[ladyjane]

I personally would not get hung up on the amputation word either...sometimes things must be amputated no matter what. The issue at hand may be that there is no fix for whatever is bothering Callie and it may be a necessary surgery. She is not talking about this as if it is an elective surgery. The dew claw has been an issue for a while. I had a pup whose leg had to be amputated and he faired no worse than any of my other ortho surgeries in terms of the recovery process. I, of course, kept him on pain meds for a few days just as I am sure would be done for Callie if this dew claw must be removed.

If this dew claw has an issue that they cannot clear up, the surgery might be necessary. No pros and cons to be weighed. This, as I said, is not being discussed as an elective procedure....at least that is not how I have read it.