Canine Leg Amputation
Many dogs have to undergo a leg amputation for various reasons, yet they can live a very happy life despite the surgery. Whether it is damage or illness to the affected leg, a typical leg amputation requires a 10- to 14-day recovery before a dog can adjust to the loss of a leg.
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Causes
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There are several reasons a dog may have to lose a leg, according to Pet Place. If your dog has been in an accident in which the leg is damaged beyond repair, such as when the bones are crushed and the nerves are damaged, its leg will likely be amputated. Severe illness such as a limb tumor that is large could also lead to amputation. One of the most common causes of amputation is bone cancer, or osteosarcoma. Bone cancer in your dog can be aggressive and may spread to the rest of the body, making amputation a necessary choice.
Surgery
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Prior to the surgery, your vet will perform various tests to evaluate kidney and liver function as well as conduct a blood count and urine test. X-rays may be taken as well to make sure any cancer is confined. Your dog's overall health, age and weight may be considered as well to ensure that it can undergo the surgery. Usually your veterinarian can perform the surgery right in the office, keeping your dog overnight for recovery. To begin, the veterinarian will shave the surgical area, give your dog a general anesthetic and clean the leg. He will make a large incision right above the hip (for rear legs ) or shoulder (for front legs), followed by stitches or sometimes staples. Some bruising around the amputation is normal and will fade within a few days to a week. Your dog is monitored until the anesthetic wears off, usually a couple of hours post-op. The sutures or staples will be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery.
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Post-Surgery Care
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Once the sutures are removed, your dog may be back to normal activities, but some supervised rest and proper healing are still required. Your dog may need certain medications for pain and infection, and may have difficulty getting up and down stairs, but all signs of pain should diminish within a couple of days after surgery. On rare occasions, dogs have adverse reactions to their medication and need to be monitored. Sometimes the incision may leak fluid called seroma, which may look bloody or watery. The drainage will help keep the swelling down. As strange as it sounds, it is important to smell the incision daily in case the seroma gets infected. There will be a distinctive odor to an infection and the drainage will change in color as well to indicate a problem. Infection is not a common occurrence, however.
At-Home Care
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You will be amazed how well your dog gets around on three legs, but you will need to care for the incision once your dog returns home and assess it for swelling, redness and discharge. You may have to change bandages or medications, or apply a hot pack (warm water and a face cloth) on the incision if it gets swollen. Keep an Elizabethan collar on your dog so that it won't scratch or lick the wound while it is healing. Hind leg amputations are easier to adapt to than a forelimb amputation because your dog bears more weight on its front legs. You may need to keep your dog indoors, help it to go outside to do its duty and assist it with feeding and drinking. As much as you may want to help your convalescent dog, you are helping it more by encouraging it to get up on its own to walk around and return to normal activities.
Prevention/Solution
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It is nearly impossible to prevent your dog from getting bone cancer, but providing the best diet and nutrition can help any dog to live a healthier life. Caninecancerawareness.org advises a specific diet that avoids most sugars, which feeds on cancer cells. It is important to feed a your dog a diet that consists of limited simple sugars, limited amounts of complex sugars, high-quality proteins such as eggs, chicken breast meat, beans, moderate amounts of lean beef, skim milk and lamb, and specific amounts of certain types of fat. You can prepare home recipes for your dog. A great canned food that is recommended is the Hill's Science Diet n/d which is cancer specific.
If a trauma is the cause for the amputation, you can take steps to avoid further accidents from occurring. Always ensure that your dog remains on a leash and provide adequate fencing so that you reduce the chance of your pet getting hit by a car.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit funny dog sleeping on pillow with legs crossed image by Paul Retherford from Fotolia.com
