Great Dane? I'd hate to see your dog food bill!!!! Whomever cleans up the poo in your yard- I salute you!
Good luck tomorrow! We are sending our warmest wishes!
-The lady with 3 rat terriers, a lab and a hound. LOL 
You have an amazing pack, talk about all the inspawration you need to get through this!
And there's even more pawsitivity coming your way from all of us. Keep us posted!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Well the surgery is over... received the called from the surgeon just a little while ago, he said she did great the surgery was successful, and now they send her leg out for analysis to see the how aggressive the cancer is so we can finalize our treatment options post surgery. He said she is waking up but obviously heavily sedated with morphine, so we can't see her tonight and we have to wait until 4pm tomorrow afternoon, i feel so bad that i can't comfort her right now but I know she just needs to rest and not be excited. The surgeon also said she should be home by saturday which i was bit surprised at but he said that it went that well and barring any complications she should be ready. It's bit scary ok a lot scary we have no idea what to expect when she comes home how does she pee or poop or eat (Keep in mind she's 160lbs) how do we get her around safely? He also said she should be up and about in a few days just nothing crazy with our other dogs and by two weeks she should getting around really well. REALLY????? I am so grateful the surgery went well and she seems to be doing ok so far, I know we have a long road but my mind is now thinking about all the things we have to do for her when she comes home, and the thing is I have no idea what those things are....so i really need some advice from you guys who've gone through this, there has got be be some things I can do to make this easier for her and help her in her recovery.
Thanks for any answers in advance, and I really hope there are a lot of them because I am at a total loss for answers.
Steven
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