I'm looking for anyone who has experience of their dog undergoing a leg amputation.

there is a possibility , although not definate yet, that my oldest Gordon Setter, may have to have one of his front legs amputated.  We're waiting for for biopsy results back (both both and tissue), to assertain what is going on, and there is a possibilty that it could be a tumour. 

I'm trying to look into every possibility at this point to decide what is best for him,whilst keeping everything crossed that is just a foreign body or something minor.

Prior to this he is typical outgoing lively active 3 1/2 year old gordon male

has any of you had any experience of going through an amputation?

As I said earlier, its not certain and obviously depends on the biopsy results in a weeks time, but I'd like to hear from anyone who's had any experience of this sort of thing so I can have time to decide whether, for his sake , it is worth considering if it came to it.

Jill

I know Justi on here owned Braken (Lab) who had a leg amputation and lived an active life until she was nearly 15 years old.

Do a search under the user name and then look at her profile as she has a website detailing all that happened in Braken's life.

Best of luck with the results and hope it is nothing to serious.

Lucy
xx

Hi Jill,
We have a border collie who had her off side (horse expression!) foreleg amputated after a road accident. She was six yrs old when it happened. She is now eleven. She has led a very active life without any thought from her that she only has three legs! She continued to work the sheep when we had them and still goes off hunting with her friend the Border terrier. Digging mole hills and bunny holes is quite funny to watch, but she manages really well by lying on her tummy and digging with her one frontleg! The only problem we had was getting the stump to heal and it took about three months. At one point the vet thought he may have to remove the shoulder blade but was reluctant to do this because it affects the balance. I am a homeopath and so treated her with calendula tablets and bathed it twice a day with calendula tincture (diluted). We also modified a leather horse hock boot as a sort of sling, to protect it and to stop her licking it. Once healed she has had absolutely no problem in leading a very full life.
Hope this helps - feel free to get in touch if you need.
Fran.

Thanks for your responses.  they have really helped and I feel alot better if, worse case senario, he does have to have his leg off, that his quality of life wont be greatly affected. 

Its now just the wait for the biopsy results end of next week and fingers crossed that it is something minor

thanks again

Jill

Really hope the biopsy results come back ok.

I sometimes meet a springer spaniel in the woods who has had his front leg amputated. He can walk for miles, runs and plays with my dog and has a wonderful quality of life. You don't even notice he is missing a leg when you first see him and it takes a while to realise why his gait is slightly different to other dogs.

hi as lucy said my bracken had her leg amputated (bone cancer) she never missed the leg, she still ran, swam ,dug, played etc, the recovery was quick and uneventful which was amazing considering she just did not have the leg amputated she had the whole pelvis hip joint taken away too as the cancer was in the hip joint, if I ever had to face the possibility of amping one of my dogs again I would do it in a heartbeat, we belong to the bonecancerdog group and there are hundreds of amputees on there all who have managed wonderfully with amp, front or back, even those with dodgy hips have coped well with front amputation which amazes me.  Brackens oncologist always told me that dogs are three legged animals with a spare, she was right

good luck, if you click on my name it will take you to the link to brackens website where you can see photos of her playing etc, she was amped at age 7 we lost her two weeks before her 15th birthday

jill forgot to say if you do have to amp put a t shirt or better yet one of the medical vests on your dog, you have to cut leg holes the tightness of the vest keeps any adema at bay and they cannot lick the wound

Hi Justi

had a look at your website and link last night and found them really useful.  We'll know more come the end of next week.  I just wanted to hear from people as to what their personal experiences have been, so that worse case senario, I am armed with all the facts to make the best decision for him, when I have time to digest everything and get to grips with it.

Should get the tissue biopsy results by tuesday/wednesday and the bone ones come the end of the week. 

Jill

Jill, just want to say that I hope it doesn't come to that but I must admit that I was so impressed by Brackens website when I viewed it a few times. Anyway, good luck.

Hi Jill,

please God the biopsies will be clear but what an inspiration it is to see Justi's link :)  I've no up close and personal experience with a dog having an amputation but must admit the few I've seen over the years have seemingly coped remarkably well.

