OT--Amputation for a dog questions?

[danzig6767]

My dog broke his leg in three places this summer and two of the fractures healed quickly. The worst fracture was a very slow heal and Tyson finally got his cast off about two weeks ago. For the first few days he rarely used the leg, but by last week he was pretty much walking on it normally.

 

Well, something must have happened while i was sleeping because i woke up to my dog shaking like crazy and him refusing to put any pressure on his leg. I was nearly certain it was broken again. Being a Saturday, my vet wasn't open and i dreaded going to the emergency vet clinic given i've already had to take him to there twice after other instances and they are crazy expensive. Between the last visit there after breaking his leg to cast and stabalize/cast it, the eventual surgery on the leg, and all the visits until the cast came off, it cost me almost 3000 dollars. That's on top of his dislocating his hip not long after i got him which was about 500-600 dollars and 1100 after he nearly died the prior summer after a bee sting. It's been insane.

 

So now he goes and breaks his leg again in the same place that was supposed to be healed. The emergency vet visit tonight was yet another 350 dollars for a X-Ray, splint, sedation, and medications. The doctor said the only options are another surgery or amputation. No way in hell i'm forking out another 1500-2000 on another surgery, much less take a chance it breaks again afterwards. That leaves amputation. I'll call my vet monday, but i forgot to ask the doctor tonight what roughly the cost for a leg amputation is. Anyone here know that had it done on their dog? After the amputation, is there lots of care needed? Does it take a long time for the dog to grasp what's going on?

 

I love my dog, but wow, i've spent over 5000 on him in 2 1/2 year, it's ridiculous.

[dadofandrew]

I've seen a lot of dogs and cats plenty happy with 3 legs, so I would think that's your only option.

 

It's a good thing you're independently wealthy.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Menotti80]

MY fiance is a vet tech at Bluemound Animal hospital, and she was involved in a front leg amputation of a lab just a few weeks ago. this included removing the shoulder blade as well later that day, the dog was already up on 3 legs. A few days later during a follow up visit, the dog was happy and jumping around. he adjusted to it right away, which isn't the case with all dogs. but in general, there isn't much extra care needed and it generally doesn't take them long to adjust. good luck!

[danzig6767]

I've seen a lot of dogs and cats plenty happy with 3 legs, so I would think that's your only option.

It's a good thing you're independently wealthy.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

That's a good one Al, i wish it was the case

[homer]

I saw a story over the weekend where an elephant in Thailand or Malaysia was given a prosthetic leg (lost its front leg on a land mine). If they can do that for an elephant, I would think they could do it for a dog.

 

In any event, it's got to be a tough decision for you.

 

Did a quick Google search and there's actually a site dedicated to pet owners of three legged dogs (more evidence that anything in the Universe exists on the internet)

 

http://people.ku.edu/~cadavis/WhatToExpect.shtml

 

Good luck.

[brewers4eric]

Growing up, we had a collie name Curly with 2.5 legs that was pretty happy. He had been run over by the mower conditioner before I was born and had lost one leg. Another leg was broken when he was seeking shade underneath a moving hay wagon. We thought he was a goner when he fell off the roof of a sow building. My brother fixed him a comfortable place to rest in a pile of straw where we figured he would die.

 

My dad found a blue healer puppy to replace him. Seeing the new puppy must have inspired a jealous streak in Curly that gave him the will to recover. After a stint on the 15 day disabled list he was up and around and competing for attention with the pup. Curly lived to be nearly 20 years old. A stretch of hot weather combined with old age finally finished him off. A few days prior, the pup had been hit and killed on the road after he accompanied my mom on a trip to the mail box. I always thought that Curly lost his energy when he realized that he had out lived his competition.

 

Farm life left me callous in regards to pets and other animals. I saw too many of my pets hauled away on the livestock trailer when I was growing up. You are facing a tough decision, good luck.

[hawing]

I don't know the cost of amputation - with our first cat we were presented with the options of amputation (leg + shoulder blade) or palliative care, and since she was much older at the time we opted for the latter - but I wonder if the cost would be all that different, since it's still surgery, just a different procedure.

 

I'm sorry that you have to make this choice. I've loved the photos you've previously posted of Tyson and wish him and you the best.

[danzig6767]

Farm life left me callous in regards to pets and other animals. I saw too many of my pets hauled away on the livestock trailer when I was growing up. You are facing a tough decision, good luck.

While i love my dog very much, part of the reason i've been as willing to spend this much money is my daughter. Tyson was a birthday gift to her a few years ago and she loves him to death. When he first broke his leg and it was bent in three directions, she was crying hysterically. Then we brought him in the house and this look he gave me of terror and help me just melted away the money concerns that i won't lie were immediately running through my head.

 

FWIW, i finally was able to get in contact with the vet and his initial quote for amputation was about 500 dollars, i feared much worse than that. I just pray that i don't face anymore medical issues with him for a looooooooooooooooooooooooong time.

[Thurston Fluff]

I think I'll stop whining about paying $170 to be told my dog has a sprained toe.