Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
Join The Tripawds Community
Learn how to help three legged dogs and cats in the forums below. Browse and search as a guest or register for free and get full member benefits:
Instant post approval.
Private messages to members.
Subscribe to favorite topics.
Live Chat and much more!
Register
Log In
Members
Add Topic
Offline
I have seen them mentioned several times, but I am wondering if it would be useful for Pixie, our one week post-op French Bulldog, in the future. She is hopping around fine now, and even runs with the other dogs, but I am wondering what to do with walking her, when we do. Do I really need a harness or could her regular collar work fine? Thanks.
From what I've heard and read - many dogs do just fine without them.
I got one for my dog (rear-amputee) thinking it would help her on our walks and such, but she has to get stronger before I can see if it's going to be right for her or if I'll need to figure something else out or if I need anything at all.
~~~~ Denali ~~~~
June 9, 2010 OSA suspected
June 17, 2010, July 14, 2010 Clear X-rays – no mets
July 1, 2010 Amputation
July 9, 2010 OSA Confirmed
November 23, 2010 Cancer took you from me - Never forgotten, Always Loved - Forever
Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, And never, ever giving up Hope
Hi Alicia,
Mag got along fine without a harness for 3 years. I got her one last winter- she hated it!! But she never did like wearing anything. I did find it useful for picking her up- sort of a handle. But she was so low to the ground that using it to help her around was not practical.
I also found it difficult to fit Maggie with the Ruffwear harness. Her chest size needed a XS, but it was too long for her. The XXS fit her length, but the straps were too short around her chest and neck. I actually had to modified the XXS to fit her.
If you want to try it send me a PM with Pixie's measurements (chest at deepest spot, and length of base of neck to base of tail) and your address and I can send it to you. It was hardly used- but there is a little Maggie fur on it for luck.
Karen and the pugs
Karen, that's so nice of you!
Well, obviously we love the harnesses, especially for medium sized dogs and up who need help getting into vehicles, up and down stairs, etc. For people who can't easily hoist 75 pounds into a car, they're an absolute lifesaver. Denali, we're betting you'll wonder how you ever got along without one once you try it (thanks for your order!). After we got Jerry's first harness, we wondered why we had never tried one before he lost his leg.
Where it could come in handy for smaller sized dogs is that you would be able to lift them with one hand, instead of bending over to use both. Literally, they turn into "purse dogs"! 
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Karen, that is so sweet of you! I will find a measuring tape in a bit and PM you the measurements. Thanks!
We only used Harley's harness a couple times (and those times I used it more to use it, because I had it, not because I really needed it). We used the RuffWear Flat Out Leash (collar & leash in one) when we needed a leash for walks or Vet visits, as Harley didn't normally wear a collar.
I thought I could use Harley's harness for Toby (our Basenji), as he fit the girth measurement on the RuffWear website, but like Karen and Maggie, it fit his chest, but was too long.
Amputation on 11/10/09, due to Histiocytic Sarcoma in left elbow. Angel Harley earned his wings on 06/24/10.
1 Guest(s)
