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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hi guys , im charles. my 12 year old american staff named rock was limping about 6 weeks ago brought him to the vet and they took an xray said might be bone cancer or bone infection. went back 2 weeks later it spread in his bone alittle more(this is his shoulder left front) his lungs looked good they said . did the biopsy just got the results back and confermed cancer. im having a hard desion on what to do next when i brought him in the vet said we caught it very earlie and he is good for an amputation now 6 weeks later with his lungs and everything else looking good . i dont know what to do. hes healthy and strong as a rock has more years in him . ive had him since he was 5 weeks im deeply saddened to bear the thought of him leaving us . the total cost for amputation is 2500 and chemo is anywhere from 1500-3000 but hes more then worth it .
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Rock's name is very fitting! It sounds like he's a perfect candidate for amputation if he is otherwise fit and healthy. We are not vets, and every dog is different, but the vast majority cope with the amputation and recovery much better than their people do.
The tumor continues will continue to grow, the pain will keep getting worse, and the bone will eventually break. With amputation, you're looking at a couple weeks of recovery, and the pain is gone.
If you have not already done so, be sure to bookmark Jerry's Required Reading List for links to the best tips and advice this community has to offer. We're sure others will have more feedback for you too.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi,
Sorry to hear about Rock, but glad you found this community. It was so helpful to me when we found out that Loa, our 11-year-old Lab, had osteosarcoma and we had to decide what to do. She is a front leg amp, and almost three months out is doing very well on three legs.
It was hard to see her limping and in pain before the amputation, but she was so clearly not ready to be put to sleep that we felt it the right thing to do. Her recovery went well (the first two weeks can be difficult) and now she's doing so well--happy, good appetite, playful. It was the right decision for us.
It is good to hear your vet thinks Rock is a good candidate for amputation. I had concerns with Loa being older and a larger breed dog, but our vet also thought she was a good candidate and it worked out well for us.
Take good care!
Welcome to Tripawds, I am sorry Rock is dealing with cancer.
We have had many older pups here cope very well with amputation- it really is more about health than age.
Chemo is not a requirement, and seems to be a bit of a crap shoot. Some here have not done chemo and survived quite awhile, some have done chemo and lived only a short time. I know the stats say that chemo adds time, but we have seen here that it is not always true. By doing the amputation you will relieve Rock of the terrible pain of bond cancer. You can do some research and then decide if chemo is right for you. There are diet ideas and supplements that can make Rock as healthy as possible.
I have dealt with 3 cancers in two pugs, for one cancer I did chemo, for the other two I did not. Lots of things went into the decisions- but the bottom line was I did what I though was best in each circumstance.
Make the best decisions you can for Rock- when you make them with love you can't be wrong.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
I am sorry about Rock, and sorry you are faced with the hard decisions. We had conflicting opinions on Trouble's treatment plan. Her diagnosing vet did not think she was a good candidate for surgery. Her second opinion vet was very clear to us that the only way to stop the pain was to take the limb. And if we didn't chose not to do chemo, she would live however long she had pain free.
In the end, because her cancer was contained and there was no metastasis, we did do chemo. She lived for 27 1/2 months and left the world cancer free. Age and arthritis took her from use.
Sending good thoughts to you and Rock. There are no wrong decisions. Each of us have to choose the path we feel is right for our pup and our circumstance.
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. Our Zeus was a Husky mix who was 11 years old at the time he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) but he was otherwise healthy and still full of life. Our decision was complicated by the fact that he already had a lung met and a suspicious spot on his liver, which drastically affected his prognosis. We decided to fight for him and did the amputation then six rounds of chemo. Although we were only given a guesstimate of six week survival post-amp, he ended up living ten MONTHS. That may not sound like very long to you, but it really does seem like so much longer. After receiving devastating cancer news, everyday becomes precious and the bond that you form with a Tripawd is indescribable. He did fabulous with the amp recovery and was very very happy during the time he had left with us.
I agree with Karen that the cancer treatment is more of a toss up. There are numerous stories on this site of dogs that have survived long term with and without chemo. We chose chemo b/c of the already-present mets. But, it is a personal choice for each family based on your abilities financially and time-wise to get them to and from treatment, etc. There really isn't a wrong decision - just what works for you and Rock.
Good luck!
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Sorry you had to find us here. It is good news that the vet thinks he is a good candidate for an amp, which would be the quickest route to getting rid of his pain. If you feel he still has living to do and is not ready to give up the fight, I think the amp is a good way to go. It can be a rough two weeks of recovery, but after that most people are very happy they went through with it. In my time here, I've only seen one person say they regretted doing the amp.
As others said, you can decide about the chemo later. We did chemo, but I'm not sure I would do it again. It really does seem to be a crap shoot. A good diet and a few select supplements is also a great way to go and we've seen many dogs do well that way,
Hang in there and 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!
Hi Charles
We decided to amputate and have never regretted it, it meant that Bandit was free of the pain of the tumour. It's been just over a month and he is doing well. We decided not to go for chemo, but that was a personal choice, All cases are different, as everyone has said there is lots of info here.
Good luck to you and Rock
Lesley
Bandit, 8 and a half year old lurcher living in South Wales, UK; amputation on left rear leg 21st August due to cancer
thank you everyone for sharing your experiences.I have made an appointment with the vet to sit down and talk more about this.I will be meeting with him tomorrow at 4pm .
charlesrock said
so went to vet , 3500 for amputation! it this kinda high?
It's going to depend very much on the area you live and whether a specialist (surgeon) is doing the surgery or a general practitioner. What also makes a difference in the cost is whether he'd be getting around the clock care.
$3500 would be a fair ballpark price in the area I'm in, but there are lots of variables.
Best wishes to you and Rock.
Right hind limb amputated 7/3/12 for OSA, started on alternating cycles of Carboplatin and Doxorubicin and oral Palladia. Single lung met 9/1. Met in the neck muscle removed 9/30. Large mass in sublumbar lymph node 10/2. Rescue chemo with ifosfamide 10/6. Mets to the rib and axillary lymph node 10/21. Started Leukeran and Pred 10/25. Wookie left this Earth for a far better place on 12/4/12. I miss you, Boo, you were my heart.
$3500 is quite a bit more than we paid (we live in San Diego - I know sometimes where you live can impact the cost), but we took Abby ourselves to an overnight hospital (we had the option to take her home the same day). Some folks leave their pups at the hospital for a couple of nights. Does the quote include one/some overnight care?
Jackie
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!
charlesrock said
...3500 for amputation!
See what others paid on average:
Costs of Amputation and Chemotherapy: What Did You Pay?
Major surgery is not exactly something you want to bargain hunt for, and you do tend to get what you pay for. Your estimate may or may not be high depending on the surgeon, facility, and technicality of the surgery. This video interview may help you decide if another opinion is necessary:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
went to the vca close to my house today. with a new set of xrays and meds for after surgery 2074 dollars he told me, the first doc i went to didn't even have the decency to come in and consult with me he sent in the office manager. this is why i felt he might be just trying to push me out the door i dunno but so far im pleased with this doc he was very careful about what we need to do and how fast this can take a turn for the worst. honesty is greatly appreciated..
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