Jake in the garden five days after amputation surgery.
This is Jake, our 14 year-old tripawd. Due to cancer, Jake’s left front leg was amputated on April 8, 2011. I started this blog for the same reason I started my personal weight loss blog: I want to provide support to others. Jake is much older than most dogs who undergo this surgery, and I wanted to share our success story in the hopes that it helps others facing a similar predicament.
Two summers ago, my mom and I were walking around my garden with Jake. As Jake ran past me, I noticed a small lump on his leg. My mom is a veterinarian, so I pointed out the lump. We had a biopsy done and discovered Jake had cancer. As the lump was not bothering him and the cancer was slow growing, we decided against amputation. At 12 years old, Jake was an active Labrador and we did not want to bring him misery in his final years. We thought it was likely he would die of another old-age ailment before the cancer became debilitating. We were wrong. The lump continued to grow slowly over the next two years until it reached the size of a baseball in March 2011. It was a this point that the lump ruptured and created a crater. It was time to make a decision that we thought we would never have to make: amputate or put him down. We were lucky to have my mom as a resource and she supported the amputation. Although Jake is elderly, he has always been a dog with a big attitude that had not dwindled in his latter years. She thought he was in good physical condition and had the kind of attitude that would lend him well in recovery. The bottom line was that she said if it was her dog, she would amputate. That’s all we needed to know to make the decision. We scheduled the surgery and prepared for life with a tripawd. About one week before the surgery, our other elderly dog, Skeeter, had a stroke and we had to put him down. This made the upcoming surgery more stressful for me and I prayed I would not lose two dogs in one week.
On April 8, 2011, my husband Jason drove Jake to the clinic for his surgery. I was very nervous about him not making it through the surgery. I was also worried that he would be miserable after the surgery and that he would die a sad shadow of his former self. I spent much of that day on the tripawds.com web site. I was consoled by the many stories of success. I had been on the site many times prior to Jake’s surgery, and had already ordered his harness and a new orthopedic dog bed. Word soon came that Jake’s surgery went very well and he was recovering nicely. Whew! But I was still nervous about how he would do with just three legs. When he arrived home, he was very happy to see us. We couldn’t use his new harness until the incision healed, so we put him in a t-shirt and used that to help get him up and down the stairs. We thought that we would be doing this for several weeks or possibly for the rest of his life. Again, we were wrong. One day after surgery, he jumped up and ran across the floor. Two days after surgery, Jake ran up the stairs. He wasn’t supposed to do this, and I tried to stop him, but if you knew Jake, you would know he does not listen very well. While I was glad he could go up the stairs on his own, he was supposed to be resting. Needless to say, there were other unauthorized stair trips. By the time he was finally approved to use his harness, he didn’t need the harness for going up and down the stairs.
It is now June, and Jake is still doing well. He lives the same life on three legs as he did on four legs. He still gets into the trash, into the sink, and opens doors with his remaining front leg. The other day he ran across the floor and I caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye. I wondered why he was limping. He wasn’t limping. I had just temporarily forgot that he had three legs and moved differently. Many people have commented about “poor Jake” after his surgery. I always tell them to take no pity on this naughty dog as he gets up to no good just as much with three legs as he did with four legs. Just yesterday he went charging out the back door at our next door neighbor, running as fast as he ever did, with me yelling at him the whole time. When I finally caught up to him, I apologized to the neighbor who commented “Oh, that’s just what Jake does”. He also remarked that he was getting around just as he had with four legs. I think everyone is starting to realize that Jake is just as happy with three legs as he was with four. Probably happier now that he doesn’t have a large mass on his leg.
Jake sinkdiving
I hope that this story helps someone who is trying to make a decision regarding amputation. I have a great concern with the “quality of life” issue in regards to my animals. I would not want them to unnecessarily suffer just because I couldn’t make a difficult decision regarding their fate. This was my greatest concern regarding amputating the leg of a 14 year-old dog. I cannot express enough the happiness I have regarding our decision to amputate Jake’s leg. His quality of life is great and he enjoys every day. Today, I received his floating vest in the mail so that he can swim again this summer. I can’t wait to see him fly off the end of the dock as he has done every year of his life.
June 29th, 2011 at 4:35 am
Awwww Jake, you make our hearts melt with your story. How beautiful!
We are so glad you are doing great and want to share your story with the world. Thank you for being a part of this community, I know you are going to do great things for so many older pups whose pawrents need hope and inspawration.
Sink diving…I love it! Can’t wait to see you diving for real with your new float coat too!
June 29th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Thanks, Jerry. I cannot thank you enough for the tripawd web site. Prior to surgery, we learned so much about tripawds from your site. We also used the videos on your site to explain to our 5 year-old nephew what was going to happen to Jake. After watching the videos, he said that Jake would be super fast with three legs and that the “rock” is his leg wouldn’t bother him anymore. He has since gone on to point out dogs in public that do NOT have three legs. He’ll say “there’s a four-legged dog, there’s another four-legged dog..”. To him, dogs with four legs are now the oddity!
