Canine Osteosarcoma: Amputation and Life Quality
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: April 15th, 2019
Summary
If your dog’s leg is amputated, how does it affect them? Dr. D looks at amputation and life quality for dogs with osteosarcoma.
In my last article we considered life expectancy to help decide about amputation for dogs with osteosarcoma. In this one, we’ll focus on amputation and life quality.
Will My Dog Be Normal With Only Three Legs?
This is almost always the first question I hear when we start talking about amputation.
“But will my dog be able to have a normal life on 3 legs?”
Everyone, the answer is almost always YES.
I know it’s hard to imagine, but dogs are usually up and hopping around whenever or wherever they want within one to three weeks.
That’s right, some dogs start moving totally normally within ONE week.
They really do just fine once their strength builds.
Now, keep in mind, it can be hard to watch them learn to walk, run, and drink their water and chase balls on three legs.
It’s a little like watching your friend try to walk after being on crutches for a long time. It’s not pretty, and you can tell they are working hard.
But I hear often that as depressing as it can be, people just have to look at their dog to realize “Wow … my dog actually seems pretty happy!”
Dogs seem to move on with life and live in the moment. They genuinely do not seem to care about whether they are walking on three legs or four.
As long as they are walking, they’re good to go.
This is a good lesson for all of us to learn from our dogs.
If you doubt this, I highly recommend joining the folks over at Tripawds. There are thousands of other folks with three-legged dogs and cats who can give you a real perspective!
How to Help Your Dog
So, dogs have a great attitude, right?
And a great attitude is the number one predictor of high life quality.
So, they’re already doing well. Now, let’s look at things you can do to help your dog with amputation and life quality.
There are two big things to factor.
Walking Assistance (at First!)
The first thing to plan for is assisting your dog in walking during the recovery period. Your dog’s body is used to using four limbs to balance his weight. Take one of those away, and he’ll figure out how to balance on three — really. However, those remaining limbs need to strengthen to support the extra weight.
During recovery, you will need to help your dog learn to walk on three legs. This is really pretty simple: you just support their weight during walking until they can do it on their own.
The DIY version of an assist is a towel looped under the belly or the chest. You can also purchase commercial slings, which might be helpful if your dog is heavier.
Once you have your dog in the towel or sling, you just lift enough of their weight so they can hop right along. Once they are strong enough, you will feel them take the weight themselves.
If your dog has a lean figure or is young, this might just take a few days. If your dog is older, or overweight, it will probably take longer, weeks, not days.
Pro Tip: Position the towel or sling away from your boy’s sheath, or you will have a wet sling and an unhappy boy after he’s relieved himself!
Address Other Weight Bearing Issues
If your dog is otherwise healthy, you might just find yourself with a happy dog within a few days.
But if your dog has other problems that affect weight bearing (arthritis, hip dysplasia, old ligament tears, back or neck problems) things could get a little more complicated.
Make sure to ask your vet if there are other issues that could slow your dog’s progress during recovery.
For more helpful information and tools, get a copy of the Dog Cancer Survival Guide, and make sure to read the chapter devoted to osteosarcoma
If your girl has complications that affect her recovery, make sure your walking surfaces aren’t slippery. For example, if you have tiled floors, you might put down runner rugs so she has a nice grippy surface.
If there are lots of steps, ramps can help some dogs. There are also ramps made for getting in and out of cars.
Keep Your Dog In Shape
Dogs with three legs will always need a little extra help in the TLC department. For example, keep your dog lean, if you can.
Being overweight has a whole collection of bad effects in dogs with cancer, and bone cancer is no exception.
Extra weight also makes it harder to move around in general. There are also higher risks for injury in the remaining limbs due to increased wear and tear (arthritis, cruciate ruptures, and more).
Dogs Can and Will Be Happy 🙂
Believe it or not, activities that required four legs can always be modified for three.
Dogs learn to live how they can and they adjust, just like we do.
And if you watch your dog, I guarantee you will see him deriving as much pleasure from life as ever.
The limits of dogs can do may change, but not the limits of how happy they can be.
For more thoughts, please see this article by my co-author, Susan Ettinger, DVM, Dip. ACVIM (Oncology).
Best to all,
Dr Dressler
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Hello, I have a retired racing greyhound named Jewel who was diagnosed with left hind leg osteosarcoma. She will be 12 in May. Prior to last month she had been getting around gloriously. She still ran around a lot. The chest x-ray didn’t show anything (I do know it is there, however).
I want to consider amputation because I don’t think she’s ready to go. She still wants to go with us when we get up. She eats very well. She is old though, I realize. I just don’t think that the tramadol, neurontin, rimadyl combo is cutting it.
Dear Stephen,
most times the amputation will help tremendously with the pain after the post op period. You may be able to go up with the dose of Tramadol, add gabapentin, amandatine, elavil, and try a different anti inflammatory like metacam or deramaxx. Another option is samarium injections.
Best,
Dr D
Hi,
My 7 year old Bullmastiff just had his front leg amputated because of bone cancer 2 weeks ago and he is having random painful attacks. When he gets up or when he’s walking, that side of his body twitches and he howls in pain. We just hold him and try to calm him down until it goes away. We are working with the Ontario Vet College (where the surgery was) to change around his pain meds but he basically sleeps all the time and only gets up when we make him. He is very unhappy with his tail between his legs 🙁 The Vets claim they have only seen this symptom before in a cat.
Has anyone ever experienced this before and have any reccomendations? I just want him to be comfortable.
Thanks for any help.
