Mim Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 My friend's dog is having a back leg amputated next week and she's (naturally) worrying about it. Does anyone have any advice, information, stories or anything that I could pass on to her to ease her worrying a bit. I've found some really good websites about pre and post op care (www.bonecancerdogs.org for one) and there are lots of videos of 3 legged dogs living normal lives on youtube but if anyone can think of anything else, it'd be much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkycat Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 Our deerhound was diagnosed with bone cancer in his front leg . After a lot of thought and research we went ahead with amputation - he was not quite 5 years old. He was good after surgery and walked well and he was still able to run at full speed. However he did seem to miss his leg. When the dressings were removed I hit on the idea of putting an old t-shirt on him mainly so humans weren't upset at the sight - the t-shirt seemed to comfort him and he loved it and wore one until the end. I think the main problem is that once bonecancer becomes obvious in a limb the desease has usually progressed to internal organs usually the lungs. It is also a very aggressive and painful type of cancer. Mungo lived for almost 6 months after amputation. I still don't know if we did the best for him. His favourite t-shirt was printed with "trust me I'm a vegetarian" He loved his straw "nest" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 My friends Labrador who is goodness like 14 I think had an amputation last year and is doing awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mim Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 Thanks guys, good to hear an older dog has done well. My friend's dog is older but very fit and healthy so the vet is confident he will cope easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 We were at an off-leash park yesterday afternoon and a young (maybe 2yo) 3 legged staffy showed up to play, back leg amputated. This little things was running around like a nutcase!!!! She did trip over a few times and quickly picked herself up and kept the game of chasey going! Kenzie was mighty impressed that there was someone chasing her (it was amusing watching a tiny 3-legged staffy chasing a border collie!). I think after a bit of initial delicate treatment let them continue life as per normal but expect that there might be a few limitations, just don't impose the limitations unless it is for the safety of the dog!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 (edited) I have worked at a specialist Ortho clinic. Most dogs coped really well. Following post op instructions and rehab- will make a big difference to the recovery. ETA- I know a three legged Kelpie who works sheep (in the paddock as yards are a little dangerous) and does amazing in OB!! It was amputated at a few weeks of age and kept up with its four legged counterparts. Edited April 12, 2011 by ~Woofen~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I knew an older lab who had a front leg amputated due to osteosarcoma. he coped very well .. ONCE he learned to cock the other hind leg , so he didn't fall over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 (edited) I think dogs manage very well on three legs. But if it has been an amputation because of bone cancer rather than an accident then the prognosis can be poor. I had a 7 yr old Borzoi bitch pts rather than amputate, after talking to breed experts. The fact is that in my breed the disease has most likely spread before it is even diagnosed, and the post op survival rate at that time was not good, at best several months. It was enormously distressing to have to make that decision, she was my beloved heart dog, but I couldn't put her through such a major procedure for just a few months of life. I could have gone either way though, there is no right or wrong choice in that situation, and I can honestly say that I was haunted for years by the thought that I didn't give her the chance. I hope that if the dog has bone cancer that treatments have improved since we went through it, and the dog does well. I have heard of one dog who lived for a couple of years before it recurred. And maybe other breeds cope better with bone cancer than the big sighthounds, I wouldn't know about that. If it is not cancer, then the amputation itself wouldn't bother me too much, it is a big op but they do learn to manage. Sparkycat, Mungo was beautiful! Edited April 12, 2011 by Diva Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 With my breed, amputation is one of my 'lines in the sand', I just don't go there. And if a wolfhound needed amputation, its usually osteosarcoma and besides the logistics & pain of a giant dog missing 'one corner', I've never heard of one coping well or living much longer anyway. I know little dogs cope quite well, medium dogs - some do, some don't. fifi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 With my breed, amputation is one of my 'lines in the sand', I just don't go there. And if a wolfhound needed amputation, its usually osteosarcoma and besides the logistics & pain of a giant dog missing 'one corner', I've never heard of one coping well or living much longer anyway. I know little dogs cope quite well, medium dogs - some do, some don't. fifi So agree I use to groom a 3 legged OES who coped fine when age fit but once he got old he struggled & it was awful to watch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mim Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 The dog in question doesn't have bone cancer, just one of the websites I found is bonecancerdogs.org and he is a small dog (corgi X). He has an aggressive form of soft tissue cancer on his foot which hasn't spread anywhere else yet. It's either amputate and give him a few more years or don't amputate and have him PTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harley Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 My 9 year old lab has just had a soft tissue sarcoma removed and a skin flap made, last week. Amputation was one of the options we were given, however, our specialist was optimistic that she would be able to remove enough of a margin to save his leg and life. So far so good, but if the wound doesn't heal properly I guess we will still have to face the possibility of amputation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 The dog in question doesn't have bone cancer, just one of the websites I found is bonecancerdogs.org and he is a small dog (corgi X). He has an aggressive form of soft tissue cancer on his foot which hasn't spread anywhere else yet. It's either amputate and give him a few more years or don't amputate and have him PTS That sounds like he could do fine, in that situation I'd give it a go too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mim Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 The dog in question doesn't have bone cancer, just one of the websites I found is bonecancerdogs.org and he is a small dog (corgi X). He has an aggressive form of soft tissue cancer on his foot which hasn't spread anywhere else yet. It's either amputate and give him a few more years or don't amputate and have him PTS That sounds like he could do fine, in that situation I'd give it a go too. Me too, Diva. He is fit and healthy otherwise and is a tough dog and his owners and vet are confident he will have a good quality of life if the surgery is done. How is your lab doing, harley? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harley Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 He still has his staples in and there is an area of concern on the elbow which may require further surgery down the track. In the meantime he is on bedrest for 2 weeks. In himself, I think he is pretty good. He still loves his food and tries to do a happy dance once a day, despite trying to make him stop. His bed is more luxurious than mine ;) that the healing process improves Thank you for asking Mim and all the best to your friends dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbs Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I have a 3-legged cattle dog who is about 2 years old. We don't know how or why the leg came to be amputated - he was like that when he turned up at the pound. We have two other dogs - a kelpie and a JRT x tentie - and the cattle dog runs faster than both of them. He only has one speed, and that's a million miles an hour! He moves as freely as a 4-legged dog. The only time it ever becomes an issue is at bedtime. He knows when it's time to go to bed, so he starts dragging himself around the lounge room! Couldn't possibly expect a 3-legged dog to walk all the way doen the hallway to his bed Most nights I just end up carrying him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 many many years ago i was amazed to watch a medium sized black male dog wandering about our local shopping center ( back in the days when both kids and dogs went about their business free and unfettered).. he wandered about sniffiong and collecting the doggy messages that had been left etc.. thne it was time toleave his mark. Carefully carefull he sniffed , and moved about, sniffed some more just to get the perfect spot, turned ,and lifted his only back leg....another cursory sniff and off he wandered and rejoined his band of kids.. obviously no one had told him he would need to mark another way as he no longer had two back legs.... Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 The only time it ever becomes an issue is at bedtime. He knows when it's time to go to bed, so he starts dragging himself around the lounge room! Couldn't possibly expect a 3-legged dog to walk all the way doen the hallway to his bed Most nights I just end up carrying him! Now that dog certainly knows the meaning of milking it!! Adorable!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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