<p>My vet found a mass on my dog’s front left leg (near the elbow) on Saturday, and removed it surgically on Monday. Today the vet’s office got the pathology report back, and it is something called a nerve sheath tumor. Malignant (which I suspected). After talking with the vet and researching on the internet, it looks like it has a 72% chance of recurrence in the same location, but won’t spread. The vet said it is most commonly treated by amputation if the tumor grows back, but that doesn’t seem like a very good quality of life for an active black lab (7 years old). It doesn’t sound like there is any chemo option, although she did mention radiation. It wasn’t my usual vet who gave me the pathology news, my usual guy had to go out of town right after the surgery, so I will talk to him more about this when her stitches come out in about a week. In the meantime, does anyone have experience with this type of tumor and/or amputation for a dog?</p>
<p>Ouch. So sorry to hear that your doggie has to go through this.</p>
<p>Amputee dogs can adapt to the “tripod” state pretty quickly. I personally have no experience with this problem, but a coworker’s friend had a lab with three legs, and according to the coworker, the pup was leading a fairly normal canine life. Maybe you can find some useful information here:</p>
<p>[amputee_dogs</a> : amputee_dogs](<a href=“http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/amputee_dogs/]amputee_dogs”>http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/amputee_dogs/)</p>
<p>Cyberhugs.</p>
<p>I use to work for a vet and I can tell you that dogs do fine with 3 legs. They can still run and be active. I have even heard of dogs that can get around okay with two legs! Dogs are amazing animals. I wish all the best for you and your dog.</p>
<p>No experience with this - but hugs to you and your dog.</p>
<p>We almost ended up with a dog with two legs (for those, there are specially designed carts)…</p>
<p>But it sounds as if they will first wait to see if the tumor recurs before amputation, correct?? Sit tight. And hugs to you and your doggie. Just remember that – if it comes to that – he won’t be as aware of it as you are.</p>
<p>Yes, we are waiting for sure to see if the tumor recurs. I just can’t really imagine putting my dog through the trauma of amputation… of course I am just hoping that the tumor doesn’t come back. Just trying to give her lots of attention and happy days for now. Maybe we will be in that lucky 28%. I will pass on your hugs to her, she will be happy to have them :)</p>
<p>intparent, hugs. We’ve been there, done that, and our guy (back leg amputee) will be three years post-surgery this fall. I’m not sure if it was the same type of tumor, though it was a slow-spreading one. </p>
<p>The surgery and recovery went astoundingly well. I picked him up from the hospital under 48 hours post-surgery. The techs were helping him walk by using a towel as a sling to support his midsection, but the instant he saw me, he came running. 
He was using his dog door within the day. There was a period of a few days about a week post-surgery when he seemed to be, for lack of a better word, depressed. Other than that one blip, he’s made a total and wonderful recovery. He doesn’t notice his missing leg, and it doesn’t slow him down. We’ve had dinner guests who don’t realize until the end of the evening that hey the dog only has three legs. :)</p>
<p>I’m told that our guy’s story is typical. It was absolutely the right (if expensive) decision.</p>
<p>When our dog had cancer, we were referred to an oncologist vet. In the end our regular vet did the second surgery, but the oncologist was more of an expert and made the recommendation and gave us the options, etc.</p>
<p>intparent, one other thing to consider is if your dog is in any pain because of the tumor. Our dog was avoiding putting any weight on the leg with the tumor. That meant that he was spending a lot of effort carrying that extra weight around. With the leg (and pain) removed, his quality of life is much improved. He is stronger and faster.</p>
<p>Slithey, it was interesting that even though the tumor the vet took out was the size of a golf ball (and it turns out that there was a second smaller one near it), she was not limping at all. The day before the surgery I watched her run at a flat out sprint, ears flapping, up the driveway ahead of me. I was watching to see if she slowed down or favored that side, and not at all. Of course, if the tumor grows back, it could be a different story. Of course I don’t want her to have any chronic pain from it. Quality of life is the key decision factor as I consider the options.</p>
<p>I hope that the surgery resolves the issue for good. But should it come back, you will be stunned at how quickly your dog adapts to life on three legs. It’s almost as if the fourth one is an extra for just these situations!</p>
<p>intparent, sounds like you may be able to wait on the surgery, especially if there’s no risk of the tumor spreading if it should ever come back (spits over left shoulder to ward off evil eye ).</p>
<p>I had the news on last night and it was all agog about Sandra Bullock being seen in public for the first time since her marriage problems came to light. In the photo with her was her 3 legged dog, who looked healthy and vital in the photo. Apparently they do okay!</p>
<p>My dog is a cancer survivor (she had hemangiosarcoma, low-grade)… and I was very stressed it might come back, until the vet said “just remember, your dog doesn’t know she had cancer and it might come back.” Her quality of life is excellent, as long as she’s not in pain or otherwise uncomfortable.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry to hear that. 
I know some people with “tripod” dogs, though, and they are very happy, active animals. Losing a limb doesn’t seem to have the mental trauma for a dog or cat as it would for a human. Hopefully the tumor won’t come back at all!! My fingers are crossed for your pup.</p>
<p>I’m really sorry to hear about your dog. My family’s dog, who we’d had for about 9 years, broke her leg one day playing with the neighbors. The vet found that it snapped because of bone cancer. They amputated the leg and she lived for another year and a half or so. </p>
<p>She was quite happy with three legs, even though she couldn’t be as active as she used to be. She couldn’t really go on walks anymore, and she spent a lot of time just hanging around the house snoozing, but she was really content. She was a really great dog and we still miss her After about a year and a few months, the cancer spread to her lungs, and then a couple of months after we found that out, we had to put her down…she was just having such a hard time that my parents decided it was time…you’ll know if your pet is up to it or not. My parents said that after the surgery, when they went to see her and she hopped up to the front of the cage to see them, they knew they had made the right choice…she still wanted to live even with three legs.</p>
<p>My fingers are crossed for your dog, it’s so hard when your pet is hurting. :(</p>
<p>My 12 yo Cardigan corgi had an back leg amputation for a soft tissue sarcoma. As she wasn’t using the leg as much due to pain (initially misdiagnosed as arthritis over 6 months prior), she did fine with 3 legs. She ran almost as fast as when younger. I estimate it was about $1200 per extra month of life- she developed metastases a few months later and had to go over the Bridge. Dogs do fine on 3 legs.</p>
<p>Best wishes for your doggie. </p>
<p>I <3 Pets</p>