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.
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Has anyone found a bed step that works with a big dog? Ok, a really big dog? I am looking for a single step that the dog could step up on and get his whole body on before then stepping up onto the bed - maybe more a platform? But must be really stable and cannot slide around.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
Gee I know we've written about pet stairs for furniture but I can't find it right now. Amazon carries a bunch of pet steps that look sturdy, but don't have a platform like you're envisioning:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Lower profile dog bed steps may do the trick.
Or, you might consider getting a storage trunk or low ottoman.
Otherwise you may need to get crafty an build something.
Let us know what works for you!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
I bought a single step very similar to the one Admin posted - very sturdy, nice construction, but my guys won't use it. I think they need something that they can get all 3/4 legs on before taking the next step. I wish I was handy - I can envision it in my mind, just not sure that I can build it in a sturdy enough manner. I wonder about the storage trunk concept. I had looked at aerobic steps, but felt they were too prone to sliding - Otis is not dainty in his movements. A storage trunk filled with books might do the trick.
Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.
Wherever they are, they are together.
We just re-purposed an ottoman. Pofi is about the height of a smaller female Dane and very long bodied. We had an ottoman that he actually used to snuggle up to my legs on - it is rectangular, not square. I did not take the little legs off of ours, it sometimes slides a little, but Pofi will weigh a lot less than Otis, so you could do that.
If you don't have one, maybe hit the second hand shops to find one so you don't have to invest a lot if it doesn't work...
I did think about a storage ottoman like is shown and may do that someday. This might just be best option for your dogs.
For what it is worth, we had been using the ottoman for about 2 years prior - we got a new bed and it was just a bit higher than old bed profile and didn't want him to have to jump (although he actually can). He has been using it all that time and adjusted to using it when the front leg was damaged and now that it is gone.
Lisa, Minneapolis
On October 27, 2016, nearly 6 months after amputation, and 18 months since his cancer likely started, we lost Pofi to a recurrence of Soft Tissue Sarcoma in his spine quite suddenly. His canine sister also succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2019 - we lavished her with our love in the interim, but life was never quite the same without her only real canine friend. Cliff kitty had to leave us, too, suddenly, in August 2019. Lucia kitty grieved all these losses, but helped us welcome two new Lurchers into our home and our lives, Shae and Barley.
They are expensive, but the Pet Loader makes a very sturdy set of stairs. The make one with 3 steps. They have a very gentle slope and wide steps. They fold up when not in use. They are made to put dogs in the car, but would probably work for a bed. Lori, Ty and gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
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