Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I wanted to share our experience trying to figure out the best way to lift and move our pup after surgery. She's a 60lb Malamute Husky and we were told to use the Help em Up Harness. Although this harness is wonderful (it has a front end and back end, both of which clip together), we found it extremely challenging to use the first week because her stitches ran on a curve from near her spine down to her belly. It was so difficult that the front end caused some serious problems because it rested right where her stitches are. Here is what we did for the first 10 days to deal with this situation:
- We got a Post Surgical Recovery Shirt from Medic Muts that has some padding. It was $25.
https://medicmu.....overy-wrap - We put the harness on, BUT instead of lifting both her back legs and front legs with this harness, we lifted the back legs only with it, and used this instead for lifting her front half - $14:
https://tinyurl.....m/yxkv59ee
It has been an absolute life-saver. It's very soft and if you're careful will not irritate the stitches.
If you're having similar challenges, I hope this helps!
😊
This was sooo kind of you to take the time to share this valuable first hand experience. You detailed your solution beautifully.
Yes, trying to use a harness before stitches are removed can indeed create issues. Sorry you had t0 deal with the challenge, but you came up with a great result.
Thank you! And how is upur pupper doing?
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
I had the same problem with my large dog. I had the same harness you mentioned and it rubbed on the stitches. I wish I would have found the solution you did. I spent a lot of money on a harness that looks like a coat that covers the whole torso. It has lift straps in the front and back. It worked well, but after the stitches were healing up, I didn't need it so it cost a lot for a short amount of time.
benny55 said
This was sooo kind of you to take the time to share this valuable first hand experience. You detailed your solution beautifully.Yes, trying to use a harness before stitches are removed can indeed create issues. Sorry you had t0 deal with the challenge, but you came up with a great result.
Thank you! And how is upur pupper doing?
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Aww, thank you!!! She's doing much better - slowly but surely. The first 7 days were a horrible and stressful time. It was heartbreaking to see her so confused, sad and lost. But she was feeding off my energy too, and I gave myself a wake-up call and worked on being upbeat. The most stressful thing was her inability to hold up her head in the beginning. I literally thought she had nerve damage - she couldn't even hold it up to drink water due to the shoulder blade gone 
. But, when we stood her up she was able to hold her head, so I reasoned this was temporary. It took a full week for her to figure out that holding her head up was now a different and new experience she had to get used to. I can't even express the relief at that!!!
🤗
Yes
Janet Levy said
I had the same problem with my large dog. I had the same harness you mentioned and it rubbed on the stitches. I wish I would have found the solution you did. I spent a lot of money on a harness that looks like a coat that covers the whole torso. It has lift straps in the front and back. It worked well, but after the stitches were healing up, I didn't need it so it cost a lot for a short amount of time.
Yes, I totally understand your frustration. I felt so unprepared because she was in an emergency situation and we found out she had to get an immediate amputation. I knew absolutely nothing about canine amputations (or human for that matter!). I was too stressed to do research while she was in hospital, but then threw myself into reading up on everything I could find. The surgery was awfully expensive ($5,800 + $500 in radiographs) and so saving money where we could became a priority
Great tips thanks for sharing!
For others who want some ideas about what to get for amputation recovery, our Tripawds Recovery Shopping List is super helpful!
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