Leg Amputation?

[Kirty]

Would you amputate the hind leg of a med-large breed puppy? Why? Why not?

Basically, my current greyhound foster had a broken leg (femur). He is 5 months old. It was apparently broken when he was very little and has been left to heal on its own. The bones have knitted, but they are sort of crossing over where the broken pieces meet. As a result, this leg is a bit shorter than the other and is not growing properly. The whole leg is slimmer and smaller, it also has some muscle wastage. He has been checked by a vet who thinks it has healed and is not painful. But he often seems a bit stiff when he gets up and he definitely doesn't use the leg normally. I am worried it is painful and will cause more problems as he grows.

I'm going to have him seen by a greyhound vet soon to get their opinion, but just wanted to see what the general consensus was here.

Edited May 11, 2010 by Kirty

[indigirl]

A puppy yes I would. When they wanted to amputate my 12 yr old bullmastiff crosses' rear leg due to cancer I said no. I thought as his age it would just be too hard to adjust. Plus hed had his cruciates both done in yrs previously and had arthritis in both knees. I felt it would be too much strain on the remainding knee. I had them remove as much of the growth as they could, and i got another year with him before he was PTS at 13.

A young healthy dog can easily adjust.

[puggy_puggy]

I would amputate if there was no other way. He would cope just fine.

Kirty I am upset for you that the place where your boy came from did not pick this problem up.

[Erny]

Don't know anything about this, but my knee-jerk instinctive reaction would be to suggest that any surgery in that respect wait until the puppy has finished growing.

For a few reasons :

1. Because you'll then have a better idea of how the dog is affected by the deformaty caused by the bone injury
   
2. Because if the dog is using that leg to help support, it will mean that he is not forced to place all pressure on the remaining 3 legs he'd have if the injured one was amputated.
   
3. Because perhaps with growth the injury might not be affecting the dog so badly as to require amputation?
   

Rather than amputating because you're worried it will become worse as he grows, why not wait to see?

Can any corrective surgery be done, perhaps when the growth period is completed?

Your dog will still be young by that stage, so the "surgery -vs- age" factor should not be relevant in that case, I don't think.

I'm not a Vet. There are those on this board who are and who might suggest differently to me. But by the sounds of it, if you were to amputate now, I think it's being a bit too hasty.

Edited May 2, 2010 by Erny

[persephone]

I tend to agree with erny- let him grow some more- see what use the leg is then ..and make a decision based upon that. If he gets any use from it - I would be inclined to leave it .. a thin shorter leg may still be useful, maybe . Any pics of him standing/sitting/running?

[Staranais]

I'd be getting a specialist opinion from an orthopaedic vet before chopping anything off.

[Kirty]

I'll try and get some pics tomorrow. He seems happy enough. I guess I am worried about him being sore - its hard to tell though because he is still quite active, and doesn't limp as such.

puggy, I knew his leg had been broken as a puppy, but the truth was bent slightly. I was told his foot turned out but he was not lame, etc. Well, his leg swivels out as he walks, and he swings it out wide when he goes up steps, runs, etc. When he stands, it doesn't quite touch the ground, so he is always balancing on the other leg. There is a big lump where the bones have knitted and as I said, a bit of muscle wastage. I was hoping that once he came here and got to stretch his legs, his leg might get stronger. But I actually think it has gotten worse. When he gets up off his bed, he doesn't use that leg at all and its a bit of a struggle.

My other issue is rehoming him. I don't want to rehome him and then the owners have to amputate a year later. I guess he is going to be a long term foster...

ETA: I'm not chopping anything off yet staranais. Just wanted to get some opinions in case that issue is raised. I wasn't sure if it would be wise to do it to a puppy.

Edited May 2, 2010 by Kirty

[Dame Aussie]

Yep. I've seen puppies who have had a leg amputated and honestly they're up and about a day or two later. They adjust so well

[Kanati Whippets]

I have a girl here "Lacey" and she has a bent back leg....everyone said to take her leg off but I choose to wait and she is now 3yrs and is fine. Yes she walks kinda funny and you can see it is obviously not "normal" but she is happy and healthy and in no pain.

She was hurt by her mother at 4 weeks and was crippled with nerve damage and couldn't move around for a few weeks. with some physio and patience she is a very much loved pet.

I took her to Des Fegan in Cranbourne, he knows me and knew i wanted other options than putting a 4 week old pup down. I took her as my payment for whelping the litter down and have never regretted it. If you would like his number i am happy to give it to you, just pm me.

[Erny]

ETA: I'm not chopping anything off yet staranais. Just wanted to get some opinions in case that issue is raised. I wasn't sure if it would be wise to do it to a puppy.

One of my major concerns would be that amputation of one means that the other leg takes all the pressure, and with the pup's bones still being soft, I'd be worried about what damage that's likely to do. I see you're already looking to go to a specialist about it, which is great. I think my first port of call would be to investigate whether corrective surgery is a possibility (if surgery is necessary at all) and what would be involved.

