Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Greetings from California! I'm new here. My dog Boomie is a 12 year old lab who was diagnosed with cancer and had his right rear leg amputated in May of 08. He has done amazingly well, far exceeding the vet's original prognosis of 6 months post amp. But over time, his remaining back leg has been slowly wearing out. Age, hip dysplasia, arthritis...you know the drill. He's at the point now where I would like to be able to give him a little support in the rear. So I looked around online and settled on the Help em up Harness. They said it would work for an amputee. My vet agreed that it looked like a good mobility aid for Boomie.
It came in the mail today, and the front half fits fine, but I'm having trouble adjusting the straps to get the back to fit. It's literally falling off. I've got an email in to the harness people but no reply yet, so I'm searching for actual customers who have purchased and successfully used the Help em up Harness on a rear-leg amputee dog and can share their wisdom, fitting tips, etc.
Thanks,
Cindy
Cindy and Boomie
Boomie's leg was amputated due to osteosarcoma on May 15, 2008. He enjoyed over two and a half years of life after that, one day at a time. He died on Feb. 21, 2011.
Thanks for asking Cindy, bless you for taking such good care of Boomie.
We actually just stopped selling the Help 'em Up harness, communication problems with the manufacturer was just one reason. If you do note receive a reply from Brett, send a PM to Fortis. He can provide lots of great feedback.
If your dog has no stump left, the rear part of the harness will fall off. You can read our original review and watch the video we made to see how the harness worked on Wyatt because he does have a stump. Did they take your dogs hip?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
May 08 - Wow, that is some accomplishment.
What an inspiration - I'm sure folks would like to hear the detailed story - what type cancer, after treatment if any, etc.
I'm pretty sure Fortis Dad uses the Help em up Harness, and should be by in a bit to comment.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Hi Cindy and Boomie. Sorry I didn't respond sooner to your question but I Just returned from the lake with Fortis. Your the Buglady are you, well I was know around these parts as the Bugman. Anyhow, greetings and welcome to the Tripawds community.
Sounds like Boomie has been doing great but now is starting to need a little extra pelvic support. My boy Fortis is also a right rear leg amputee. Fortis' remaining leg is very week as well and he needs constant pelvic support. I have been using the help em up harness going on 4 months now. Jim ask if Boomie had his leg taken at the hip. I didn't see your response yet but I will say it is going to make securing the harness more difficult if he did. Fortis has a stump like Wyatt. Without the stump you might try tying the two rear straps closer together just behind the rear clips. I'm not sure this will help but I do this with the harness when I've removed the pelvic pad for washing and swimming. It just seems to help keep it in place. Could you have the wrong size harness?
If you would like you can shoot me a PM and I will be glad to give you my phone #. I would be more than happy to talk with you. I have made many changes to the harness that you might find beneficial. If you would rather not talk by phone I will be more than happy to list them hear. Just let me know.
Once again welcome to our community. I look forward to hearing Boomie's story.
Fortis'Dad,
Brett
Wow, this is an active board. I didn't think I'd get so many replies so fast! So much to say...
Yes Boomie was basically amputated to the hip, but he has a tiny stub of femur left. Maybe not as much as what Wyatt has in the video, but it was that video that sold me on the harness, and the idea that Boomie can wear it all the time (not that he needs it 24/7 at this point).
Looks like I can't embed a link, but you can copy and paste this to see my Flickr page of Boomie after his surgery, to get an idea of what his amp. looks like: http://www.flic.....0619364/
Brett, I think my harness looks different than Fortis' prototype. It doesn't have that metal under-thing, for one thing. Do you have pictures of how the harness strap fits around his stump? My biggest problem is trying to cinch the straps tight enough. There's a neoprene sleeve over the straps, for doggie comfort, but it makes adjusting the strap almost impossible. So I haven't even been able to get it on him properly. Boomie has a very deep and narrow chest, and a small rear end. I sometimes think he was a puppy-mill baby (I adopted him at age 3 (approx.) from the pound).
