Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Our dog's amputation surgery is at the end of this month. The entire front right leg will be removed. We need to decide if we should keep the scapula or not.
Our vet discussed the pros and cons with me. I am inclined to say keep, as it will shield the chest cavity.
Cons discussed were pretty much just cosmetic..... our dog is short-haired, so muscle atrophy will make the scapula spine visible and we may see movement at times.
Any thoughts or experiences anyone wants to share to help us think about this?
Thanks!
Hi Pete and family! That was great your vet discussed this with you.
Well, remind me why the leg is being removed? Is it cancer?
When it isn't cancer, it can be advantageous to leave as much of the limb as possible if you think a prosthetic is in Pete's future.
Cons discussed were pretty much just cosmetic….. our dog is short-haired, so muscle atrophy will make the scapula spine visible and we may see movement at times
Hmmm. Yes and no really, it just depends on whether or not any of the actual limb is left too. When it is, we tend to see issues with dogs rubbing and irritating the limb stump while trying to use it, bumping it, etc. Sometimes they need an "amputation correction" surgery too. Read more here:
Partial vs. Full Leg Amputation for Pets, What’s Better?
Odds are good you will still see movement when the scapula is left, members report that all the time. It's not a big deal, but it does freak people out for a while 😉
Our Jerry's scapula was removed because that's where the cancer was. I don't feel that him living without the scapula was a problem. I see more problems on other dogs when the scapula is left behind along with some stump.
Let us know what you decide.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
No, not cancer. A (old) failed break repair - bones have grown around wires and there is an MRSA infection at the wire site. We did have the option to try and repair it (remove wires, clean out infection), but have decided to amputate. It was very difficult to make a decision.
The injury is up high in the leg (above both joints), so there won't be a stump left.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience with me.
Thanks for the link. It was helpful and informative. I think it will still be a little difficult to decide, though. 
Hi there, this sounds very similar to my Meg's reason for amputation. She too had a break (her elbow) and then an infection around the implant. From everything I've heard, you are extremely wise not to try and go back in and clean out the infection. My understanding is that that would be extremely unlikely to be successful unless you were able to remove the wires as well and, as you say, the bone has grown around them.
Meg's was also her right front leg. They took her scapula too. I didn't even consider the scapula/not scapula options to be honest. They didn't discuss it. It was just what they did, a prosthetic not being an option as she needed an above elbow amputation. It was a horrible time, and I felt very anxious about how she would cope on three legs. But, I now look back on her amputation with a feeling of immense relief. After months of trying to save her leg, that really was the moment when everything started to get better.
Next month she celebrates three years on three, and at ten years old continues to have an excellent quality of life. Click on the link to her blog below for videos and pics.
All best to you and Pete and please keep us posted.
Meg, Clare and Angel Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
megstamum said
Hi there, this sounds very similar to my Meg's reason for amputation. She too had a break (her elbow) and then an infection around the implant. From everything I've heard, you are extremely wise not to try and go back in and clean out the infection. My understanding is that that would be extremely unlikely to be successful unless you were able to remove the wires as well and, as you say, the bone has grown around them.Meg's was also her right front leg. They took her scapula too. I didn't even consider the scapula/not scapula options to be honest. They didn't discuss it. It was just what they did, a prosthetic not being an option as she needed an above elbow amputation. It was a horrible time, and I felt very anxious about how she would cope on three legs. But, I now look back on her amputation with a feeling of immense relief. After months of trying to save her leg, that really was the moment when everything started to get better.
Next month she celebrates three years on three, and at ten years old continues to have an excellent quality of life. Click on the link to her blog below for videos and pics.
All best to you and Pete and please keep us posted.
Meg, Clare and Angel Pie xxx
Thank you very much for taking the time to comment! It was very encouraging.
I have been struggling with guilt and second-guessing myself for choosing amputation. It is difficult not to.
Thanks for offering your perspective on the scapula issue. The various links and perspectives I've been offered in this thread have me leaning towards removing, but I haven't completely decided yet. Pete is a lab/greyhound mix and the vet mentioned something about his chest shape making the extra protection potentially helpful (in case he fell towards a pointy object), so it is tricky to choose. Maybe I will just have to make him an awesome suit of armor.
Welcome! My surgeon preferred to leave the scapula, for the reasons you've listed as well as the fact that she was trained in that surgery and not the other. I agonized over it, but in hindsight: it's not terribly different and there are pros and cons to both. The downsides I noticed were muscle tightness (she often held her scapula up toward her neck) and some sensitivity due to boniness. Over four year there was very little atrophying. I also think it's removed more commonly now because amputation due to cancer has become more frequent and surgeons are more familiar with that technique due to needing to remove as much bone as possible in cancer cases.
dcjack said
Welcome! My surgeon preferred to leave the scapula, for the reasons you've listed as well as the fact that she was trained in that surgery and not the other. I agonized over it, but in hindsight: it's not terribly different and there are pros and cons to both. The downsides I noticed were muscle tightness (she often held her scapula up toward her neck) and some sensitivity due to boniness. Over four year there was very little atrophying. I also think it's removed more commonly now because amputation due to cancer has become more frequent and surgeons are more familiar with that technique due to needing to remove as much bone as possible in cancer cases.
Thanks for sharing your experience, dcjack!
That is a good point about considering whether the vet is trained one way or another. I think ours is comfortable either way, but I will have to ask.
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