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.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
I just wanted to introduce my gorgeous Molly as a very recent amputee (right front leg) due to osteosarcoma. We are 6 days post surgery and seem to be coping well under the circumstances.
Molly is a very active dobie. She used to go to the beach, run with me on the trails and be my companion on hacks with my horse.
Her cancer started off as a slight limp which 2 vets diagnosed as a pulled ligament. Last Saturday my husband and I went for breakfast and came back to find what looked like a dislocated shoulder (she plays rough with her brother Cooper the spaniel). We rushed her to the vet where the cancer was confirmed with xrays. I cannot believe that it literally presented itself in the space of the 4 hours we were out.
We were given the option of amputation as Molly is so young (6), fit and active and chose to stick with the decision when the CT scans came back clear.
I have taken her off the pain killers as her tummy wasn't coping and we are using CBS oil which she copes with fantastically and have started a natural chemo which we administer ourselves.
We chose not to go the oncology route as the vet advised us that in dobies it can be terrible for their hearts and although Molly is DCM clear, we did not want to take that risk.
We have our ups and our downs (especially at night) but she is doing remarkably well and I am so proud of how brave she is being.
Hi Molly & family, welcome to the club nopawdy wants to join! We're glad you're here though and will do everything we can to help you on your Tripawd journey.
That's awesome she's doing so well! What a strong girl!
It sounds like she has osteosarcoma? I'm guessing you have a great relationship with your vet, but I'd just like to throw it out there, that you may want to consult with a board-certified oncologist just to get all of the most current info about chemotherapy and Dobies. We've had many in our community who have done well on it, and since she's still so young it's worth considering if it's in your budget and practical for you all. And if not, that's OK too, it's not for everyone. We opted out and got very lucky with our Jerry living two bonus years after his osteosarcoma diagnosis.
I'm curious what the 'natural chemo' and CBS stuff is that you mentioned. Haven't heard of it here so feel tree to share more. And of course do share some photos of your adorable girldog. Here's a post about adding images to the Forums.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Howdy & welcome!!!
Can't wait to hear (and SEE) more about Molly!
Harmony's cancer started as a slight limp as well, but stayed under the radar. Even when it was suspected, it was still very difficult to identify on film. So much of cancer can disguise as sprains, pulls, and inflammations, etc.
So glad your Molly is doing well and kickin' it!
pam
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
Hi Molly and Mom and welcome
My girl Eurydice also has osteosarcoma and like Molly was misdiagnosed until we found the right vet who asked us to get an X-ray done.
We subsequently saw an oncologist and had a PET CT scan done and decided to amputate as lungs are clear.
She lost her right front leg 10 weeks ago and is now on session 4 of chemo as we felt we should give her our best shot at fighting this awful disease.
I honestly would see an oncologist and get his opinion on chemo to double check if your vet's position is correct.
We have quite a few dobbies here and I don't remember ever reading anything about chemo being particularly dangerous for their hearts.
I am not advocating chemo as it is such a personal choice and with or without it none of us has any guarantees anyway ...
I am really happy to hear Molly is doing well, she will surprise you in a little while for sure !
Sending you lots of pawsitive energy and a big cuddle to your beautiful girl
Eurydice 77kg/170lb Great Dane limping end of April 2016, amputation (right front leg/osteosarcoma) 4 May 2016 6 courses of carboplatin followed by metronomic therapy, lung mets found 30 Nov 2016. 3 courses of doxorubicin, PET scan 26 Jan 2017 showed more mets so stopped chemo. Holistic route April 2017. Lung X-ray 5 May 2017 showed several tennis ball size mets, started cortisone and diuretics. Miss Cow earned her XXL silver wings 12 June 2017, 13 months and 1 week after amputation and 6 1/2 months after lung mets, she was the goofiest dawg ever and is now happily flying from cloud to cloud woof woofing away :-)
Hi Molly and MollysMommy!
I's new here also and good to see another beautiful DoberGirl making her mom proud! My girl, Kali, is also super fit and active ( although she just turned 8) and we are now at day 11 post amp left rear leg. Sorry we're all in this situation, but I wanted to say "Hi and welcome"! And I look forward to sharing the ups and downs and learning from one another.
The pain meds really are tough on them. What is CBS Oil? I recently started Kali on CBD supplements from CannaCompanions and I think it's helping her appetite. Tonight is the first meal I didn't have to hand feed, post-op.
All the best,
michtx
I think CBS oil is cannabis oil?
Off pain medications at 6 days is a little bit early - most stay on for about 2 weeks or so and then wean off. Sometimes zantac or even cerenia will help with nausea from medications. Murphy came home on Tramadol, Rimadyl & Gabapentin for pain.
Not everyone chooses to do chemo. It's not always in the budget, and we all have to make the decisions that make the most sense to us.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
Hi, as you can probably guess, I also have a Dobe, named Nitro. Nitro was 8 1/2 when diagnosed with osteosarcoma. He is now 2 years post amp of his right front leg. He had 6 rounds of chemo - carboplatin - followed by 10 months of metronomic therapy. (daily oral low-dose chemo). He is my second dobe to get chemo; the first had lymphosarcoma. Both of my boys did very well on chemo, with minimal side effects, meaning an upset tummy that was rectified with cerenia for the nausea. I have never heard of chemo being hard on Dobes, although I'm well aware of the heart issues. (My second dobe, Harley, dropped dead of cardiomyopathy at age 6). You might want a second opinion on this, as it may not be as bad as you've been led to believe.
Good luck - Dobes are the greatest!
Paula and Nitro
Nitro 11 1/2 yr old Doberman; right front amp June 2014. Had 6 doses carboplatin, followed by metronomic therapy. Rocked it on 3 legs for over 3 years! My Warrior beat cancer, but couldn't beat old age. He crossed the Bridge peacefully on July 25, 2017, with dignity and on his terms. Follow his blog entitled "Doberman's journey"
"Be good, mama loves you".....run free my beautiful Warrior
Welcome Molly and Mom! I too am I Dobie lover. My Leland was a hind leg amputee (he's the handsome boy in the avatar) who sadly is no longer with us. He wasn't dealing with cancer like your beautiful girl but a lot of other health issues. Now we have Lucian (our little terror who's also a Dobie) who turned 2 years old this past May. Welcome to the family but sorry it had to be under these circumstances.
Sahana and her Angel Leland and Lucian too
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
1 Guest(s)