Good luck - I hope the prognosis has some positive stuff in it for this guy. And good for you for rescuing and looking to do the right things to help set this pup up for a bright future .

Edited May 2, 2010 by Erny

[stormie]

I'd go see a specialist first. But I can tell you that at one of the Specialist talks my boss went to regarding Osteosarcoma, they discussed amputation and it was said by the specialist that the large/giant breeds actually cope very well with amputation, assuming the rest of them are fine.

So if breed size is concerning you, I wouldn't let it.

[anniek]

Kirty - we have dealt with a few "broken" greyhounds. He will most likely already have arthritus in his leg, which will get worse as he ages. Suggest you get him on a good quality gluosamine/MSM/clondriotin mix asap.

Also suggest you consult with either Alistair Smith at Sandown, or Chris Boeme at Keysborough. They are both greyhound vets, very used to greyhound ortho surgery. Sandown are the cheapest, and Chris although expensive is considered the best greyhound ortho surgeoen in Australia by a lot of people in the industry.

[Kanati Whippets]

Kirty - we have dealt with a few "broken" greyhounds. He will most likely already have arthritus in his leg, which will get worse as he ages. Suggest you get him on a good quality gluosamine/MSM/clondriotin mix asap.

Also suggest you consult with either Alistair Smith at Sandown, or Chris Boeme at Keysborough. They are both greyhound vets, very used to greyhound ortho surgery. Sandown are the cheapest, and Chris although expensive is considered the best greyhound ortho surgeoen in Australia by a lot of people in the industry.

Chris IS the best ortho vet as far as most of the racing population but is also known as "chris the thief" because of his prices.

he knows this and laughs with most of us. I don't trust Sandown (only because of what has happened to a few of my dogs, but i do know people who use them and are happy) which is why I use Des Fegan (also a greyhound vet and taught alot by Gannon).

If you can afford him Kirty, Chris is the best to go to. I know of a friends dog who broke his hock in a race (this is normally a career ending injury) and Chris actually did his surgery and he raced and won many after the surgery.

[Kimjm1]

check this out www.orthopets.com now avaliable in Australia

[anniek]

Chris IS the best ortho vet as far as most of the racing population but is also known as "chris the thief" because of his prices.

he knows this and laughs with most of us. I don't trust Sandown (only because of what has happened to a few of my dogs, but i do know people who use them and are happy) which is why I use Des Fegan (also a greyhound vet and taught alot by Gannon).

If you can afford him Kirty, Chris is the best to go to. I know of a friends dog who broke his hock in a race (this is normally a career ending injury) and Chris actually did his surgery and he raced and won many after the surgery.

I use Chris for my two greys, but we use Sandown for the GSN dogs as cost is obviously a big factor - especially when you're talking routine stuff. We have taken a couple of GSN dogs to Chris over the years though.

Whenever I see Chris I always ask him "and how was the world cruise?" He just smiles.

Annie

[Clyde]

Cordy just had her elderly Labradors' hind leg removed. She appears to coping brilliantly. Perhaps shoot her off a PM as she has had a few rescues dog legs removed too.

[Trishm]

Oh, is this the beautiful Sam, how sad, he is so adorable. I do hope that there is a good outcome for him.

Trish

[greytdog]

Whenever I see Chris I always ask him "and how was the world cruise?" He just smiles.

Annie

OT, but Bianca's last lot of antibiotics were $90 for the course. I had to ring Chris for a followup and got him to check the price just in case it was a mistake. Phoar!

BTW, I think he's great.

Back on topic... I don't know much about it, but I would prefer lopping off a hind leg than a foreleg if it comes to it (not that you have a choice obviously). Forelegs are a difficult one b/c they carry a lot of the dog's weight, particularly in large breeds. I'd be going to the specialist now if you're going to (expensive for rescue), only b/c if there's any other option than surgery, it might be better now than later when the bones are mature.

Again, not that I know much.

[WoofnHoof]

I'd agree with consulting a specialist, I wonder if the bone could be rebroken and reset? (I'm no vet just speculating) It will be interesting to see how this pup goes regardless he sounds like he's in good hands

[Cordelia]

Yep.. 13yr old Lab with secondary bone cancer. Broke her femur at the tumour site 4wks ago... leg removed 3wks ago and she is happier than she has been in over a year (not that she wasn't happy anyway, but she's even better!)

It was a REALLY distressing decision but knew I had to amputate as I simply couldn't put her to sleep and be sure I'd made the right choice... I now know 100% that I did the right thing.

She's now running around after her ball as she always has and we've started walking again.. we only go about 300m so far as there and back home she gets tired... she also has severe HD so the vet removed the acetabulum as well.. her remaining leg was her better one (which still isn't great but she's on carprofen and will start swimming) and is already starting to regain muscle mass.

Edited May 2, 2010 by Cordelia