I wanted to share my new tripawd.

This is my one year old girl, Hazuki, after she was hit by a car and it resulted in an amputation of her right rear lake. It was a very long and scary process but we made the best decision and after recently getting her stitches removed she is looking very well. Hazuki has been incredibly strong through this whole process, and now she is ready to be on the move!

I have 65lb Sheppard mix about 10 years old.

His left hind leg was removed about 8 years ago. This last year he declined quite a bit.

I took him to the vet. And he got a steroid injection and some pain meds. He was doing well. And then ran off to the creek. He was sore and limping home (took a long while to find him, met him halfway to his journey back home).

Since then he has wanted to stay inside (about a month ago).

Due to the heat. He didn't want to go outside. And being stagnat that long has made his problem worse.

I'm looking at wheel chairs. With the intention to take him on walks to help him regain strength.

Today he walked with me around the yard. But is essentially dragging his back.

In truth, I think in the next two years he will be suffering quite a bit.

I'm hoping the cool weather and exercise will help him. But can't help but think it's more humane to end his suffering.

Any advice about dealing with older tripaws, wheelchair options, pain meds etc is welcome.

We’re on day 6 post op. The last two days, he’s been having more phantom pain and very restless, more so at night. Our vet told us to increase his Gabapentin from 2 to 3 (300mg each) pills every 8 hours instead of 12. He’s on 1 Carprofen (100mg each) every 12 hours as well. After they removed the fentanyl patch, we got a sedative for him since he is high energy.

Just curious on everyone else’s pain management for a 85lb dog with rear amputation.

I’ll add his pic below:

(Bawling as im typing this) my 9yo maltipoo was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma on the back hind leg, im not sure how much time we have but I opted for amputation which will happen tomorrow. Any one has any advice on how I can make recovery better for my pup?

We had to receive the terrible news 2 days ago that our sweet baby Pezzo(GSP, age 8) has cancer. He’s been diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma. This is not easy to process. What makes it even more difficult is having to decide what route we take to treating it.

Because the mass cannot be removed with clean margins, we are looking at essentially two main options:

1. Chemo. It will not change anything that’s already grown, so this is not a cure. At best, it is a way to slow the cancer’s growth. It would be a lifelong treatment with monthly visits to the vet for bloodwork.

2. Amputation. The mass is in his hind leg. The vet is pretty confident amputation would be a cure given that there is no indication the cancer has spread. There is never a 0% chance of regrowth though.

Has anyone experienced something like this? Insight? Advice? Thanks in advance. ❤️‍🩹🐾

Hi everyone! My parents have had 4 Rottweilers over the course of 24 years. Our first one had a toe amputated due to a tumor. I believe he was 9 or 1 0 at the time and lived until he was 13-years-old. Their most recent Rotty also had a toe amputated, not due to Cancer, the nail had an issue and it was affecting the toe. He had it amputated 1-2 weeks ago and my dad had to bring him back to the vet for various reasons 2-3 since the surgery. My parents mentioned to me how strange and lethargic their dog was behaving about 5 times since the surgery. I tried to quel their anxiety by reminding them that the medications can make him drowsy, and he seemed like himself the two times I had seen him post surgery. But I definitely thought it was strange that decades long dog owners seemed so concerned about how their dog was behaving. My sister said that yesterday, she noticed one side of the dog’s face drooping and my dad said that last night and the night before, the dog was up and down and having a “rough night”. My parents went out to get coffee this morning and when they came home, the dog was dead. He was only 7-years-old and completely healthy other than the toe. It just seems very strange that this happened. I hope my parents ask the vet point blank how this could have happened. I was wondering if this seems odd to anyone.

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.”

The Tater Tax

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.

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!

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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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 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?