Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So my husband is off work today and just met with the 2nd vet about Piper's surgery. He agreed with the cancer diagnosis and has scheduled us for rear leg amputation on Monday. He's going to take the leg at the knee and Piper will stay there under observation until Thursday evening. His price for surgery was a fraction of the cost of Vet #1. I feel a little nervous and guilty about that....like I'm "bargain shopping" for a surgeon. But $2000 is next to impossible for us right now 🙁
We are going to borrow a big wire crate from a friend for a few weeks so I can work and still give Piper a safe, comfortable place to heal. Wish us luck! Ill be updating over the next week.
Kelly & Piper
Hi Kelly,
Sounds like you have a solid plan in place. That is good. Don't feel guilty or like you need to explain your finances....we've all been there and you've got to do what you can and that's it. Piper is lucky to have you as a pawrent who loves him enough to take care of his awful pain. He will feel so much better once he's all healed up and has that bum foot gone. He sure is a cutie!
Keep us posted on Monday....We'll be thinking about you!
Suzie and Rizzo
Jack Russell born in 2001. Mast cell cancer found Dec 2009 and right rear amputation. Five rounds of chemo done before all treatment stopped. Living life to the fullest!! Read my story at http://rizzo.tripawds.com
That's great news! Now, your Piper will be out of pain. The surgery pain will nothing and will get better. And don't worry about bargain shopping - Piper won't care! Vets are trained in amputation.
However, the only thing that has me a *bit* concerned is why is the vet only taking the knee down? I'm not a vet, but the reason i say that is that sometimes partial leg amps are hard to heal. (only because we've seen it here)
Might I suggest to you, going to the "Ask a Vet" category here and post that question for our friend and vet, Pam (user tazziedog). She usually doesn't have time to read individual topics, but she does respond to the 'ask a vet' category.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
He said that only taking the foot would cause probems later because they tend to drag the stump and rest weight on it but that taking the knee down shouldnt. I will talk to my husband about it. Unfortunately, he'll be the one taking Mr Piper for surgery and speaking to the vet. I really don't want any other problems arising from it 🙁
I was a little mistaken. The amputation will be above the knee...but not all the way to the hip. (I obviously didn't get to go today either) 😉
I was wondering about that "at the knee" amp as well. Above the knee, but not taking the hip seems to make more sense - but again, I'm not a vet either. And also I don't have back leg amp experience. With front leg amps, there is sometimes the question of whether to include the shoulder or not - usually the shoulder goes as well. I don't know if it's the same issue with the hip?? Hopefully others will chime in.
Not trying to scare/worry you - but we jsut want what's best for your pup!
All the best with the surgery on Monday! Keep us posted.
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
What they are probably doing is called a mid-femoral amputation, that's what Maggie had. It is a little misleading because only a small piece of the femur is left. In Mag's case the stump was wrapped with muscle to protect it. You could not see it, but you could feel it. Actually when she moved it you could see the area twitch a little. The surgeon explained to me that cutting the femur was faster and easier than dis-articulating at the hip. I liked that because it meant a shorter surgery and Mag always had trouble with anesthetic.
Maggie routinely laid and sat on her amp side, in fact she came to prefer laying or sitting on that side. She even had this move where she would fall into a sit to change directions on slick surfaces. She as a tri-pug for almost 4 years and never had any trouble with her stump or that area.
The picture was taken on her 11th birthday, about 3.5 years after her amp. You can see she is laying on her stump.
Karen and the pugapalooza
Well then - it's sounds like you are in good hands!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Thanks everyone! I already feel better knowing we have a plan of action for him 🙂
I'll update on Monday!
Hi Kelly,
My Tango is going in on Tuesday for exactly the same surgery (mid-femoral amputation).I'll be sending you and Piper good thoughts!
Anne
I'm another mid-femoral amputation who is doing just fine!
Good luck next week.
Wyatt Ray Dawg . . . The Tripawds Leg-A-Cy Continues!
Read all about my adventures at my Tripawds Blog
That's what my piper will look like! Thanks for the pic! What a handsome guy he is!
Kelly & Anne,
Good luck with the surgeries on Monday and Tuesday. Try to get as much sleep as possible because as I am finding Lupe's witching hours start at 2:30 am and I am up at any little noise she makes...but I try not to let her know I'm awake so she can coax herself back to sleep.
Please update on how things go!!!
-Kori & Lupe
Diagnosed with possible synovial cell sarcoma of right front elbow 5/31/12. Amputation surgery performed 6/7/12. Final diagnosis of histiocytic cell sarcoma 6/11/12. Her soul and spirit were strong, her body was not...my little girl earned her wings 6/14/12. "If there are labradoodles and goldendoodles, why can't I be a cockadoodle?"-Angel Lupe (June 28, 1997-June14, 2012) http://lupepod......pawds.com/
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