Angie & Hunter
Dear Angie,
assuming appropriate testing has already been done (labs, X-rays etc), one thing to consider would be back or neck pain. Have the vet see if there is restricted range of motion in the neck or a pain response anywhere in the vertebral column. “Pinched” nerve secondary to a slipped disc or some other cause of back pain (tumor spread or other..) would be thoughts I would be having right now.
Also have them check the other limbs for pain since more weight loading on those other limbs might be increasing a pre-existing condition that nobody knew about before.
Hope this helps,
Dr D
Z:
I tried arteminisen. But you would have to talk to a holistic vet. It may have helped but it is hard to say as I put my dog to sleep 2 weks a go. Really, nothing seemed to help and she was old and I was unwilling to amputate. I kept her as comfortable as I could until she was in such obvious pain.
Best wishes. very difficulty time.
Jo Anne
Has anyone considered a prosthesis? I ask because my 8 yr-old St Bernard/lab mix is getting his front right leg amputated next-week. 3 of the vets in my local vet-office have 3 legged dogs (or “tripawds”). Look that term up online when u have a chance…anyway, my vet says the dog knows the prosthetic is something that shouldn’t be there & will likely chew it up (figure spending ~$800 on one). However, ever since I found orthopets (dot) com the idea of a prosthetic leg has peaked my curiosity. I truly believe my dog would both use & benefit from one (based on how he uses his cast) but everyone thinks it’s not necessary. I need to decide before the surgery if I’m gonna ask them to keep a partial-limb. Thanks everybody!
Dr Dressler:
I have a 14 yr old female 60 lb soft coated retreiver. We had x-rays and it is almost certain she hass bone cancer (no biopsy). I have started the bisphosphonate. I have her on a very good diet and supplements. She has a good appetite and her blood work is impressive for an old girl. I am seriously considering an amputation to spare her further pain. How do you feel about amputation in such an old dog but one that is pretty healthy overall?
Jo Anne
Hi, we have a little schnoodle name RJ hes 8, turning 9 in Feb. and they found what they believe is osteosarcoma in his front leg. All recommendations from doctors and websites lead us to get his leg amputated. We had this done this morning, they are going to biopsy his leg to see where we stand further. RJ has had problems with seizures in the past, last one about 2 years i wanna say.(knock on wood he still continues to be free of them) And he has to take thyroid medicine as well. What can we do for him, he’s been through so much and the Doctor says only a year to a year and a half left on his life, could he be wrong? What can we do to keep RJ going for many more years? Any advice would be grateful. Thank You
Shannon & Rob
Hi Shannon and Rob,
I am very sorry to hear about RJ. The first thing to do is hold everything until you get that biopsy. Could be a different cancer type, and that could affect the time you have left. Next, you need to pay attention to his diet (carb restriction and more), get him on a supplement program (see the e-book and the blog posts), stimulate him with manageable challenges once he is well to reduce stress hormones, consider the chemotherapy statistics, costs, and define what type of risk tolerance you have- then make a call on your approach. This is a complicated question, as you can see. This week’s webinar is on OSA, so you should tune in (it is recorded so you can listen later):
http://www.mydogvet.com
Best,
Dr D
I have a 8 month old Corgi that may have Juvenile Osteosarcoma in his hind leg. We are waiting for the results of a Valley Fever test, then a biopsy if the test is negative. The Vet believes it is one or the other. From what I have read this is a cancer that hits older dogs and larger breeds. Is there truth to that? Can I believe that the chances of my Corgi getting this are slim?
Adrienne,
I sure hope your little Corgi does not have OSA. Although generally what you say is true, there are cases of certain connective tissue tumors in bones affecting young dogs. Tests supporting the diagnosis of Valley Fever should be done first, as your vet did, as you may get a false negative on the biopsy.
Best
D
It has been 10 days since we brought our 6 year old rottie home from having her amputation done. We had hoped we caught it early due to the x-rays couldn’t confirm the cancer until we had the biopsy done. We quickly decided to give her a chance and the amputation was done 1 week from the initial x-ray. My husband and I were extremely upset when we picked her up, she wasn’t even visible excited to see us(which never happened before). She had bad reactions to the pain meds which we stopped after 5 days due to her not eating and drinking at all. She is getting around very well and appears to have adapted to the 3 legs very well. My concern though is that she is still not showing a real interest in her food. I can get her to eat maybe a couple handfuls of dog food when handed to her, and usually 1 to 3 chicken breasts a day. Seems her appitite keeps dwindling and she eats just because she is trying to please us. Has anyone else had this problem? I can’t seem to find anything on-line and I am getting very concerned. The hospital left us a message yesterday stating that we had made the right choice that the results came in from the testing of the limb. It confirmed osteosarcoma as well as being a very aggressive form. This being said is it possible that the cancer has already moved to the lungs? Or is it possible she is still having a difficult time adjusting to her new life?
Melanie,
There is no correct answer to this question. In situations like this you must do what you know is the right thing for your dog. This is the gray zone of life decisions. Surgery could push him over the edge, or he could recover well and life happily for a period of time. Based on your description, a lot of owners would euthanize at this stage, but this is such a personal choice, you need to take time to quietly clear your mind and do your best to answer the following question for your dog, “at this point in my life, is the life I have lived up to this point so a good one and a full one?”
D
Has anyone who visits this blog used artemisinin to treat canine osteosarcoma? I would be so grateful for any assistance along these lines. Most sincerely, Z
My dog has cancer in his knee on the right back leg so he would have an above the knee amputation. He is 12 years old, He has congestive heart failure, (well managed with Enelaprill and Furosemide for 3-4 years already), and he is a Pit Bull weighing about 80 pounds. is he too old for an amputation?
Thank you for your response.