We recently got some paddleboards, and it's the perfect thing for her. She gets to go out with everyone and have fun outside adventures without getting exhausted quickly and overheated.
Obviously make sure you're safe and prepared for if anyone falls in, but I thought it might be an idea for some others that can't go on long walks anymore.
Just purchased through Amazon, like $200 includes everything except the life jackets!
Made the hard choice to have the vet come to our home today and put her down. She got have some of her favorite treats again and had some ice cream and steak and we had a great time at the park this morning too. She went surrounded by familiar sights and smells and sounds on her comfy bed at home and was so so loved and I'm going to miss her so so much. Heartbroken right now but she's no longer in pain and sick and can run on all 4 legs and enjoy all of her favorite things again.
Just want to say thank you to everyone for all the support and advice we've had together leading up to for the 5 weeks she was a tripawd after her surgery. Knowing all the information I had at the time I would have done it for her again in a heartbeat, and it was just to give her a better chance.
We had some pretty awesome adventures, road trips and campfire nights, many many happy relaxing peaceful nights at home, lots of loving head and back scratches and silly moments together. Rest well Maya ❤️🩹
Koda has always been a chewer and loves her bones but she always held them in between her two paws. I realized after surgery she was struggling with her previous joy. But tonight she finally figured out how to chew on them again instead of just running around the house with it in her mouth.
I posted last week about our Bella getting her leg amputated after being told she most likely has Osteosarcoma. They amputated her leg last Wednesday and she’s doing great this week!
We did get the confirmed diagnosis and it is Osteosarcoma. However we start Chemo for her in a week and I’m feeling hopeful. She’s adjusting so well and even though this has been a heartbreaking diagnosis, I’m so happy to see her smiling and hopping around
Content Warning: Story of sudden loss of a beloved dog
Thank you for the support this community offers, the unfiltered spectrum of experiences, and all the shared love for each three-legged menace. My wife and I relied heavily on this community while navigating the decision to amputate and our dog's brief post-surgery journey.
Our 13-year-old, Tater, developed a front-leg limp that was initially misdiagnosed as a paw pad infection, then attributed to old age. Doubting the diagnosis, we sought a second opinion. The new vet immediately saw something serious - X-rays revealed a shoulder mass, likely osteosarcoma. We saw an oncologist and made the decision to amputate.
Surgery went very well, and Tater came home the next day. The moment we saw her we could see a complete 180, she was not only happy but walking around, something we hadn't seen in weeks. After refusing to stand for so long, she was suddenly trying to bomb around the house and yard, becoming such a menace we knew we had to crate her. We quickly learned how tough recovery management is: instead of lifting and supporting a dog that could barely stand, we were now supporting and holding her back!
By evening, she began whimpering. While laying in the crate with her before bed, I accidentally brushed against her mouth and noticed her mouth was very cold. Her gums were pale and her paws were cold, too. She didn't seem able to move much.
We rushed Tater to the ER around midnight. Her heart rate was high, blood pressure low, and neurological responses atypical. The vet suspected a stroke or embolism. After 2-3 hours with no change, our options boiled down to keeping her overnight and hoping for a miracle or saying goodbye.
As we agonized over the decision, the doctor noted slight neurological improvement, but conveyed that her vitals were poor and this would likely recur, and that this was a gift, giving us an opportunity for a proper goodbye. We debated taking her home for euthanasia as we’d always planned, but realized it was too risky and would prolong her suffering.
The ER staff was incredible. They tucked her in with warm blankets, kept the room quiet, and gave us all the time we needed. It wasn’t home, but it was the best goodbye possible under the circumstances.
We don't regret the surgery. It was Tater's one chance to be free of such horrible pain and maybe give us some extra time together. I'd rather the bad luck fall on us than someone with a younger pet, because if only for a day, we got to see our potato happy and free from pain she had endured with such grace, and while the grief is immense, she lived a full and happy life and was loved on by many.
Ten years ago at the rescue, Tater’s informational sheet was covered in colorful stickers describing who she was. Amongst all those stickers, my favorite will always be the simplest: “Just a good dog.”
