amputation

Your Pet: Is Amputation the Right Thing? The subject I am about to discuss in today's article is one we have broached here in the past but I feel it is very important as I think you will understand. It serves to illustrate how difficult some of the decisions are that we have to make for our companions and how these decisions affect our own emotions. It will also serve to share what role we as veterinarians can play in helping with these types of decisions. Dolly is a twelve year old golden retriever mix who lives with Rick and Laura. Dolly had begun to limp on her left rear leg about three weeks ago and as time went by, the limp worsened. She was taken to see her veterinarian who took radiographs of Dolly's leg. The results were devastating for Rick and Laura and especially for Dolly. The radiographs demonstrated what appeared to be a tumor in Dolly's left tibia, the bone sometimes known as the shin in people. Rick and Laura listened as their veterinarian outlined the next step in diagnosing specifically Dolly's leg lesion and beyond that, what might be done depending on that diagnosis. One of the possible diagnosis given for Dolly's condition was osteosarcoma, bone cancer the treatment of which would involve surgery of the leg with possible amputation and then possible follow up with chemotherapy. Rick and Laura's question is do they go through the next diagnostic step not knowing whether or not they would have surgery done on Dolly. They are very reluctant to have her leg removed especially since it will not likely cure Dolly if she does have osteosarcoma. Their other option is euthanasia. Please realize here that I am offering my opinion, which does come from experience and also from my heart, realizing every situation is unique and that whatever Rick and Laura choose, it must be right for them. I would definitely recommend proceeding with a biopsy of Dolly's leg mass. I am going to assume the biopsy will demonstrate osteosarcoma and from that assumption, I would recommend proceeding with surgery. Osteosarcoma is an extremely painful disease. The tumor developing within the bone cause tremendous pain and without question, this pain destroys the patients quality of life. This is precisely why I believe surgery is a good option. Removal of the affected leg removes the pain and therefore restores the dog's life quality. I realize that there is a stigma attached to a dog having a leg removed, but that is put upon the dog by us humans. The dogs do wonderfully well. In fact within a month or two, the amputated patient gets around like nothing was ever done. Then too the caretakers suddenly or gradually forget their dog only has three legs. There are cases when the bone tumor can be removed sparing the affected limb at the same time. Dolly may or may not be a candidate for limb sparing but again, either way, it should be about eliminating Dolly's pain. No matter what type of surgery is performed in cases of bone cancer, the chances for a long term cure are less than the chances for recurrence with or without follow up chemotherapy. That said, I can personally share that I have seen cures. For me, the goal is not necessarily to cure these cases but as I stated above, it is to give my patient their life back for how ever long that might be. If the bone cancer returns, then the time to consider euthanasia is upon us. The amount of time between these two events however may be many months and those months will be filled with many loving moments spent with your companion. For me, that time makes everything I outlined worthwhile.