Learning that
your dog or cat needs an amputation brings up a lot of questions. I’ll discuss common concerns about living
with a pet that has undergone an amputation and share my own experiences on
life with a tripod, my favorite term for a three-legged dog or cat.
Why would a dog or cat have a leg
amputated?
The most
common reasons for a dog or cat to need an amputation are trauma, cancer or a
congenital defect. Trauma injuries can
result from being hit by a car, falling out a window or getting attacked by
another animal. A dog attacked my cat
and caused severe trauma to his back left leg.
After trying unsuccessfully to get his injuries to heal, I amputated his
leg and he has been happy ever since. When
a dog is diagnosed with a bone tumor or a cat has a vaccine-associated sarcoma
on one of their legs, we recommend an amputation to remove the cancer. Congenital
defects or neonatal injuries can lead to malformed limbs that are painful and
can’t be used normally. If a leg is constantly
painful and cannot be fixed, amputation may be the best option.
Are dogs and cats embarrassed when
they lose a leg?
Not at
all! Tripods seem to have no
comprehension that they are different from their friends and don’t show any signs
of being ashamed or embarrassed. They are
as happy, silly and playful as they were previously. There is no emotional aspect for them to lose
a limb. As an owner of a tripod, you
will probably get extra attention and questions about your dog or cat’s condition.
Can a tripod still live a normal life?
Yes! Dogs and cats with only three limbs can live completely
normal lives. They can still exercise
and play, go for walks, cuddle, nap and eat regular food. They can still bark at the mailman or hide
from the vacuum cleaner. Pets with a
back leg amputation will not be able to jump as high as a four-legged friend. The exception is obese, geriatric or severely
arthritic dogs and cats. These animals
will have a hard time walking around after an amputation may not be good
candidates for the surgery.
What can I do to make life easier for
my tripod?
Keep
your tripod thin! Extra weight puts more
strain on the remaining legs.
- Raise
the food and water bowls for dogs with front leg amputations, this helps so they
don’t have to bend down on their one front leg.
- Arrange
the house so the floors have traction. Use
rugs, runners, yoga mats or whatever helps prevent your dog from slipping as
they zip around. Hardwood or tile surfaces can lead to spills.
- If your dog
or cat needs an amputation I recommend you talk to other pet owners with
tripods and visit their pets to see how happy they are. My three-legged cat has no idea he is missing
anything and still sprints around the house, jumps on the bed, runs upstairs and
rules over the dogs.
Check out these cool videos of Schwartz the three-legged cat and Nuchal the three-legged dog running and playing!
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Dr. Kristel Weaver is a graduate of the Veterinary School at
the University of California, Davis where she received both a DVM and a
Master’s of Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM). She has been at
Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care in San Ramon since 2007. She currently lives in Oakland with her
husband and their daughter, Hayley. If you have questions you would like Dr.
Weaver to answer for future articles, please email info@webvets.com