Very best wishes for the best possible outcome,
Teri x

Jill just seen this - positive thoughts for your boy
xx

Jill let us know how you get on with the results, praying it is not as bad as you think, I did forget to add though alot of people seem to think the larger the dog the worse they cope with amp, it is just not so on brackens list there have been great danes, new foundlands, bernese mountain dogs, st bernards , ridgebacks and lots of rotties, all who have had no problem with amp, and the older dogs too have coped very well, if the biopsy comes back cancer it really is worth asking for a refferal to an oncologist, they only deal with cancer so are more up to date with treatment options available etc.  sadly though no vet treatment is cheap and I know it has to be taken into account, good luck with the results

What an awful time you must be having, there is a fair bit of cancer in my breed, I know of a few people who have had leg amputations it seems to be 50/50 as to the outcome, two people I know had the amputations then lost their dogs 2 weeks later down the line so a double blow.

If he were an old dog I wouldnt put him though it, but he is so young so I can see why you are considering this, fingers crossed for you lets hope it doesnt come to that!

Please let us know how he goes

xx

Hi Jill!

Fingers and paws crossed here for you too.... nothing of relevance to add Im afraid other than to voice support!
(Get yourself down ESB for a cuppa with me some time!!!)
Liv x

Results back today and its a tumour.

Biopsy was not conclusive as to what type of tumour we are looking at, but its a sarcoma in the bone. 

Specialist is going to go and have a chat with the Pathologic on Monday to see if they can give him any indication as to what type they think it may be.

Now's the decision what to do, depending on the type of tumour, whether to amputate and then think about chemo or whether to call it a day while he is relatively pain free.

Jill

Hi Jill,

I'm so sorry to read this :(  Sending prayers, blessings and positive thoughts that your lad is pain free and whatever is the best outcome you will both be able to cope. 

God bless, Teri xxx

I'm sorry it's not the result you were hopeing for, you must be feeling terrible ((((hugs)))). Lets hope the prognosis is better and that there is a chance of a good recovery. Don't give up yet, there's always tomorrow.

I am very sorry to read that the outcome wasn't as hoped :(

Very sorry to read this, keeping everything crossed for you both.

A quick update for you all

He had his CT Scan on Wednesday and thankfully his lungs were clear, with no signs of it spreading to the chest.  Amputation went well yesterday and picked him up today.  He's still a bit drowsy but then that is to be expected and the leg is off to the lab to try to establish exactly what type of sarcoma he has (currently suspected Oestosarcoma).   Once lab results back then we're looking at chemo (if suitable dependant on the type of cancer) and hopefully give him a good quality of life.

He's coping with walking ok, just peeing that he's still struggling a little with, but then he does insist on lifting his leg and has alway tried to win the "who can pee the highest"  competition! 

Jill

Lets hope he has a good recovery and he is suitable for the Chemo.

I am sure with time he will get used to peeing !

Lucy
xx

Wishing Archie all the best (and you too Jill) - give him a great big gentle hug from me won't you.

Hopefully he will stop trying to pee the highest soon!

Still sending positive thoughts your way.

xxx

Wishing you all the best.  We had a greyhound/saluki with a front right aputation.  She coped incredibally (sp) well, and lived to 11.  1 vet told me "dogs are born with 3 legs and a spare"! Good luck.  Mary

Glad the op went well and sending you lots of healing thoughts :)

so pleased the op went well, thats the first hurdle over with, he will probably be a bit sleepy / out of sorts for a fews days as he will have alot of drugs in his system, if he is on tramadol too it may make him keen, keeping everything crossed he does as well if not better than my bracken

Hi Jill

Been thinking about your boy since reading your first post, so sorry it has come to this. But on a positive lets hope he makes a good recovery from his op , must be really difficult for you also, hope you are coping.

give you boy a big kiss from us pls!

xxxx

HI Jill

How is Archie doing?

Hi guys

things have been a bit hectic recently, but Archie is doing well.  Finally got the test results back from the amputated leg and unfortunately it was an osteosarcoma.  I'm waiting to hear from my vets to arrange for Chemotherapy.  Fingers and everything crossed as his life expectancy is around 12 months!  We'll wait and see if he's still around for any longer and we're just enjoying him.  I'm willing to try anything to help him so long as he's pain free and happy! 

