Help!
My Golden Retriever (five rising six) may need to have his front leg amputated because of cancer. He faces chemo too. Does anyone have any experience of the success of this kind of dog living comfortably on three legs.

If you have any information or help please e-mail me on:
autumnbunche@hotmail.com

URGENT!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry to hear about your dog, I don't have first hand experience of a dog who has had a leg removed but do know that they manage very well.
Jackie

I have sent you an email as well, but like i said i hope all goes well and like jackie has said many dogs will cope on 3 legs. Debbie ;)

No problem Guest, they do remarkably well once they get use to in.

Regards, John

I'm so sorry to hear about your golden, my friend had a border collie that had her front leg amputated through cancer and managed remarkably well she even went back to obedience. people use to watch her with tears in their eyes, she just loved to work.

Barbara

Hi guest,

I have two dogs who have had their front legs amputated as pups due to road traffic accidents. one is a gsd the other a whippet.
Both cope remarkably well especially the gsd who weighs nearly 40kg.

I have also seen older dogs (2) in rescue who needed amputation and both coped well with the adjustment after the op.

if you would like to email me, my mail is nouggatti@eircom.net
Theresa

I had to have a front leg amputated off a 6 year old, heavy hound breed and he did ok. The most important thing really is to get a lung/chest xray & liver etc test done 1st to make sure the cancer hasn't spread, as it is a hugely traumatic op to put a dog through, if the potential lifespan is to be short. if you want more info, email me.

most dogs or cats with 3 legs do fine......i think this is because unlike us humans, they just get on with things, and dont have the psychlogical consequences e.g. thinking about what they look like. hope things go ok, :)

I've got a three legged springer and she certainly hasn't lost her spring. It's her back leg but she had her op in May and she is now running around like normal - it only took her a couple of months to get back to normal really. She even flushed two pheasants after hunting them in a very thick bramble bush, at the weekend.

The only thing she cannot do is scratch her left ear but she is gradually learning that if she pushes her head along the floor, that will scratch it or alternatively, she will sit in front of me with her head to one side to get me to scratch it!

I've also noticed recently that she has stopped trying to scratch with her stump. I know after the op, she wiggled her stump around when trying to scratch but no longer does this so she must have finally realised she doesn't have a leg there.

Helen

Saw a notice in the vets a couple of years back - story from a woman who's Lurcher had had to have front leg off due to cancer and had Chemo too. She said it had given the dog another two years of a very happy existence and was basically telling her story to help other people in the same situation. As Sam says, it depends more on the cancer than the leg - she will do fine on three, as long as her weight is correct as more strain goes on the other front leg. Its more strain on the remaining front leg than it would be if a hind leg was removed - so your vet will advise you to keep the dog fit and not let her get overweight at all.
As I said, its the cancer - you can never tell - as long as the vet says its all been removed with the leg, then I'm sure the prognosis will be good.
Good luck.

Please join the board Guest then you will be able to tell us what happenes and maybe we can help further. At the least we are a shoulder to lean on.

Regards, John

My GSD was six years old when she had to have a hind leg amputated. I was not keen at first but after a lengthy discussion with our vet he assured me that she would soon adapt and go on to have a good quality of life. We changed our daily routine regarding walks, feeding etc but she could still chase the squirrels when she wanted!