My girl is 15 years old and kicking ass. So proud of her. No idea how much time I have left w her, but we're making sure whatever it is, she's gonna be happy
How did you afford amputation? Did you have the money in your savings? Did you have pet insurance? Did you put it on a credit card? I am heartbroken. My dog is only 6 maybe 7? (We rescued her). She has osteosarcoma between amputation and chemo we are looking at about $8,000-10,000 this would drain our savings but she is the best dog ever. I dont know what to do.
Hello everyone. My girl was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and underwent a complete hind leg amputation yesterday. She’ll be coming home today. Does anyone have any advice or tips on how to help her recover and adjust? Thank you.
Hello my Doberman had has hind leg amputated 8 months ago and he has been doing well.
However, I’m concerned with his hind leg being lame as he has had a tplo on his hind leg.
I am in contact with vets but wouldn’t mind having opinions of others. If you think he is showing signs of lameness.
Thank you
Hi all!
Back in May, our then 13-month-old boxer, Scout, was believed to have partially torn her CCL since she was still weight-bearing but occasionally toe-tapping. They treated it as such and hoped for a recovery, but it progressed to a full limp and non-weight-bearing. Since the beginning, she's been on carprofen. Once it progressed into a full limp, they added gabapentin.
TPLO surgery was scheduled, and at the consult, the DVM felt the mass on her inner tibia, which I pointed out early on during the diagnosis of her CCL. It was believed to be scar tissue early on. They did X-rays and believed it to be, unfortunately, osteosarcoma. This vet wanted to amputate and send the leg in for testing, rather than biopsy to know what we were dealing with. (Cart before the horse?) I called my normal vet (they don't do TPLO) and we decided a biopsy was the best route. On 7/9, it was performed with the DVM noting there was fluid in the joint, as that is not typical of osteosarcoma. He was able to get 3 good samples and one deep right where the tumor is. (Can see the biopsy in the X-rays.) A little over a week later, with retesting, it came back as:
"The sample consists primarily of well-differentiated bone along with reactive bone and areas of fibrosis. Overt evidence of neoplasia is not observed."
At the bottom, with the secondary observation, it had this:
"Obtaining biopsies from bone cases like this is extremely difficult. Within the submitted sample, there is no evidence of neoplasia, but we cannot unequivocally state that this patient has no neoplastic change at this general location."
Assuming that's a COA.
Since 7/9, they placed her on clindamycin and amantadine, and continued the carprofen and gabapentin. The day after the surgery, she was using the leg somewhat again and has continued to occasionally use it, sometimes knuckling and/or toe tapping. Since the biopsy didn't really give any real answers, last Friday, 7/17, they also put her on fluconazole for a potential fungal infection.
Yesterday, 7/22, we had a follow-up appointment, and the vet is now again leaning towards osteosarcoma due to the X-ray getting slightly worse. I've been changing the contrast and messing with them; personally, I think they look better, but I am not an expert.
Currently, we have amputation scheduled in two weeks, 8/6. The vet wants to give the clindamycin and fluconazole more time to hopefully work. We will do more X-rays of the leg before making the decision to go or not go.
Blood was drawn yesterday as well; everything is normal there. The WBC count is at the lower limits of normal, which from my research really doesn't point toward or away from cancer or infection.
I know a lot of people have been through this or similar and are hoping for some advice or anything else we should be looking at. I know osteosarcoma is something boxers are predisposed to, but she would be on the extreme rare side at her age.
Obviously, we are absolutely devastated that our dream dog is going through all of this. We just want to make sure we are not missing something while also doing what is right for her.
Xrays are attached with the dates at the bottom.
Thank you for any input!
Hi everyone,
Wondering if those of you who have gone through with amputation can comment on the cost. I’ve been quoted 10k CAD for a straight forward procedure in Toronto for a front limb/scapula amputation.
Thanks for your input!
My Pyrenees was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right front leg. We met with the surgeon who gave us an estimate of $4,000 for amputation. Google estimates chemo to be about an additional $4,000. For anyone who has pursued an amputation how much did it cost you? do you think it was worth it?
