Has Anyone Had To Amputate A Dogs Leg?

[Diva]

L & L, have you considered a consultation with a specialist orthopaedic vet? I expect the kind of trauma you describe is beyond even a really good general practice vet's expertise. A`specialist would be able to give you a better idea of the options and likely outcomes. I know we have a good one here in Canberra as she performed a carpal arthrodesis on my dog's injured leg, but you are sure to have someone closer. Settrlvr is right about getting some kind of Bowen or other muscle therapy, dogs compensate for the disfunctional limb by putting excessive strain on other muscles, it helps with their general wellbeing and comfort to get them 'rebalanced' occasionally. That said I do know a couple of three leggged dogs and they cope really well, especially it seems if the missing limb is a back leg.

Cazz, whatever you decide your dog will not "blame you forever", dogs just don't think like that. Good luck with whatever you decide, it's a hard decision.

Ane, if you had the kind of work you describe done on a dog for just $150 more than amputation your vet is a saint. The normal cost would be in the thousands.

[BC]

One of my dogs "benji" had multiple fractures in his hips and leg. Mum and I found him on the side of the road one day after he was hit by a car. We took him to the vets, and paid $500 (this was about 15 years ago) to have surgery and 3 pins inserted and no on came forward for him so we kept him for the next 12 years until he passed away.

Ever since that day we found him he would always hold his back leg up under his tummy. It looked painful and uncomfortable to us, but Benji was happy as larry running around with his little deformed leg tucked up.

Back then we never knew about canine therapies, and it would've helped Benji immensly, as when he wasn't running around, he did put his leg down and walk on it, but as soon as there was some running or excitement involved he would tuck it back up straight away. The fact that he could walk on it shows that therapy would've encouraged it more, and got him out of the habit of holding his leg up.

[Mushaka]

THIS POST BY ANE IS A LIE!

I am "Ane"s sister. I am her only sister. She seems to be referring to my dog JELLYBEAN who is now MISSING or STOLEN (see other posts).

Jellybean did suffer a leg injury. She was never at risk of amputation and she NEVER went to Brisbane for surgery.

JELLYBEAN and SABBY are now MISSING. Cavaliers. My sister seems to have rehomed them while I was working away. Please see other recent threads about this and PLEASE CONTACT ME if you have any idea of where my dogs are.

Hi L&L

My first thought was also a shoe or wrapping the foot to protect it and encourage usage - however IMO this will only work BEFORE he is fully into the habit of lifting his foot/leg. Otherwise it will take longer for him to realise its not as painful to walk on his leg.

Other than that - if you know how much the amputation will be, could you compare it to re constructive surgery?

My sister's dog got out of her yard and hit by a car. Everyone thought she'd have to have her back leg removed - however I ended up asking if it was possible to try reconstructing her hip and leg first. The dog ended up coming from Bundaberg down here to Brisbane and she had her surgery here with my vet.

It was a success (lots of glue/staples/pins and permanent metal brackets drilled into her bones) as well as 6 months with a metal brace and pins on the outside of her leg...

The hard part was keeping her activity down while she was in her pins & bracket... whenever she would run she'd kick the back leg out to the side and hobble along on 3 legs.

She has fully recovered, outside uglies were removed and to look at her now you wouldn't know she has pins/braces on the inside. It was a success and only and extra $150 more than the amputation.

Its a thought you could consider and discuss with your vet.

Good luck with whatever you end up deciding

How odd.. I dont know where the other thread is..can u pm the link??

Ta

[Mushaka]

L & L, have you considered a consultation with a specialist orthopaedic vet? I expect the kind of trauma you describe is beyond even a really good general practice vet's expertise. A`specialist would be able to give you a better idea of the options and likely outcomes. I know we have a good one here in Canberra as she performed a carpal arthrodesis on my dog's injured leg, but you are sure to have someone closer. Settrlvr is right about getting some kind of Bowen or other muscle therapy, dogs compensate for the disfunctional limb by putting excessive strain on other muscles, it helps with their general wellbeing and comfort to get them 'rebalanced' occasionally. That said I do know a couple of three leggged dogs and they cope really well, especially it seems if the missing limb is a back leg.

Cazz, whatever you decide your dog will not "blame you forever", dogs just don't think like that. Good luck with whatever you decide, it's a hard decision.

Ane, if you had the kind of work you describe done on a dog for just $150 more than amputation your vet is a saint. The normal cost would be in the thousands.

Im not sure where to look.. I will ask around. Might not be such a bad thing.

He doesnt seem to be having as much difficulty now. I have a feeling his pad is hardening up as the vet first thought it would. Im sure he will suffer arthritis sooner rather than later or pains associated with ageing will be accelerated by this condition.'

We will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Edited December 31, 2007 by Lewis & Lyn

[persephone]

Just a left-field thought..the leg is connected to the pelvis directly by the femoral head, right?

Well..if these bones are so far out of alignment..of course it will hurt

What if..... the femoral head is removed, as is done for some HD cases?

That way..the leg can align itself with soft tissue..and doesn't 'have' to go where the pelvis pushes it.

Obviously the use of the leg is unwieldy and painful now... maybe this would relieve a lot of the discomfort?

It would also decrease the pain from arthritis, as there would be no bony joint friction to cause the arthritis

Maybe totally off -target..but whatever,L&L hope he feels more comfortable soon :cool:

[Blue Fox 001]

Of course only on advice from your vet - but I have seen many many three legged dogs and cats (former vet nurse) and they all cope very well. Someone earlier said about not putting human emotions onto the dog this goes both ways - the dog will not have any inferiority complex or embarassment about only having three legs, it is usually the owner who has a problem but obvously you won't have, and the dog will be much happier and will get around better without the hinderance of a leg which serves no function any more.

JMO.

[Dogsfevr]

I am presuming the thread in the lost/found section?

[The Spotted Devil]

I am presuming the thread in the lost/found section?

And in rescue too - it's very untidy :rolleyes: