What’s the topic for today?
3-legged cats and dogs.
You mean animals that are born with 3 legs?
No, I’m going to talk about amputation of a badly injured limb as an alternative to euthanasia.
What situations do you see where the limb needs amputation?
There are lots of reasons for needing to amputate, but usually it’s following a road accident where the bones are so badly damaged that it would be impossible to mend them, or sometimes there is so much muscle and skin missing that the leg can’t be saved.
Are there other reasons for removing a leg?
Sometimes the owner can’t afford to have the leg mended, and it is a cheaper option to amputate. With complicated fractures, surgery can cost over $2000, whereas amputation is usually half of that.
Do many people choose to have a leg amputated rather than euthanasia?
Some do and some don’t. It’s a very personal decision. Some people just don’t like the thought of a 3 legged pet and don’t believe their pet would cope with the situation.
Do cats and dogs cope well with 3 legs?
Generally, they cope very well and have a good quality of life. The smaller the animal, the better they cope, and so cats and small dogs cope extremely well. Cats will still be able to hunt and climb trees. Small dogs will be almost as fast on 3 legs as they were on 4.
What about larger dogs?
Medium-sized dogs still have a great quality of life, but will be slower than with 4 legs. I used to know a 3 legged border collie that worked on a dairy farm. It was still great at herding the cattle and could still jump onto the back of the ute. With larger dogs, certain things need to be taken into consideration to try and assess how well they would do on 3 legs.
What sort of things do you need to consider?
The biggest factor is whether it is a front or a back leg that needs removal, as 70% of the dog’s weight is carried by the front legs. They are front-end heavy, and so losing a front leg has a much bigger effect on them.
What other factors are involved?
The weight and age of the dog. A large, obese dog would not cope well with 3 legs, and neither would a very old, weak dog with arthritis and muscle wasting. A pregnant dog would find it difficult on 3 legs, too.
So would you encourage owners to have limbs amputated rather than euthanasia?
It must always be the owner’s decision, as they must feel comfortable with it. As a vet, all I do is offer advice on the situation. It is an ethical decision for the owner to make, not the vet. There are times, though, when it is not in the pet’s best interest to have a limb amputated, and that is the time when the vet will suggest that euthanasia is the best choice.
And today’s question?
What percentage of its body weight does a dog carry on its front legs?
(70%)