We amputated our dogs leg that had an insanely huge tumor and two years later without chemo she’s doing fine

Thank you sooo much for recognising how hard this decision for amputation is for the dog owner. I don’t think my vet actually understood the anxiety around this decision that I had to make. My boy is fine now but this was one of the most difficult decisions I had to make for his well-being. I wish you were my vet :)

😍 We definitely made the right decision to amputate with Fallon, we're with the 86%. Our primary vet discouraged it due to her size/age-11/arthritis in her back legs--all that was said here. Our surgeon evaluated her and said he would be happy to tell our vet he was wrong. Fallon did so well!!!

We are starting our fourth day home with our front-leg newly "tripawed" dog. I wish I had seen this video a week ago, as it would have been very helpful. This might sound silly, but I appreciate the advice in the video about using a clean T-Shirt to cover the shaved area and long suture area. I thought I was a big wimp for finding it hard to see the long suture and fashioned a T-Shirt to cover the shoulders and also create another barrier for scratching. So nice to know I'm not the only one who finds that a bit hard to see. Our 9 yr old super active trail-running mini-aussie was initially diagnosed with chondrasarcoma. We labored over the idea of amputating, and yet his lameness was progressing so quickly. He is still healing up, and we will find out in a few days whether he has the chondra or osteo type sarcoma in a few more days. Chondra does not spread or spread as fast. Our pup was hopping around to get to his food dish and to go potty by himself the first day home. He still needs recovery, but this far, I know we made the right decision. Thank you, Dr. Sue.

My dog had an amputation after an accident just 4 days ago, she's walking and sometimes even running round on her 3 legs no problem, eating, drinking, wagging her tail, enjoying a fuss. She's great, I can't believe how quick she's recovering.

My dog (7 year old Labrador) has this cancer too. We were told to amputate but couldn't do it. So we decided to give her painkillers. Some might say it was a wrong decision. After 3 months we switched to injections of something called Librela. With that she had no pain at all. Now, after she's been living with that cancer for 14 (!!) months, we made a new xray and it turned out that it hasn't spread at all!!! So we're going to amputation tomorrow. I'm scared that something bad will happen...

I took my sweet 5 year old AmStaff in last Monday for her front limb amputation. Everyone was super confident and enthusiastic- so much so I wasn't even given the time to speak with the surgeon beforehand with any extra questions and I was really nervous. The said he will go over everything the following morning when I pick her up. On the intake form that morning I dropped her off it asked about doing bloodwork before hand. I thought that's strange to ask me this the day of surgery. Anyways, they said surgery went great then 5 hours later called to tell me she died likely from abnormal clotting. Could have this blood panel helped beforehand to ensure she was healthy enough for surgery? I feel devastated about this all as it was unexpected.

My 10 year old 50 lb terrier hound mix, Blue, has a peripheral nerve sheath tumor affecting the nerves in his right forelimb. That limb has atrophied and he will never get full funtion back even if we were to do just radiation to get rid of the tumor. It will further atrophy and shrink becoming way less functional and a liability. He is already compensating for the issue in his gait and other activities. Radiation provider said it's better to amputate prior to therapy because after therapy the tissues woludn't be able to heal as well. We are scheduled for surgery this coming Wednesday, everyone is confident he will adapt and enjoy most of the activities he currently does. Thank you for providing this information, it has been hard to find much rhat's relevant.

I was resistant to amputation but pain management wasn't working and it was a choice between the leg and Gypsy. That was 4 days ago. Hours after the surgery she insisted on jumping into the car without help. Today I took her outside for the first time. I took her to a quiet cemetery where she could lay down when she got tired and I could drive to pick her up. She walked 1/2 mile (with breaks). Even though she had major surgery she is in much less pain than she was a week ago.

Having our second dog with an amputation. The front leg is definitely worse . Its been a week & she cant walk yet . But she's improving slowly

I adopted a tripod cat years ago and later found a dog in the road hit by a car, that became my second tripod. Both had wonderful long lives. Oddly, in 2015, I was hit head on by a drunk driver and am now, you guessed it, an amputee. I spent a year and a half trying to save my foot, riding around in a knee scooter

Dr Sue, I am so so thankful for this video! I have been in fear over this decision, and this video is a big comfort blanket for me. Our sweet Olive is having her surgery in a few days, and your video has given me the support I needed. Thank you.

On Friday, my hound went back for our two week follow-up on an injured rear leg and the x-rays show lysis happening. My vet is suspicious that it's osteosarcoma, and I'm waiting to hear back from the radiologist tomorrow. I think based on everything I'm seeing, the vet is correct. I'm not going to be able to afford curative care with a cancer specialist due to cost, and it would be a 10 hour roundtrip per visit. The wait over the weekend has been very difficult and emotional, but your videos have helped to prepare me for the decisions I need to make, even if they are tough ones. Thank you for the information, and being empathetic and encouraging. My dog is my only family, so I want to do the best I can for her in the time we have left together.

Thank you so much for this video, I’ve crying since last week when we got the diagnosis, we have decided to amputate our dog’s front leg (he’s a Great Dane), it’s going to be today, but my heart is still so broken because I’m just so afraid

great video- landed here coz our cat might need amputation for trauma, but watched it to the end and learned lots along the way- love your work! Cheers!

My dog was shot in the front limb and required amputation. It was such a hard decision to make without any time to process everything. I decided to amputate and we are on day 2 post op. She walked around some, but she will need to lose a few pounds. Thank you for the video, the results of the study are reassuring as I and my family were extremely wary of amputation. I hope we have a positive experience and I am grateful my wonderful dog is still alive.

This video really made me cry tears of joy. My 13 year old miniature bull terrier recently had a ruptured tumor on her back leg and to see her so miserable with a leg so swollen from pitting edema, it caused a tear on her inner thigh. I DID NOT think TWICE about amputation. I immediately gave the ok to the surgeon because all I wanted was my baby girl to be happy and healthy. It’s been 12 DAYS since her amputation and she is THRIVING! Her sutures will be taken out in 5 days! The first 2 days she was groggy from her meds, but she was hobbling along the day I brought her home. She’s actually FASTER with 3 legs! I like to joke her fourth leg weighed her down ❤️. She’s always been at a lean weight so I think that helped with her springing back easily. I agree with the study: 1,000% I would do this again. My baby girl is alive and happy and that’s ALL I need. It will surprise you how quickly your pet will acclimate after their amputation. My advice if you’re on the fence is to take your (the owners) emotions out of the equation and do what’s best for your animal. I’ve seen some animal documentaries where the videographer/photographer is astonished with how some animals in the wild have adapted with injuries that have led to partial paralysis in a limb and survive. Think how that animal is coping then, imagine with the medical resources and CARE you’re providing your beloved pet- they will feel so much better and so will you as the owner for saving their life and seeing them flourish.

I’m am so grateful for this video! My baby girl with have her amputation next week, and this video has given me a lot of hope for the future. Thank you!

Southpaws in Australia live streams these surgeries several times per month. (For ppl who want to see what the surgery is like). You can even ask questions if you catch them live.

You are absolutely wonderful Dr Sue! I adopted a Cavachon from a rescue. The poor puppy had a untreated severe front leg fracture. When breeder finally took her to the vet it was not fixable so the breeder said euthanized him. The vet called the rescue N she drove over to next state N saved him. Her vet did an amputation N I was chosen to adopt him. He is 4 months old n doing fantastic. We love him so much. Thank you Dr. Sue for all you do for our fur babies.