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There Are Worst Things Than Amputation |
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Unfortunately, there are times when a patient has sustained such severe injuries to a leg, or an inoperable cancer on a leg develops, whereby the best thing to do is to remove the leg. I have many clients who agree to it and never regret it. But I also have clients that would rather have the pet euthanized, i.e. killed humanely by injection.
Amputation in many cases is life-saving and very humane. It is not recommended, however, in every case. It is an extensive surgery and if the patient has other severe health issues such as congestive heart failure, then the veterinarian may choose not to recommend it. Or if the dog or cat has severe osteoarthritis in one or more other legs, then it may also not do well after amputation and the procedure should be avoided in such a patient.
If the patient is a dog or cat, in reasonably good health, and the other three legs are in good shape, then amputation is a good way to go if the diseased limb is not salvageable as a useable limb. For example, if the limb has irreversible nerve damage as a result of a trauma that renders the limb permanently nonfunctional and the patient is in otherwise good health, then amputation is an excellent option. With three good legs, any dog or cat will do fine over the long term. I amputated the front leg of an 11 year old cat 3 years ago for a cancer on her paw and saw her just the other day for a yearly wellness exam. She was in great shape, still active and happy. That cat has gotten three more years of good living because the owner allowed me to amputate. Hopefully, there will be more years to follow.
The take home lesson is that cats and dogs are very adaptable to amputation. If the patient fits the right criteria for the procedure, I would beg owner not to have the patient killed instead. With some help and understanding from the owner, the pet will do fine. If it was the reverse, and it was the owner losing a limb, the pet would certainly not give up on the owner. I know that may sound overly sentimental, but it is, nevertheless, true. |
