Is leg amputation safe for my senior dog with cancer given her age?

I'm sorry to hear about Tuba's cancer! Luckily, most dogs do very well even on only three-legs, so if your vet is confident this will help treat the cancer, and that prognosis is good, moving forward is a good option. If there is still a lump or tumor, you vet can also help you determine if the margin of removal was good or not, the type of cancer present and its prognosis, and can help you monitor for any additional growths. If the cancer is spreading or wasn't caught, your vet may also be able to refer you to a nearby specialists or oncologist (cancer specialist) that can help with further information and a care plan for Tuba.

Unfortunately only your veterinarian can answer this question. In general amputation buys a few months time and considering your dog is already very old for a Belgian Shepherd, it may be more humane to give your dog palliative care than go through with the surgery. If your dog has arthritis in his hips, having only one hind leg may put serious strain on the arthritic hip and this will cause more pain. Discuss good pain management with your veterinarian. An alternative would be to go see a veterinary oncologist who is most experienced in assessing bone cancer cases and can give you good statistics as well as has most experience with good palliative care.

Thank you for reposting your question with pictures. The second x-ray is a little dark and is difficult to read, but I can certainly see that the area is not normal and why your vet would recommend amputation since the area will not get any better. However, if Ella only has a slightly limp, then I'm not sure why the amputation needs to happen now. Some dogs do very well with an abnormal leg for many years. If at some point it starts causing her more problems, it can always be amputated at that time. And certainly only having 3 legs puts more strain on the other legs, so we try to wait to amputate unless the leg is currently painful or causing problems. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

She has most likely been diagnosed with osteosarcoma (in the forelimb probably head of the humerus) which is a primary bond tumor. Bone tumors are painful and typically amputation is recommend with follow up chemotherapy. In the event the cancer has metastasized (spread) or it is suspected the patient will not have a good quality of life with three legs, less invasion options such as radiation therapy are recommended but only as palliative measures. If you have not already discussed talking to a veterinary oncologist with your veterinarian, I would recommend doing so. They will be able to provide you with a detailed treatment plan and prognosis.

It is very hard to say without knowing what exactly the vet determined the mass or growth to be. If the vet recommend amputation then I would assume the growth is some sort of cancerous growth. Most veterinarians will not recommend amputation unless a mass is very aggressive and large or unless it is a bone mass that cannot be surgically removed. I would have a more in depth conversation with your vet to discuss exactly what kind if mass your dog has and what kinds of treatments are possible. Even though your dog may not be showing you any signs of obvious pain, these types of things can be painful. Animals are very good at masking pain. I would also consider thinking about getting a second opinion. If you came away from a vet appointment being told you needed to amputate your dog's leg, but not really knowing why, you might want to find another vet who would be able to explain things a little better. But that is just a thought.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That is certainly possible and recommended. Age is not necessarily a contraindication to surgery if they are being careful with the anesthesia. Keep in mind that most dogs that develop mammary tumors are older and have surgery and do fine. Best of luck!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that Jake has a very large, round, well demarcated growth on his side. While it is impossible to tell exactly what type of tumor it is and give a prognosis following removal, it is likely that removing the tumor will make him more comfortable. Depending on the approach, the surgical site may be rather large and require some care and pain management at home. As long as Jake is otherwise healthy, surgery and anesthesia are relatively safe as well. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have!