Is your new Tripawd dog leaving the hospital soon? Most new amputee dogs are a bit woozy when they arrive home after surgery. Pain meds will do that to a pup! Fear not though, you can help your Tripawd get around to eat, drink and elminate with this easy DIY Tripawd dog sling. Your dog may not even want your help but it pays to be prepared, and this sling costs you practically nothing. We’re pretty sure that Tripawd cats won’t like this kind of thing, but if we’re wrong, let us know!
It’s Easy to Make This DIY Tripawd Dog Sling!
Look around your house for a reusable canvas tote bag. Believe it or not, reusable bags make great temporary slings. Try to find a bag that suits your dog’s overall size. No, you’re not going to put your dog inside the bag, you’re going to make a belly sling with it!
Step 1: Decorate the bag with something cute like paw prints or even a Tripawds Rule bandanna! This step is for you to keep your mind busy and help you stop worrying.
Step 2: Get your scissors out. Cut open both sides of the bag.
Step 3: Open the bag and lay it flat. Can you see how now it looks like a DIY Tripawd dog sling?
Step 4: When your Tripawd finally wants to get up, place the open bag under your dog’s belly. Lift each handle then gently, slowly hoist your dog up. Slowly walk alongside your dog on the amputated leg side.
Most dogs will only need this level assistance for a few days, until they stop seeing pink elephants from the pain medications running through their system. Watch your dog carefully for signs that your help is no longer needed. Pretty soon you’ll be amazed at how well your new Tripawd gets around without your help!
More Post-Amputation Surgery Recovery Tips
If you’re brand new to the three-legged dog or cat life, be sure to check Jerry’s Required Reading List and download the Tripawds e-books Library for many more pawesome tips like this.
What a good idea. Before Anubis came back from the Hospital her very personal dog sling was ready. Thank you so much we are very grateful. Lots of strength to all of you from Switzerland.
Yay! So glad this worked for her, thanks for the hoppy note, with lots of love & Tripawd Power coming your way!
Thanks for this advice. We just got home from the vet today. Our first potty trip was excruciating. My Macy Mae did the best she could but got tired – we took two breaks getting back inside. I definitely need this help!
Hi from Nassau, Bahamas! Found you through a Google search while looking for ideas about how to help our Bruno ‘walk’ outside for bathroom breaks. Just home from the vet where he had his front right leg removed up to the shoulder. Bone cancer we only found out about last week. Still woozy and resting on his little bed. Had an EUREKA! moment when I saw the canvas shopping bag because I knew I had one from a a 1970s South FL shopping mall secured somewhere. Found it in the car trunk with the other shopping bags and it’s cut apart and ready to use. Awesome idea, thank-you 🙂
Aww Gina I’m glad we could help! Here’s to you and Bruno, we send all our love for a speedy recovery. Please keep us posted in our Forums, we would love to hear all about your boy.
I have a 3 legged dog, german Shepard akbash mix and hes struggling to use his back 1 leg at all. Any idea or tips to help me get him up on it to even start using it?
Yes. Please consult with a certified rehab therapist for a professional evaluation, treatment recommendations and exercises you can do at home to keep your pup fit and strong. Visit a CCRP or CCRT and the Tripawds Foundation will even pay for your first visit from the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab! For help finding the mant Tripawds resources and assistance programs, start here.
I foster dogs for Paws and this time around we got a 3 legged( frontamputee)Great Pyrenees cross. They don’t know her background and off to vets on Monday. In the mean time she has dug herself a hole outside to lay in though I have 3 different beds inside. Just nervous for her
Welcome! Please start here for help finding the many Tripawds resources and assistance programs.
I need help! I have a newly front leg amputated dog. He’s big. The problem is he can get up on his front leg but his rear legs are not strong enough or something. He can’t all the way up and he falls forward.
Please consult with a certified canine rehab therapist for a professional evaluation, recommended treatment, and exercises and tretching you can do at home to keep your pup fit and strong. FYI: Walks do not build strength, only endurance. Hopefully he may just be overdoing it, but it could be something much worse–so limit any activity until you can get him checked out. Visit a CCRT or CCRP and the Tripawds Foundation can even pay for your first consultation from the Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab.
Post in the forums or call the toll free Helpline for much more help than you will receive here in blog comments. Start here for help finding the many Tripawds resources and assistance programs.
I’m picking Sass up this afternoon from her surgery (Front left leg). I’ve cut down the sides of the tote, and also a hole for her Front right leg. I’m hoping it will help to keep the sling forward and sturdy. I’ll let you know how it goes
I think it will be a better option for the first few days rather than the harness. I might wait for some more healing before I put her in that.
Great idea! Please do keep us posted and post in the forums or send some pictures we can share.
Have you had to use the sling yet? My dog is getting his front right leg amputated on Wed and I’m trying to prepare since we have a flight of stairs to get up to our house and down to our yard.
Is this method also good for front leg amputees? I mean, I would be afraid of helping too much in the back half of his body which I would think cause him to fall face first. Any tips?
We did use something like this on our front leg amputee Jerry and it worked fine when he allowed us to help. It was a little trickier to get the placement right, but you just have to adjust the sling location depending on your dog’s body type. Best wishes to you both!
We did this with a shopping bag too to help Kylie until her harness came in from amazon! It was a great idea someone on these forums shared & we are so grateful! Love this site!