We have the results back from Keira’s biopsy and will be going forward with front right amputation next week.
I am working on how to best prep our 5 year old daughter who is her bestest buddy. Right now we’ve done our best to explain that Keira’s legs have some “bad cells” in them and the doctor is going to remove them to help her get better.
I want to prepare a little booklet for her to help her understand what’s going to happen next week. If anyone would be willing to share before / after pics that I can include I would appreciate it.
I was thinking specifically anyone with a bigger dog like Keira who lost a front limb?
The immediate post opp pictures many in this group have shared have helped ME prepare. But even browsing the group today I thought - oh right…wow she’s going to come home VERY shaved and with VERY intense scar/stitches
I want to prepare her (gently) with what Keira will look like next week while also showing her some “after” pics of happy tripawd dogs so she understands what to look forward to ❤️
Thank you very much!!!
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I have a possum that I caught in a trap on accident when I was trying to get a raccoon that was killing my chickens it's arm was snapped and I I'm trying to nurse it back to hell so we had to amputate the arm and now the arm is starting to get infected and the bone is protruding I do not have the money to get it to a vet or a hospital I am giving it antibiotics 22 mg of amoxicillin it weighs 1.2 kg however it's chewing on its arm and I can't get any bandages to stay on it I'm having the bathe the thing everyday cuz it's current crate it's in is kind of small and it's in its own s\*\*\* and I'm trying to fight infection I'm not sure what to do any advice I called rehabilitation places and they told me that they were going to kill it if I try to bring it to them
We just got the call from our vet today that the bone biopsy did come back positive for osteosarcoma. We are devastated. She’s ALMOST 3, so young, and we didn’t even consider cancer as a possibility when we brought her in for limping. What makes it worse is that I just started a new job today that requires me to be in office, Monday through Thursday. This will make it more difficult to be with her while she recovers. Luckily my mom will be home to watch her, but as her mom, I want to be able to comfort and take care of her.
Juni’s amputation is scheduled for Thursday, so I will be able to drop her off in the morning and hopefully be there to pick her up.
I’m just in total shock. I don’t know what to expect, I don’t know what to do, I don’t know how to cope. I also want to make a good impression at my job, and I don’t want to ask for any time off or to work remote already.
I guess any and all advice would be helpful. What can I expect? How were you able to cope with seeing your baby go from 4 to 3 legs. I am so devastated to even think about her hobbling on 3 legs. How will she be able to chew her toys with only 1 front paw? I’m in shambles right now.
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My 10-year-old Labrador (84 lbs) lost his back leg 3 years ago in a car accident. I'd already been noticing some occasional shaking in his remaining back leg before this, but on Thursday he hurt that leg and now the shaking is way more pronounced — happening every time he stands or puts weight on it.
I know some loss of strength is natural given everything that leg compensates for, but this felt like a step change, not just normal wear. Has anyone dealt with something similar? What did you do, and how'd it turn out?
So far I've cut his exercise down significantly (just short bathroom trips at first, building back up slowly) and I'm giving him carprofen. Wheelchair is ordered, arriving tomorrow. Just trying to keep him comfortable and active for however much time he's got left.
My soon to be 5 years old Shiba princess had both eyes removed due to glaucoma exactly 3 weeks ago. She had been struggling with one eye for about a year and a half and developed glaucoma in her good eye and essentially lost vision within hours. We were told we could continue drops and try to save the eye even though vision was pretty much a complete loss or we could save her the trauma of drops visits etc and remove both eyes. We chose the enucleation thinking that would be the best for her long term and under the guidance that it would most likely come down to this at some point.
The first 2 weeks were so rough.. I thought I lost my fun loving happy pup! She was depressed, uncomfortable and basically just hiding out in my daughter’s room all day. I truly felt so guilty, I was thinking what have I done… but within the past week I feel like my girl is back and better than ever!!! More energy than she had before the surgery!! She has already mapped out the house and is back to b playing with her toys, even bouncing her ball up and down. I’m so impressed with my resilient girl!!!
Just wanted to share this with any other Shiba parents who might be in this situation. It gets so much better 🤍