Ideas for a harness for a weak back end - Page 1

Pedigree Database

Premium classified

This is a placeholder text
Group text

Premium classified

This is a placeholder text
Group text

Premium classified

This is a placeholder text
Group text

Premium classified

This is a placeholder text
Group text

Mindhunt

by Mindhunt on 27 July 2015 - 04:07

Anybody have an inexpensive ideas for a harness for the back end of a German Shepherd?  Ronin is having some problems with his back end, he is weak and sometimes it seems like the signals go wonky and he loses control of his back legs.  I have to gather his back legs under him and help him sit until he calms downs some (he seems to panic when he can't control his back legs, I am used to this from Loki back when he had DM).  Then I take a towel to help him stand and we walk a few steps and it's like he never lost control of his back end.  He hates swimming with a passion so it is acupunture (which I can no longer afford for the present time) and pain management (Tramadol and massages from me).  He is 12 years old and has suffered severe abuse.  I got him at 6 1/2 months old so the physical damage was done by the time I got him.  He was beaten with a police baton (the former owner was a police officer who wanted to make him a tough K9, and his oldest son who was a cruel jack**s), hit with fists, kicked, had his testicles twisted and kicked, the list goes on.  Ronin shows remodeled fractures along his ribs, spine, skull, jaw, and legs.  He has always had problems with his left eye and it is now almost blind.  The vet said year ago he will get spinal stenosis from the trauma and now he is too old for the surgery.  I am going to look into water therapy when I move to my new place in a few weeks.  I am hoping we can get him used to swimming.  So any ideas for an inexpensive support harness for Ronin's back end would be appreciated.  The towel presses on his penis no matter how careful I am, I want something that avoids his sensitive areas if you know what I mean.  Thank you all in advance.....


Western Rider

by Western Rider on 27 July 2015 - 04:07

Have you thought of using a harness but putting it on the back legs. I have seen a couple that circle each from leg (in a figure 8) and the the two circles meet at the withers and clip together they should clip a few incehes from the tail along the back. Should be able to miss all the parts


by Lanhua on 27 July 2015 - 11:07


http://www.handicappedpetscanada.com/harnesses-slings/

by Schaeferhund1 on 27 July 2015 - 20:07

http://www.walkaboutharnesses.com/collections/walkabout-harnesses/products/airlift-one
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=24463
http://www.handicappedpets.com/help-pets-walk

tangsd

by tangsd on 27 July 2015 - 22:07

I know its hard to consider but this frame was just so amazing for my Ruskin, His back end was no longer stable and needed support. He went everywhere making friends and even playing in the river.Tanya

http://walkinwheels.com/


Hundmutter

by Hundmutter on 29 July 2015 - 05:07

Lots of dogs with DM or other spinal / rear-end problems
benefit from "carts" like those pictured above. The cart has
the added advantage that it frees the handler from having
to support the dog in a harness or with a towel, whatever.
I know how to get one bought or built in the UK, but you'd
need to do some asking around and internet research for
the best suppliers in / to the USA.  Maybe, as in the UK ,

there is a company which hires out, rather than making you

buy, so that would be less expensive.

 Good luck !


by hexe on 29 July 2015 - 07:07

Am experiencing a similar situation with my 11 1/2 year old of late, though it is more of an issue on non-carpeted floors in the house... Will be trying out some traction aids that are applied directly to the paw pad, using medical-grade topical tissue adhesive, to see if that reduces the issue, and will let you know how they work out. I can't really suggest anything in an inexpensive harness set up, but I will say that the helpemup harness  I bought for my old girls a few years' back was well worth what I spent on it, and the fact that it's a full-body harness that can be used complete, or just the front or back section, as needed, has come in quite handy.  I'd offer to lend it to you, but I'm not sure I won't be needing it soon enough for my guy, 'cause @ 100#, he exceeds my ability to lift a dog to his or her feet directly from the floor with no assist from their hind end...

For what you're describing needing to help Ronin, though, I've had good success fashioning a figure-8 sort of sling to lift and support the hindquarters of males, using a homemade long-line made from 10 to 20 ft. length of soft, 2" wide tubular nylon webbing, the stuff used for rock climbing, with a brass snap sewed onto one end and a loop handle sewn into the other end.  Holding the handle end above the dog's pelvis, pass the snap end of the line under the right leg and thread it through the handle end twice to secure that loop, then pass the snap end under the left leg and again bring the line up and thread through the handle twice, doing so in a way as to have the remaining line with the snap facing the front end of the dog so you can attach the snap to his collar. By holding the sling just behind the midpoint of the dog's body, you can lift and support the back end while still controlling the direction of travel, and the speed, of the front end of the dog.

Hope my explanation made sense enough that you can visualize what I mean.


by joanro on 29 July 2015 - 12:07

I think mindhunt's dog is ambulatory once he is standing, being as she said he walks like nothing's wrong once steadied. Don't think a cart is needed yet.





 


Contact information  Disclaimer  Privacy Statement  Copyright Information  Terms of Service  Cookie policy  ↑ Back to top