Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Everyone,
Because my dog, K, looks like she's heading toward some mobility issues, my vet suggested that I get a "help 'em up" harness. We already have a Ruffwear harness but my vet assured me that the Help Em Up harness would let me help K with far less stress on my very bad spine.
The website is: helpemup.com
The harness looks pretty good, and several friends have *highly* recommended these harnesses. It's a local company (for me). Do any of you have experience with this kind of harness?
Thanks,
KB
K, an 8 year old chocolate lab, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the radius and ulna on 12/23/11. She had stereotactic radiation to kill the bone tumors, and 3 rounds of carboplatin. On 3/16/12, lung mets were found. We tried several different kinds of chemotherapy to slow the lung mets but none worked. Finally, mets appeared at other sites, including her spine. She earned her angel wings on July 15, 2012. K changed my life, and I'll never forget her. Our/my journey is chronicled at romp-roll-rockies.blogspot.com.
I personally found it cumbersome to get fitted correctly but I am not a patient person. I also did not read the ordering instructions carefully (I see now they changed the wording from "male" to "U band" instead or "regular" and "male") Not all males need a u band- it depends on where the penis is placed on the body- forward or back. Anyway- they were great in sending me out a regular back half because the "male" back half I ordered did not fit Samson. My bad. I donated my Help Em Up to my PT vet who has a "try before you buy" supply of harnesses. I would love to hear if it works for you. I think I just gave up too easy
Spirit Samson was Spirit Tripawd Daisys four legged "brother" and ruled as the self proclaimed head of the Monkeybutt Federations East Coast Division. Lady Chunky Monkey stayed from Oct 2011 and left for the bridge in Apr 2012. Miss Perdy is left and has some big pawprints to fill.
Do you have what it takes to be a Monkeybutt? Find out more at the Monkeybutt Federation
Hi KB,
Sorry to hear about K's impending mobility issues. Dang. How was your camping trip? We're sorry we missed you at the pawty!
We used to carry that harness but ran into delivery and quality issues, so we don't any more. You can read about our experience and a members' here in these posts. Can't say that the issues are still there, so things may have changed by now, but for now, these are the harnesses we recommend:
"Which Harness is Right for My Dog"
The Pet Support Suit is a great option for someone in your situation. It has an awesome shoulder strap and detachable handles that will really give you leverage with her.
Hope this helps.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi KB, I got an ezy up harness for Magnum because it was readily available (and I knew we didn't have much time). I found the back end hard to fit on her properly but part of that was because of her only having 1 back leg. I ended up using a cut shopping bag for her back end but still used the front part. It was brilliant for getting her in and out of the car. She was in pain with the cancer in her hip but with the ezy up harness it really was pain free to get her up and to get her in and out of the car.
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
princess said
Hi KB, I got an ezy up harness for Magnum because it was readily available
Thanks for sharing this. Do you happen to have a link for this harness? I'm not finding it.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Oops. Sorry everyone, I also got Magnum the Help 'Em Up dog harness that KB is referring to (not the ezy up harness. I don't know where I got that name!).
My earlier comments still stand, I just had the wrong name for it. Sorry 
Magnum: 30th May 2002 to 5th May 2012. Lost her back left leg to osteosarcoma on 5th Sep 2011. Lung mets found on 20th Mar 2012 but it was bone mets in the hip that ended her brave battle. Magnum's motto - "Dream as if you'll live for ever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean). Loyal, loving, courageous and spirited to the end. My beloved heart dog, see her memoirs from Rainbow Bridge ...... http://princess.....pawds.com/
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