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
I have two front sections of the Help' Em Up harness left that are usable and in fairly good shape. They are both size Large. I also have two of the rear top sections with the reinforced handles that I had sewn on. These are also in a size large and I feel usable. The rear bottoms that I have are in pretty bad shape but probably would still work in a pinch. Long story short, I could probably piece together two large Help' Em Up harnesses for anyone needing the pelvic support they offer. I'm not sure but Blue Dog Designs might sell you the bottom rears separately. If that were the case then the new rear bottoms paired with the reinforced tops and the front sections that I have would give you a complete harness in good working order. If you are interested please feel free to email me.
One of Fortis' harnesses is spoken for 
I still have one of the above described harnesses available.
Thanks
Jim, Rene and community,
If you come across anyone (member, non-member, 3 or 4 legged) who might be in need of a harness, I would appreciate it if you would direct them to this post. I still have one of the above mentioned harnesses available. Blue Dog Designs will sell just the bottom rear portion. So for around $40 you can have what is arguably the best pelvic support harness available. The shipping is on me. This harness means a lot to me and I would truly love for a pup somewhere to benefit from its use. Be forewarned...........lots of Fortis hair present! 
BH
Offline
Will do, thanks again!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Brett and Pattie,
Sammy weighed in at 102 lbs. I have a dog lift harness but it is a medium and I can only snap the middle part around him. I don't know if Fortis's harness will be too large, but Sammy is a big boy. I looked at the video and it looks good, in a minimal sort of way. I think he would like the "less is more" harness.
So, long story short, if you still have it, I would love to use it with Sammy. Or, hopefully not, but Titan is 10 years old and 185 lbs, there may be a future for it for him too. I would be so honored to use something that Fortis used and enjoyed.
Thanks for offering it,
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
I know Sammy is a front amp, but it looks like it would be good for lifting him too. Am I right?
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
Yes, the front part of the Help 'em Up can be used with or without the rear part to help provide front torso support.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Elizabeth,
Like Jim said, the help 'em Up harness does help in providing front torso support. That said, I have a RuffWear harness as well and in my opinion it does a much better job of this. Further, you can use the front without the rear section but not the rear without the front. At least not very effectively. It tends to slide off.
You can use the harness to lift your pup. It certainly helps in doing this. Unfortunetly during our last week I had to use it in this manner on numerous occasions. The top rear portion of this harness has the reinforced rear handle that I had sewn on as well as the reinforced connection between the front and rear sections.
You will need to get in contact with Blue Dog Designs and inquire about purchasing the rear portion of the harness. You might want to ask them about the size as well. At a hundred pounds and with the thick coat that Sammy has I think the harness would fit okay but I would get their opinion to make sure. Remember, in my opinion this harnesses main attribute is the pelvic support it offers. If you're looking for torso support I would opt for the RuffWear.
That said, I would love and be honored to have handsome sweet Sammy using Fortis' harness. Of course I would hope he never would be in need of it.
just let me know what you think.
Thanks
BH
I will contact Blue Dog Designs about the sizing. My question isn't as much about support, but about the job itself. I have to lift Sammy down out of the car or anywhere there is a jump.
Would this be good for that? I use the lifta pet for this purpose, and it is helpful but built like the grocery bag and is tearing everywhere. Sammy is good for now for anything but the help in lifting him into/out of our vehicles.
Elizabeth
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
I think it would be Elizabeth. If not and you find you're not using it just pass it on to someone else down the road
Don't forget to ask about the back rear portion that is needed for the harness to work properly.
Elizabeth,
You made a previous post regarding the quality of life scale that I used for Fortis. It went from 1-40 overall and 1-5 for each given category. Zero being the best and 40 of course the worst. There are lots of variables to consider but I had told myself when Fortis hit 25 I needed to start paying very close attention to what he might be trying to tell me. In the end it didn't matter because he declined so rapidly. So for me the scale served little purpose. I like Jim's idea. Simply put, just go by an overall observation of your pup's condition and use the good day, bad day approach. Just my two cents.
BH
Brett,
While on the subject of the harnesses. I wanted to take a moment to thank you again for the use of Fortis' harness for Patou. I would NOT be able to help Patou without it! Patou has been feeling a bit better and acts so normal except for his mobility issues and there is where the harness in invaluable!! The other day for some reason I had left him on the front porch as usual, but he knew I was not going to work so he somehow managed to make it down the road with his strange Octopus gait about 500 yards down the road. I was actually at the hospital in a meeting and my neighbor called my cell phone and told me that Patou was exhausted in the middle of the road and there were several people stopped to try to help him!!! OMG!! I panicked and drove home of course immediately, and the neighbor had somehow managed to get him up in his truck and take him home and he was on my front porch when I got home. I KNOW if he had not had the harness on that no one would have been able to help him without hurting him!! I'm not sure what had gotten into him that day. I just wanted to thank you again and hope that you and Pattie are still doing ok. let us know when your big AT trip is.
Blessings,
janet and Patou
Brett,
I would love to have his harness, it looks like a large will be a good fit for Sammy. Every time I will use it I will think of and pray for Fortis, and feel comforted.
As far as the scale goes, you know how hard it is to walk the line of love for your dog. My heart is crushing a little bit regarding my girl dog. She did great with Dr. Pam on the weekend, but is struggling again at home. I can't seem to know when a good day verses a bad day is with her, she is stoic and has great moments even after bad moments.
I don't like playing "God", I don't know if I am up to this task. I would be able to if it were clear cut, but this isn't the case. So, I guess one day at a time...
Janet,
Poor Patou! I am so glad that you had Fortis's vest, it sounds like it along with great neighbors saved your boy some damage. I am glad you have such good people surrounding you.
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
Brett, you and Pattie are generous and a blessing! You cared for Fortis and continue caring for friends.
I guess Sammy and Cooper will truly be kindred spirits as Sammy will have the use of Fortis help em harness and Coopie will have
the use of Fortis' float coat ... Thanks so much Brett and Pattie!
Coopsdad/ Kenneth Blackburn
http://cooper.t.....ipawds.com
the monkeydogs only THINK they have invaded the tripawd state
fightingforsammy said:
I don't like playing "God", I don't know if I am up to this task. I would be able to if it were clear cut, but this isn't the case. So, I guess one day at a time...
Elizabeth, I'm so sorry. Please know that you aren't playing God, you are doing the compassionate, humane thing by helping your girl transition to a pain-free existence. We know it's so hard. Maybe this Quality of Life assessment can help ease your heart.
{{{{hugs}}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Rene and Jim,
Thank you for the kind words, as always your support is priceless. I read this and I'm keeping it in mind. Many hugs back!
Coops dad,
Hugs, what a cherished gift. Sammy never learned to swim which I think is very amusing considering he is part newfoundland. Does Cooper know how? Does he like the water?
Elizabeth and Sammy
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the right front leg 8/23/10,
leg fractured 8/27/10,
leg amputated 8/30/10
http://sammyand.....pawds.com/
I couldn't begin to say how special Sammy is to us. Living and laughing with and loving this wonderful boy is priceless.
2 Guest(s)