Archie has been coping really well in himself and is getting around well.  We've got his pain medication under control and he's not quite soo doped up now and some of his character is coming back! 

he does still insist on trying to pee on 2 legs although he is slowly realising that this isnt as easy and reverting to 3 a bit quicker. 

I've uploaded his piccie onto my avatar of him looking rather fetching in a pastel green top!!

Jill

glad to hear archie is doing well, they are amazing, remeber no one can accurately predict time lines, we too as yo know were given 6 months to a year diagnosis after amp and chemo, yet we got over 7 more years, you just cannot tell, just live for the day and enjoy, with os each and every day is a blessing, did they give you a cancer diet for him, or recommend any supplements?

Love the tshirt archie

No nothing on those lines.  I've put him on Glucosamine tablets to help his remaining joints.

Can you PM me details of a cancer diet.

Chemo hopefully starts later part of next week

Jill

Sorry about the diagnosis but hopefully after the chemo you will have many more years with him :-)

Lucy
xx

Sorry forgot to say we found out yesterday a friend of ours had his 13 year old Springer called Digby PTS and he had his leg amputated through cancer at 4 years old. :-(

He lived a happy and active life to the end :-)

Julian is devasted as he had such a strong bond with him :-)

Wow

That is amazing!!  So sorry for your friends loss, but great that he got so much more time out of him.  From browsing the sites that Justi sent me, it seems normal practise (which I understand) that the vets and specialists are always pessimistic.  He's coping very well and enjoying the extra attention he gets when people pass by when we're out.  

I'm hoping to start bringing him to some open shows in the future, so if you see a 3 legged Gordon , come up and say hello

Jill

I had completely forgot about Digby when you put your post up as always thought of him as a fourlegged dog as it didn't hinder him at all !
Will keep an eye out for you !

Hope I get to see your soppy boy again soon Jill.

Sorry that the news re: expected lifespan is not good but hopefully like others you will have MANY MANY more years with your big lad.

Love the T-shirt Archie - looking good boyo!

Did you get your new car yet?

Just an update for you all on my dear boy.

Archie had been doing well recently and was due for his third dose of chemo next week.  His blood tests were ok, but his platelet count had dropped and my vet was debating about a possible transfusion.  He was bright enough in himself, with the odd day of feeling a  little down. Yesterday he was his usual bright self for most of the day and then started going downhill quickly.  his colour had gone and he was scrunched up and feeling very sorry for himself.  After taking him to the vets and a few blood tests ect run, nothing obvious was coming to light.  So the painful decision was made to call it a day.  After he had gone, the vet could feel that something had ruptured and there was nothing we could have done for him. 

he had been so brave over the last few months and coped really well with his amp and his chemo, but his short time with us was up.  he was my first Gordon and was so special. 

Jill

So sorry Jill, it is the greatest act of love we can carry out for our furkids Mega cyber {{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}} to you

Run free at the Bridge Archie, sound, healthy & young

I'm so sorry to hear the sad news about Archie, he will stay in your heart forever,
run free Archie xxxxx

Oh Jill I am so very very very sorry

Huge hugs to you

Run free Archie - forever loved - miss you you big softy

so sorry Jill, run free Archie xxxx

So So sorry to hear your sad news truly devastating.
Just keep in mind you did your best for him and he wouldve known this he is in no pain now

Beth
xx

i'm so so sorry. massive huge {{{hugs}}} for you. i hope your ok

So very very sad to read your news

So sorry, you did your best and he knew that............
Big hugs to you......
Karen

So Sorry to hear your sad news....

Run free of pain at the bridge Archie

{{{{{{{{{{{{{ Cyber hugs to you }}}}}}}}}}}}}}]

Jenny B

So so sorry.

So sorry :-(

so very sorry to hear this, archie your special boy will always live on in your heart, you gave him every chance, there was nothing more you could do, he is out of pain and running free at the bridge hugs to you at this sad time

So sorry to hear this, Treacle is our first Gordon and I know how devestated we would be to lose her so young. Run free Archie.
M x