Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I'm wondering, what does everyone drive? I found a few older threads, but wanted to see what the current options are (the Honda Element was very popular in 2009).
I have a Honda CRV and I've noticed Cocoa is more hesitant to make the leap lately. I searched for a low-ride car and test drove a four door Mini Cooper today. Unfortunately the back seat doors don't open very wide. I was able to coax Cocoa in once. We rode around the block and then she seemed hesitant to get out, and then I couldn't get her to try getting in again.
I think she hit the door frame jumping in, and I think maybe the seat was more "mushy" feeling, so she didn't feel stable.
So I am back to the drawing board. I'm sure there are a few more options out there, but wanted to see what other tripawd parents drive.
According to the vet, Cocoa is seven now (she's lived with me for years) and she is a back leg amuputee. She weighs about 47 lbs, so the getting in and out is going to get progressively more difficult I'm guessing.
thanks, Sooz
Hi, I drive a Mazda Protégé which is a 4-door hatchback and it's a low ride. I think it would be easy for dogs to get in and out of. I've had a lab and smaller dogs in it but wouldn't recommend it for a Great Dane!
Today's Protégé is the Mazda3 Sport with much better driver seats with more adjustments. Make sure Cocoa gets to test out the back seat before buying!
Kerren
I drive a 2013 Ford Escape. Murphy has no trouble jumping in or out of the back seat (he's a front leg amputee). When I take him anyplace I usually lay down one of the back seats so that he can get into the way back. He will sometimes just lay in the regular back seat for awhile, then he hops to the way back and stretches out for more space and lays down back there.
Donna
Donna, Glenn & Murphy
Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs
We also have a CRV (05) and Ellie could get out fine, but getting in was a two-person lift. She always rode in the cargo area. If I were shopping now, I would look at the Subaru Forrester or one of their wagons. They are definitely more car-like than the CRV so the whole vehicle is lower.
Active 10+ Pyr mix suddenly came up lame with ACL tear in left rear leg. Scheduled for a TPLO but final pre-op x-rays indicated a small suspicious area, possibly OSA, which could have caused the ACL tear. Surgeon opened the knee for TPLO but found soft bone. Biopsy came back positive for OSA. Became a Tripawd 9/18/14. Carbo6 with Cerenia and Fluids. Pain free and living in the moment. Crossed the Bridge on 7/12/15 after probable spread of cancer to her cervical spine. A whole lifetime of memories squeezed into 10 months. Here's her story: Eloise
We have an older Jeep Grand Cherokee. After Murphy's amp, we always used a ramp to load him up through the back hatch. I didn't want to take a chance of him injuring that remaining back leg by jumping up into the car without the ramp. Our ramp folded in half and fit sideways inside the hatch while we were on the road. We just slid it under the pad that covered the rear area of the Jeep. It was also useful for Gus, who had arthritis in his older years.
We got the ramp through Costco online. It would work well for any of the cars where you could load up through the rear hatch. Murphy and Gus both used it to go up into our travel trailer, too.
Kathi and the Turbotail April Angel...and the Labradork
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
It's great to see you here! How's everything else going with Cocoa?
We have a 4x4 Dodge, same one as always. It's high off the ground so using a Ruffwear Webmaster harnes to lift him in and help him out is a must. Good thing is that whenever we put it on Wyatt Ray , he always knows we're going some place so he doesn't mind wearing it. Have you considered getting one for Cocoa?
Rehab vets have told us, through the years they've discovered that all dogs, 4 leggers or 3, shouldn't jump in or out of vehicles, it's just too hard on their joints. We do our best to help Wyatt down out of the truck even though he wants to leap out all the time, which scares us.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We've been looking at cars too and need to downsize. We are pretty outdoorsy (camping, kayaking, mtn biking etc) and the dogs come with us (we have specific needs in a car b/c of psycho Tanner, like a cargo area he can act like a lunatic in and seats that can fold down independently of each other). I also need a car that is kind of low, that I don't need a ladder to put things on top of (which is a peeve of mine with the SUV we have now). I'm in love with the Subaru Outback. Once our SUV hits the end of it's life that's what we'll be looking to buy. They have actually started to create specs in the Outback that cater to dogs. Check them out. The price tag is kind of high but you'll have it forever.
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
I drive a Toyota 4-Runner, but when I have to take Johnnie to the vet I borrow my husband's Corolla. I help him in with the Webmaster Harness, and to take him out I pull him out from behind so his hind legs touch the ground. Once that's done it's easy to pull the rest of him out. He is a 90-lb Golden, front-leg amp.
Our awesome Golden Boy was diagnosed for OSA in April 2014 in the proximal humerus, front-leg amp on 05/20/2014. Finished chemo (Carbo6) on 07/10/2014. Ongoing treatment: acupuncture + K-9 Immunity Plus ( 3chews) and home-cooked no-grain diet. Stopped Apocaps because of liver issues. Liver issues: controlling altered enzymes with SAM-e and Milk Thistle. October 17: started having seizures. Taking fenobarbital for seizures. April 18: started prednisone.
Yes, I've begun to worry more about her back leg. She seems wobbly sometimes when we walk. In and out of the car if the only time she jumps. I worry when we're on grassy field, lest she hit a hole we can't see or something. I will be more diligent with the car.
She is still very quirky / OCD about stuff. I'll have to work on using the Ruffwear harness . I tried a ramp with the CRV, but that was a no go.
Otherwise she is doing well. No more cancer events. Whew.
I really did like the four door Mini Cooper. Felt like a fun car. But the door only opened half as wide as my CRV and can't be adjusted. Thanks for the feedback y'all.
It's hard not to worry but by being conscientious about her activity levels you're doing great.
Yeah, a lot of ramps are no-go for dogs. It's called the "Visual Cliff" concept, an inability to gauge depth perception from heights, that keeps them from wanting to go near ramps.
What about one of those "Cube" Scion cars? Kinda like the Element but boxier and lower?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Our pup-mobile is an '88 Honda Accord. It's very low and the girls have no problem getting in-and-out. It's also in such a worn state that we don't mind the girls getting it dirty, etc.
The Scion that Rene (Jerry) mentioned will be my next car when I decide to bite the bullet. It's a lesser expense Toyota that is dog-friendly. It's basically a small SUV and they're not near as boxie as they used to be.
Just my 2 cents, don't ask for change!
Harmony became a Tripawd on 10/21/14 (MCT). She left us way too soon on 11/1/14.
"We miss you so much; our love, our heart, our Harmony."
- Pam, Ron and Melody, Meesha, Doublestuff and Mariah Carey
I have a really old Subaru Outback that has been great for the dogs. The hatchback is not too high but it is a low car so they can get in via the passenger seat. I believe they now have a barrier that keeps the dog in the back. I've always hooked leashes to the back seat neck support to keep the dogs in the back seat. And that car will go through any snowstorm. And Subaru loves dogs.
Penny
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