Three legged dog worries

[TheBestDogEver]

Am waiting for test results but it’s looking like my dog has cancer and will lose a front leg. I need to prepare us all for this, my vet is wonderful but if anyone can share experience and even just of minor things that will help my gorgeous boy, please tell me.

I am not great with blood and medical things so the aftermath of the operation is quite concerning.

Three legged doggos can be the best and happiest.

We had a little terrier who got clipped by a car as a puppy and lost a back leg - honestly, she coped as well as if she had all 4 legs! No issues at all. Vet said losing a back leg has little impact. But a front leg can be trickier I think. Sorry you’re having to go through this with your Ddog and I hope all works out well!

I’m sorry to hear that.

There is a couple who I see “walking” their dog when I go out for my run. She’s a greyhound and has 3 legs. She wears a harness and they support her with straps (if that makes sense) and she hops along. Her tail is always madly wagging and it always make me smile.

Edit in response to PP: she lost a front leg so wonder whether that’s why she wears a harness?

I was once making a fuss of a dog in a shop - he was lovely and friendly.
When I started talking to his owner, I mentioned the dog seemed to be limping, was his leg OK, the guy laughed and pointed out that he only had three legs.
Dog seemed perfectly affable and happy.

We have a rescued 3 legged cat (I vetoed DH wanting to call him 'Tripod' 😂- he's actually called 'Victor' as he is victorious over his disability) and in the past we had a 3 legged dog. Both live/d full and active lives. Our dog had an accident & lost her leg as a result. Yes she needed some care post-op, but the vet helped with good rehabilitation advice & she soon got her mo-jo back & enjoyed walks & playing with the other dogs. Unlike humans, animals don't worry about the future, don't worry about how they're perceived & don't seem to be aware that they are different to other animals. They just get on with life.

We have a blind dog (another rescue, unfortunately a cruelty case) who is the most loving happy little dog. She has her sighted companion (who wears a bell so that she can follow her mate) & she happily runs around the woods, in fields etc.

Most 3 legged dogs manage perfectly well @TheBestDogEver your main concern should be whether the cancer he has has already spread beyond his leg so I’d be looking into that before you put him through any major surgery . Hope it all works out for you x

So sorry to hear this. Hope your fur baby is ok. If you search for three legged dog on instagram there’s quite a few come up. I’m sure you’ll find them inspiring and they’ll give you hope that your dog will be ok.

Thank you. Your pets all sound amazing. Is there anything you wish you had known in advance of the surgery? Just wondering if there are things I can do to make him the most comfortable possible.

Thank you- yes I am only going to do whatever is best for him, so far nothing fits an exact pattern so the test results will be crucial to what I need to consider next.

Different circumstances but one of my dogs lost use of a back leg (spinal condition in old age) and whilst he could manage indoors / the garden, outdoor walks we had a wheelchair similar to this...https://pawsbetter.com/products/full-support-dog-wheelchair?variant=44979246071983&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22472881113&gbraid=0AAAAA-c1tCFkE0pCcBdwVImPrfQF_UZQO&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxo_CBhDbARIsADWpDH7cuwYXFNmboNTTHr7SUuBxDPYqYvj-7cm0sel9W4jGZla8L9-eBdYaAuWtEALw_wcB

Dogs live in the moment so usually cope fine if they lose a leg.
If you have a very energetic dog you could maybe get some brain training games for post surgery when they cant exercise much.
Hopefully its not a big dog as losing a front leg puts alot of strain on the remaining leg and can increase risks of arthritis in later life (obviously the bigger the dog the more strain).

Hope things go well for your dog OP!

Thank you- he is a lab but otherwise fit and healthy, I have always been very strict about his food so he’s slim which is going to stand him in good stead.

I really appreciate all the support on here, the waiting is horrible.

I feel,for you. My last dog had a lot of complex medical problems including diabetes, pancreatitis and arthritis. There were several moments in the last 3 years of his life when I thought I was going to,lose him but he wasn’t ready to give in and was a fighter to the end - which was when he decided he’d had enough. As someone already said, dogs live in the moment and are happy souls who just want to be with us. He will cope fine. I also recommend a wheelchair for him and also a harness called a help ‘em up which fits along the body and has two handles to lift him or hold him up. Good luck and kisses to your pup from mine (the new one).

Thank you @stclementine your previous dog sounds amazing… and thanks for the pup kisses! My boy is very sociable so he will appreciate that.

I was only watching a video of a 3 legged dog yesterday doing flyball! Amazing! I think it was flyball? The one where they run over hurdles and get a ball at the end and run back again. Made me well up 😂

We lived next door to a three-legged dog for years (medium sized mongrel, about springer sized with a missing front leg). He seemed to potter along quite happily, if a bit jerkily. Sadly they lost him when he had an accident that damaged his other leg.

Our lovely lab Luna lost her leg after getting hit crossing the road in January. I had a thread on The Doghouse section about it.

We have laminate and tiled floors downstairs so purchased several non-slip runner style mats for her to walk on, a friend turned up with her dogs old flat orthopaedic bed which Luna slept on for weeks before she was able to get back on the lower sofa and now alternates between that and the sofa.

Raised bowls I saw recommended online for if they have had a front let amputated.

She did once fall during recovery and screamed and panted and it was quite harrowing but after that she was ok and now you can see she corrects herself when her back end starts to go down.

I can’t think of any other useful info but if I do I’ll come back.

She physically can run around like a typical lab again full of beans but doesn’t do longer than 30ish minutes these days. Maybe she could do longer but that’s how long we have been walking her for off lead and she seems satisfied.

Sorry to hear about your pup and I hope they recover well.

I came here to recommend the OP have a look at your thread SnowSnow. I'm glad Luna's doing well.

OP I hope things work out for your boy.

If you go onto Facebook and search "Tripod dog" you'll find loads of support groups. I think you'll find that more helpful than lots of Instagram photos and you will be able to ask specific questions. My guess would be that for a big dog like a Labrador, having a front leg amputated will have a slightly longer recuperation and rehabilitation period than would be the case for a hind leg. Also longer than a small dog, whose centre of gravity is lower. If you have a look at these groups though, you'll see that the outcome can be amazing. Be prepared for a long job though. Good luck.

Thank you, I will look up your thread. Poor Luna and poor you, sounds like she is doing really well x