Would you have your dog put down if it needed just its front legs amputated?

1. 65

   Teresa Schultzposted 12 years ago

   Would you have your dog put down if it needed just its front legs amputated?
   
   If your dog was otherwise healthy, happy, and well taken care of, but had to have both its front legs amputated, and the vet recommended putting the dog down, what would you do? Agree? Carry your dog everywhere? Make a litte wheeled platform for the front part of its body?

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2. 73

   Natashalhposted 12 years ago

   Would pup still be able to get around, like with one of those amputee dog wheelchair things? If it could still move around and continue hanging out (which seems to be my dog's main activity), then I'd probably do it. But, then, I got one of my dogs orthopedic surgery. (I don't regret it one bit, by the way.)

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3. 81

   Dragonrainposted 12 years ago

   I've thought about this before, strangely, and as long as my dog could still lead a happy life, and knowing him I think he could, then yes I would have the legs amputated or whatever needed to be done and then have a special cart made so he could get around.  When not using his doggy wheelchair, I would of course be there to help him get around.
   
   Animals are amazing at adapting, and I do think my dog could adapt to something like that and still be his normal happy self.

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4. 61

   ackman1465posted 12 years ago

   Teresa:  Should we assume that you face this awful dilemma????
   
   If "yes," it must be excrutiating, and, for that, you have my sympathy....  Whilest it would be heartbreaking to do so, I would opt to have my friend euthanized rather than face a future with such restriction (as he'd have needing prosthetic means to get about)....  After all, there would be SO MUCH compromise of his movement!!!
   
   My dog/friends have always exhibited that boundless exuberance and energy, and unwavering loyalty that makes a dog "a dog".... and, despite the heartbreak, I believe that he/she would be "better off" being put down rather than living whilest compromising just WHO he/she was.....
   
   Good luck with your decision....

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5. 65

   Teresa Schultzposted 12 years ago

   @Ackman 1465
   Thanks for your concern, but no, luckily I am not facing this dilemma - I just look at my precious dog and wonder what I'd do - knowing her as I do, and how she is such a loveable dog, as long as she wasn't in pain, I'm almost 100% sure I'd keep her around for longer, and fit something with wheels attached so she could get around - She is with me in my home office most of the time, so that wouldn't need to change - I was curious to know what others would do.

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6. 59

   AJRRTposted 12 years ago

   I agree with ackman1465. When considering the dog's quality of life, you have to choose what's best for your pet. I have had dogs with special needs and have been happy to provide whatever they needed as long as their quality of life was good.  Leaving a wheeled platform on the dog all of the time is not feasible because of the need to sleep, lay down, etc. And what about when you at work or what if you can't take your dog with you on trips, who will be willing to do all that needs to be done for him or her? I have owned a dog that had to have one front leg amputated and she coped very well. And I would not trade the the additional 14 years I had with her for anything.

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7. 0

   El Rayposted 12 years ago

   This is a very hard question and in my opinion there is no simple answer. That being said, if I had been faced with this situation when Prince, my doberman pinscher, was alive ... I would have to put him down. He was a big muscular dog who was active - he had to come to the kitchen window every morning to check on us; he loved to run around our backyard; go for walks with me and horse around. Carrying him would've been physically impossible. A wheeled platform? What kind of life would that be? I just couldn't do that to him. On the flipside, putting him down would've been extremely difficult emotionally. But out of love and mercy, I would have to.
   
   Like I said before, this is a very hard question. I pray no one has to deal with anything like this.

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8. 59

   PageCposted 12 years ago

   Dogs seem to get over these things very easily. They just move on and deal with what life throws at them, and they don't look back. I've seen lots of disabled dogs that were very happy and had great lives. Of course, I do understand that not everyone is physically able to take care of a dog with this level of disability, and there well may be individual dogs who would be miserable.
   
   Here's a great video about a Border collie who is missing front legs: http://www.dogheirs.com/misst/posts/925 … front-legs

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