Posted on 08/17/2015 9:06:32 AM PDT by NCDave
Hello everyone, I would like to hear from the vast knowledge of Freepers about anyone who has had to have a dogs leg amputated and also if anyone has had their dog fitted with a prosthetic after. I have a senior female Great Dane that has to have her front leg amputated somewhere above her wrist. She has tumors that grow and have to be removed, and now they are embedded in her paw bones and are not able to be removed. Right after the last surgery 2 weeks ago, a new tumor grew out and won't allow the paw to heal. So, I am up against the clock and I need to do something fast. I am trying to decide what to do about amputation and maybe getting a prosthetic due to her size and ability to get around on 1 front leg. She is healthy otherwise. I want to do what I can to make things easy on her but I am also limited by time and money of course. I would like to know what people have had to spend on prosthetics and surgeries. I love my dog like my children and will do whatever I can. Please let me know what your experiences have been. I will try to respond to as many replies as I can. Thanks again Freepers, your help is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely, Dave
I would anything for our pets. The hardest thing to do is to come to terms with the fact that there is nothing else that can be done. Have had 9 pugs over the many years that we had to say goodbye to. I still look at their pictures and cry.
Three legged dogs do just fine. I see no need to fit an artificial paw that the dog will probably not even use.
Those dogs kept me from eating a bullet... I’d sell a kidney too. In fact I would rather sell a kidney than on of my guns.
Yep - I disagree in this case. I think there are certainly times when we need to make that hard decision. Dave has stated that his dog does NOT have cancer, the vet and the rescue where he got him agree that the amputation is the best course, and he came here asking for feedback from others who may have had such a procedure with their dogs. I am frankly surprised at those that are counseling that the dog be put down.
I agree there are situations where that is the kind thing to do - in fact, I had to do that 3 years ago with our 15 year old Springer Spaniel. But this scenario does not seem hopeless at all!
There will certainly be a period of a few days of recovery from surgery and a few weeks of adjustment - but then he will have potentially years left with his beloved pet.
But I wanted to know more about this fake stuff.
What? Wrong thread.........
As a son of a hound man, I’ve seen a truckload of three legged dogs, thanks to getting tangled in wire fences while hunting. They still hunted and got along fine.
We had a great Dane with the exact same issue. Apparently it’s a common affliction with the breed. Our Duke was old, so we had the vet make a house call and put him to sleep. It was sad all around. We buried him on the farm.
>>Cats are every bit as lovable as dogs.<<
I miss my kitty (who as with me for more than half my adult life) more than anyone could possibly know. After all these years the pain in my heart is as poignant as when she passed.
But she was always about herself — and rightfully so.
I was joking a bit about dogs (who really are delightfully lovable.) But my love for my passed Musica and Neysa is forever. I pray that the Rainbow bridge will be there for me to see my Musica and Neysa. If not, then there is no point to life here.
God is great and I believe He will grant my prayer in the bye and bye.
Dave, go here https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/limb-amputation.
Our Doberman/Lab mix Duke had to have a leg amputated in his first year after he fell asleep under our van and we accidentally ran him over, causing a broken pelvis. It was his back left leg. He runs fine and gets around pretty good except for jumping up on beds and such. We have to be careful to help him keep his weight down because the single rear leg bears a lot of the load, and the Doberman blood makes him a very muscular dog. Please feel free to ask any questions I could help with.
We had a Rottweilers front leg removed due to cancer, spent $3k total and had to put him down 4 months later. Not the wisest use of our money.
I hate to say it, but a tender goodbye is probably your best choice.
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Our last Rottweiler had two blown ACL’s (actually a cranial cruciate ligament). One year apart. We fixed them, at a cost of A Big Sum. That was cool, but she later succumbed to a mystery illness at age 10. The sendoff does need to happen, sometimes. Our vet gave a big shot of propofol right before the end. That made all of us more at ease. Best to you.
Thank you for your reply. I was curious of what you meant. I am sure that on the other side, the Lord is more than able to bring our dear kitty and puppy friends back to those of us who trust in Him. He made them so lovable that I don't expect He would cause them to just "not exist." No. He's so very kind.
I sent a FReepmail to Dave.
Set up a GoFundMe account for the dog.
I did.....nothing is happening. I was not going to pimp it here. My clock is running out.
Have you made a Facebook page for the dog?
Do that, seek out Great Dane groups.
I’m -sure- you’ll get help.
Check your FReepmail, too
I’ve got a big dog that was born with three legs, the fourth, one of his front legs, is just a stub.
He’s fine going on three- chased mail trucks until I trained him not to, still chases coyotes and fights raccoons way out into the swamp around cypress knees and downed logs with no noticeable difference in speed from a regular dog, chased an intruder on my property but lost the guy when the man scrambled over a fence that the dog could not. The only thing that he is limited on is when he attempts to jump up into truck... he has a hard time grabbing on to pull himself up with one foreleg now that he’s older and fatter so it takes a few tries.
A three legged dog will be just fine but try to keep it on the thin side so its weight doesn’t cause extra wear and tear [and can get in your truck without a forklift.]
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