How to keep my adopted senior tripod dog comfortable and pain-free?

Oh, yay for you!!! “Tripods” are awesome. As far as post op complications, if he’s 3 weeks out and the vet at the shelter feels he’s healed well, you don’t have any complications to worry about, per se. Be aware that he can’t defend himself as well, so it is CRUCIAL that he be indoor only. He also won’t be quite as much of a “jumper” as most cats and you may find that he can jump up easily and then hesitate to jump down. If he jumps down from a height and has only 1 leg to land on, he does have an increased risk of injuring that leg; however in a young healthy cat that’s still quite unlikely to be an issue. Do not allow him to get overweight; if he becomes overweight he’s more likely to have mobility and pain problems. Other than that, he’s a totally normal cat!! You will love him so much!! (As he will you!!) Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. Oh this dog sounds so cute! I love three legged dogs. Typically no, there are no health problems. Dogs get along just great with three legs. Just make sure the stump isn't scraping against the ground or on any surfaces potentially causing some skin issues. Otherwise, it should be great. I'm jealous, one day I hope to adopt a dog with three legs. Best of luck!

Dogs that have their legs amputated typically do amazing. Just make sure she rests right now to recover from surgery but once she has recovered she will run just like before! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Playing the odds based on Skylar's breed and the fact that she has a tumor in the leg I would assume it is potentially a primary bone tumor such as osteosarcoma though of course your veterinarian would know better. Regardless of the tumor type, if they already made the determination of amputating her leg as the next step I can tell you that most dogs tolerate being on 3 legs very well and get around just fine even if older. Only dealing with cancer patients myself I have a lot of cancer patients that are three-legged and do great. As long as she does not have another orthopedic or neurologic condition that affects her ambulation, she would likely be ok in three legs. Good luck!

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.

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.