Mobility and owner satisfaction after full limb amputation

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate functional outcome and owner satisfaction of chondrodysplastic dog breeds undergoing full limb amputation. METHODS: Medical records from 4 academic institutions were reviewed for chondrodysplastic dog breeds that underwent limb amputation from March 2015 to April 2024. Data collected included signalment, reason for amputation, day of return to ambulation with or without assistance, and comorbidities. Owner satisfaction was investigated via a nonvalidated questionnaire. Continuous data were analyzed for normal distribution and expressed as means if normally distributed and medians if nonnormally distributed. Categorial data were reported as frequencies, and comparisons between groups were performed with the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: At the time of discharge, 19 of 28 dogs (68%) were walking unassisted, 8 of 28 (29%) were walking with assistance, and 1 of 28 (4%) was unable to walk. Eighty-seven percent (13 of 15) of dogs that underwent a thoracic limb amputation were able to ambulate without assistance at the time of discharge, while only 46% (6 of 13) of dogs in the pelvic limb group were able to do so. Over the course of the postoperative period, 25 of 28 dogs (89%) were independently ambulatory. Overall, 18 of 28 owners (64%) completed the satisfaction questionnaire, and 13 of 18 (72%) were very satisfied with the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of chondrodysplastic dog breeds did well following amputation and achieved the ability to ambulate independently. Furthermore, dog owners reported high levels of satisfaction following this procedure. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This information may help dog owners make informed decisions when considering a limb amputation for a chondrodysplastic dog.