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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My vet is a huge advocate of amputation even without chemo. The sole reason being it eliminates the pain, giving the dog a better quality of life for the time it does have remaining. Like was mentioned earlier, the fees can be all over the board, depending on where you live. I paid about $1000 for the amputation and 2 nights stay, and thought that was extremely reasonable.
Good luck to you, we've all been there and will be here for you.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hi Deborah,
I read your email about Simon and want you to know I am thinking about the two of you. My black lab, Zack, had his back leg amputated May 1st and is doing very well. He is 9 years old. When I found out he had spindle cell sarcoma and that the cancer does not respond to chemo/radiation I knew the only answer for us was amputation. Before the surgery he was checked to make sure he did not have cancer in his lymph nodes, chest area and his abdomen. Checking this out before the surgery definitely helped with the decision to amputate. This might help you also in making your decision. Many people in my family thought I was crazy but I knew I was doing the right thing.
Good luck and please let me know what you decide to do.
Ginni
HI Deborah,
Just joined this post and want to wish you all the best.
Our dog Wrigley was diagnosed with osteosarcoma back in Nov. We did amputation and a few rounds of chemo with her but eventually the cancer did spread. She lived 4 months beyond her diaganois and a lot of people have asked me if I knew I would have only had 4 months after all that would you still do what you did- my answer is ABSOLUTELY. It was the best 4 months of our lives. Wrilgey taught us so much in that time. We had so many wonderful moments that I wouldn't have traded for anything. Having wrigley for 4 more months without the pain of the cancer, seeing her love life the way she did, seeing her do all the things she could do before she started limping was so amazing. I am so glad we were able to do what we did- that we had that option.
Statistics are just that statistics/ averages- nothing but a bunch of numbers. But these numbers can't even begin to battle with the emotions , and the fight and determination that all of these dogs have to beat anything that is put in there way.
We will keep you in our prayers and good thoughts. Listen to your heart, what it tells you to do. The heart always has the right answer.
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
Simon and Deborah
Sorry to hear of the diagnosis and sorry to be a little late. However, as you can tell, this site has a great deal of dedicated people who have been down this road themselves. We all know how devastating the diagnosis was but you appear to be on a well thought out path forward. This will be the toughest portion of your journey, but know that better times for all your family are ahead. For us there really was only one course of action which could return the quality of life that had defined Cherry's pre-diagnosis life. This journey has been both emotionally and financially draining ($11k to date) but the little girl that I see some six months into this journey was well worth everything. I have seen Jerry often post that it is all about the quality of the time and not the quantity. I started by saying that if it is only months then it will have been worth everything.
A constant theme I put into my postings is to treat the spirit as well as the body. They need a purpose. In Cherry's case, it is our daily trips in the car/truck. She always looked forward to these trips and it was the first place where she would actually take food from me. Find Simon's love that he can do after the amputation and exploit this love. It will do wonders for all the family. I also kept a journal detailing our journey and post these entries on the internet. You can follow at http://home.com.....ryjourney/.
We all wish you the best, will remember you in our prayers, and look forward to hearing of you journey.
Bob & Cherry
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