June 29th, 2011 at 4:46 am
LOVED reading Jake’s story! On June 13th my 13+ year old Aussie…Racquette has her front left amputated and now it is 2+ weeks later…and she is doing GREAT! She was doing great at 1 week! Her whole life she has been competing in agility….and it has been great for keeping her in condition! She’ll compete again in August….no jumps…but she can still do other things! YEAH old dogs! AGING IS NOT A DISEASE!
June 29th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Thanks, Wendy! I am glad to hear Racquette is doing well so soon after surgery. Dogs are amazing creatures and their ability to adjust has served as an inspiration to me. I think Racquette will do great in her agility trials. I sometimes think that Jake is more agile since his amputation. Perhaps he is more aerodynamic!
June 29th, 2011 at 4:52 am
We have an almost 3 yr old lab, ball crazy with myxoid tumor on legt front foot, trying to decide to amputate, she hangs on the sink to get her ball. This story made me laugh, helps a bit to believe it will be ok
June 29th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
I am glad Jake’s story made you laugh and may help you make a tough decision regarding amputation. I was so worried that Jake wouldn’t be himself after the surgery. For about 48 hours he wasn’t himself, and then he was back up to his old tricks. I think one of his biggest motivations to get moving was his need to snoop. Jake is also ball crazy and still plays ball. Just yesterday he took the tennis ball from our 16 week-old Lab puppy and brought it to me!
June 29th, 2011 at 5:19 am
Kitsune says to Jake, “hey cousin, not so bad hoppin’ around, so long as you’re still loving life.”
Our mutt Kitsune went through the same surgery in April, though it was probably a different kind of cancer (osteosarcoma) it was no less painful for him. His turnaround following surgery was amazing – just like yours.
Here’s hoping our guys hang on just a while longer, wag plenty, bark a bit, and enjoy every minute!
June 29th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Hey Kitsune, Jake says that he’s glad to see other tripawds enjoying life as much as he does.
Jake is still as happy as he has ever been. The only time we saw him down was around the time of the surgery. We do not believe it had anything to do with the surgery, but everything to do with the unexpected death of our other dog, Skeeter. They had been “brothers” for 10 years and now he was gone and mom and dad were very sad. Therefore, we made the somewhat crazy decision to get an 8 week-old Chocolate Lab one week after surgery. Thank goodness Jake had a speedy recovery or I think I would have lost my mind. My biggest challenge was keeping the puppy from play-biting at Jake’s incision. However, Jake took care of business and would put the puppy on his back with his one paw if the puppy went too far. Bringing the puppy into the house really helped Jake as he had another dog friend again. He also spends a great amount of effort showing us he can do everything that the puppy can do!
June 29th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
What a great story! My Annie was a black lab who also did fabulously after her amputation. She ran the night of surgery! Love that Jake is still so naughty. The sink surfing shot is precious 🙂 Annie was usually very well behaved but she had her moments when she found something very dead at the open space where we walked. She would look at me calling her, then at the dead thing and almost always chose a good roll 🙂 Most people didn’t notice she was a tripawd – she just ran so much she looked great. Occasionally some one would gasp while patting her or when they noticed while she was running. I was also very fearful of amputation but it was awesome for her and she was much happier as a result. Hoping Jake continues to do this well. I had a golden mix live to 17 – go Jake -beat that record!
June 29th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Thanks, Casey. Jake has also surprised a few people who did not notice at first that he had three legs. Once he started moving they would notice his hop and say “hey, that dog only has three legs! I didn’t notice it before!”
Jake will be 15 in October and we are hoping for as much time with him as possible. I think his attitude keeps him going. Last night he was barking at nothing and my husband told him to be quiet. Jake then turned towards my husband and started barking at him, with a muffled bark each time my husband told him to knock it off. He is never going to win any obedience contests, but his big ‘tude seems to have served him well.
June 29th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
Hey Jake! What a wonderful story you have! I don’t sinkdive like you, but I still countersurf (mom thought that would be “cured” when I became a tripawd- haha). I am glad to hear that you are doing so well!
June 29th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
My mom also thought I would be cured of sinkdiving after the surgery, but I showed her! I am also into the sport of countersurfing and was able to score a delicious container with leftover lunch bits that my dad had left on the counter next to the sink. Mom got mad at dad for leaving the container there, but I was so happy to have scored such a yummy find!
June 29th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
the sink-surfing picture says it all. I’m so happy for y’all. Many blessings.
June 29th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Thank you, Beth. I read your blog and it is beautiful.
June 29th, 2011 at 9:07 pm
We have a Jake too! Right before his 11th birthday, we also had to amputate his front left leg. Im not going to lie. The first 2 weeks were brutal but now, he is doing amazing. So glad Jake is doing well!
June 29th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Thanks, Molly! We had prepared for a rough first couple of weeks, but we lucked out and it went smoothly. But as you said, your Jake is now doing great, so I think it makes it worth it.