Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Sadie is a 12 year old German Shorthair and is new to being a Tripawd. She lost her left hind leg to a fracture caused by bone cancer. Her leg was amputated at Cornell Companion Animal Hospital where she has been a patient for three years for a liver condition and arthritis. I need to use a harness to help her get around. Tried the Ruff Wear harness which fits fine around her body but because of her big chest it sits too far forward so the handle is not in the middle of her back. She is large for a GSP, not overweight but tall and broad chested. Her front girth measurement is about 35 inches and rear girth 25 inches. Does anybody have any experience with the AST 'Get A Grip Harness' or the 'Pet Support Suit '? I just want her to enjoy the time she has left.
Thanks for asking, just curious... did you adjust the three front chest straps? The Ruff Wear Webmaster harness has five adjustment points and they ship tightened to their smallest configuration.
Make sure all the straps extending from the three-point front support junction are all adjusted properly. They can each be extended for a looser fit, positioning the handle farther back. The chest and belly straps can also be lengthened. The harness should be snug, but not constricting.
The three straps that join in front through the junction with the yellow lining and small white Ruff Wear logo all have sliding plastic adjusters. Slide these adjusters toward the junction to extend the straps. Extending the belly and chest straps should be obvious.
We recommend the AST Get A Grip for larger, less mobile dogs. Its handles are longer and distribute support across the underbelly. Their Pet Support Suit is a custom order harness to fit extra large dogs, or address special body shapes.
Although we no longer carry the Help 'em Up harness, if Sadie needs additional rear end support, you might consider that. Thanks for asking, hopefully others will provide more user feedback for you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
The three straps in the front are all the way out. This harness is a medium which seemed the best for girth. If I exchanged it for a large would the three straps in the allow the harness to move back? I am not sure if because of her German Shorthair physique the AST support suit would be my best option. Her surgery was at Cornell but I have been very disappointed in the follow up-which has been non existent. They have no recommendations.
If you measured the girth correctly, a larger harness will likely be too loose. If it does not provide the rear end support you think Sadie needs, check out the Help 'em Up. She may just need time to develop strength in her remaining back leg which can take a bit longer in some rear leggers.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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