Will be checking back in a bit. Gotta go make dinner. Thanks again
Cindy and Boomie
Boomie's leg was amputated due to osteosarcoma on May 15, 2008. He enjoyed over two and a half years of life after that, one day at a time. He died on Feb. 21, 2011.
Bah, that URL thingy didn't work. oh wait. maybe it did.
Cindy and Boomie
Boomie's leg was amputated due to osteosarcoma on May 15, 2008. He enjoyed over two and a half years of life after that, one day at a time. He died on Feb. 21, 2011.
Cindy, I had to remove the neoprene sleeves to get the harness to fit tight enough. Fortis has a very deep chest which tappers to the rear as well. Fortis has the xlg harness which has a clip on each side just in front of the rear legs and two more clips in the rear for the return straps. I will take a few photos and get them posted for you.
Love the Avatar. I have sold and purchased many many many bugs on http://petbugs.com. 
Thanks for the heads up Shanna.
Fortis'Dad,
Brett
Thank you Brett!!!!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
buglady said:
Bah, that URL thingy didn't work.
Sure it did! But here's instructions for embedding photos in forum posts.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Here are a few photos I just took. I hope this helps.
Sorry but I couldn't resist, I posted one from the lake today. If you have more question don't hesitate to ask away.
Thanks for the pictures, Brett. I think Fortis has a little more of a stump than Boomie, but it gives me a good idea of how it should fit. In that last shot, is he wearing just the back part of the harness?
I think I'll fiddle with the harness some more in the morning. I'm a little reluctant to cut the neoprene off until I've spoken to the harness people. If I can get a hold of them.
Jim thanks for the posting tip. I'm a little slow to figure this stuff out sometimes. And I'll try to put Boomie's story in the story forum soon.
Cindy and Boomie
Boomie's leg was amputated due to osteosarcoma on May 15, 2008. He enjoyed over two and a half years of life after that, one day at a time. He died on Feb. 21, 2011.
We're always happy to help. Thanks Brett!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
buglady said:
In that last shot, is he wearing just the back part of the harness?
I think I'll fiddle with the harness some more in the morning. I'm a little reluctant to cut the neoprene off until I've spoken to the harness people. If I can get a hold of them.
Cindy, In the last shot Fortis is wearing the front and back part of the harness. I keep the distance between the rear section and the front as close together as possible. When Fortis is swimming and wearing his Ruff Wear Float Coat I take the front part of the harness off. I then connect the rear section of the harness to a small tab on the back of the float coat . To do this I must first loosen the rear straps and the connecting strap on the harness. By doing this I can allow him to swim freely but give him the pelvic support he needs when he returns to shallow water. When the float coat comes off the front part of the harness goes back on and I again tighten the straps on the rear section of the harness. Oh, I was able to slide the neoprene sleeves off without having to cut them.
FortisDad,
Brett
Things are looking better today.
I scrunched the neoprene sleeves way down, and that allowed me to tighten the straps enough. This morning, I was able to get the back part of the harness to stay on, although it didn't quite look like it was fitting the way it's supposed to. Boomie's tiny stump slipped out of the strap, but it was still secured in the belly band. I tucked all the excess cinched up strap-flaps out of the way, and we went outside to see if it would actually work for what I wanted to do, namely to help support him as he squatted to poop. And...success! Then moments later, further success, he can pee without getting the belly band wet, and without my having to undo anything!
I am leaving the bottom harness off for the day. He doesn't really need to wear it continuously at this point. But we will continue to "practice" with it at pooping time (thank goodness he's regular!) I will try to get pictures of him wearing it later, so you can see the fit.
Cindy and Boomie
Boomie's leg was amputated due to osteosarcoma on May 15, 2008. He enjoyed over two and a half years of life after that, one day at a time. He died on Feb. 21, 2011.
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