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  1. #1
    Best Friend Retriever
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    Lifting Harnesses?

    Does anyone have any experience with Orvis, Kurgo, or Help 'em Up lifting harnesses? Last evening while I was walking Molly, she started to step up onto a small snowbank, but her hind legs collapsed & she sat down in the snow, then slid along on her rump for a ways because she couldn't get back up. Then she just laid down......breaks my heart that she is getting old. I considered running inside to get dh, but I coaxed Molly a little bit & she was able to get up, but she wouldn't put any weight on one hind leg for a few minutes, but then she seemed to work her way out of it. This morning I put a towel around her so I could help lift her back to her feet if it happened again. It didn't this morning, but this evening she stepped out the door onto some cardboard we have down to cover the floor, & she slipped & sat down again, although she was able to get back up a lot quicker. I'm afraid I might be out with her & she could fall & I couldn't lift her, so we want to get her a harness, just in case we need it.

    I will take her to the vet soon, but I'm not sure what will be able to be done--I don't think we have any physical therapy places for pets around here. I have Molly on Cosequin DS & will be asking the vet what she can have as far as pain meds--she has something going on with her liver as well, so is on Denamarin for that & I will have vet check her liver levels again.

    Right now I am trying to get our Pug over yet another bladder infection--she is on antibiotics again, & has had one infection after another since we got her a year ago.....

  2. #2
    Best Friend Retriever outrag's Avatar
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    I've used help em up harness for Tanner when he was alive and now use it again for Yukon. They have it set up where you can use just the front or both the front and the back if the rear end needs assistance. It's well made and you can use it in certain circumstances or more full time if needed. Back end weakness is very common and there are PT things that can help strengthen the weak areas. It would be good to touch base with a PT person and of course a Vet visit to pinpoint the issue (spine, arthritis, soft tissue, etc.).

    Yukon is on Denamarin too and needs to have NSAID blood work drawn more frequently to monitor liver enzymes if he's on an anti-inflammatory meds. There are other meds used in combination with an NSAID or steroid, which include Gabapentin, Tramadol, Amantadine, Robaxin, etc. The cocktail approach is usually more effective than a single drug, but the NSAID/steroid are the ones that need to be monitored closely for clinical side affects and follow up bloodwork.

    There are also other things that can help like adequin injections (typically for arthritis or joint probs), laser therapy, acupuncture and a host of other PT modalities (massage, ROM, aquatherapy, strength training, balance work, etc.).

    Bob
    Griffin growing up!

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    Griffin Male Black Lab 03/14/16 -

    Yukon My Wonderful Yellow Lab 11/20/06 - 03/12/19 Will cherish the memories!!!!
    My Precious Tanner Boy 11/25/02 - 6/25/15 Will miss you always!!!!

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    Mollysmomma (01-12-2017)

  4. #3
    Senior Dog
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    I think the Help ‘em Up is the best one out there. We had a generic version of it for Mulder which we since passed along for another elderly lab to use. It’s well designed and helps with lifting both back and front.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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    Mollysmomma (01-12-2017)

  6. #4
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    You have your plate full!

    Has the vet checked for stones or crystals in your pug's urine. That can cause recurrent infections.

    I got a harness from Ruffwear for Melody and it really helped. What you want to look for is a strap that is well back to help support and a strong, solid handle. Good strong construction and easy to get on. I've seen others that look more like a help aid than the one I have but this did work good for her. Some others have longer "handles" so you're not bending over as much. I know this has been discussed her in the past so hopefully others will chime in with their recommendations.
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    Mollysmomma (01-12-2017)

  8. #5
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    Love, love, love Help 'Em Up harnesses. I would highly recommend them.

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    Mollysmomma (01-12-2017)

  10. #6
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    LOVE the help'em up harness. I had one for Penny post surgery and it was perfect. I could take some of the weight off her back end as she got her surgery leg (TPLO) back into the game. I now use one for Rocky (12 year old lab with some back end issues, problems with stairs) daily to help him down the stairs and when things are a bit slippery outside. I also keep the front part on him for walks (and carry the back end in case) to help him over little "hills" caused by all the snow.

    It's really a great product.

    Definately worth a chat with the vet and a full physical. There is often stuff they can help/improve on to get them going again. And a good pain management system. Rocky was on metecam for a few years and we stopped this summer due to kidney issues. So we are now trying various other pain management options. One step before NSAIDS (metecam) is something like cartrophen injections. Sometimes depending on the issue gabapentin can help (more generally for nerve related issue but being used more and more lately).

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    Mollysmomma (01-12-2017)

  12. #7
    Senior Dog SamsonsMom's Avatar
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    Based on Tonya's recommendation, I purchased the help'em up harness for Samson when he had his TTA. I absolutely love it! I still use just the front when we go on walks. The handle is very useful for when someone approaches us with the typical "oh, he's is so adorable can I pet him" routine. Samson is a well behaved boy but when he hears a higher pitched voice telling him he's adorable, I struggle to hold his 100 pounds back. With the hold'em up on, I grab the handle and have control and he settles. During the TTA recovering, it was a life saver fully connected. The back attachment with handle is almost effortless to lift the hind up.
    I hope you find something to help you and the pup out.

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    Mollysmomma (01-12-2017)

  14. #8
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    You need to know the source of her problem before you buy a harness. If it's damage to her spine is it in her neck? Mid-way? Closer to her tail? Where the harness ends her back will/might/could bend a bit and in the wrong way at the wrong spot could cause her pain and more damage. The spinal damage is what we encountered with our last girl, for all I know it could be damage in some other spot too. OUr Vet showed me how to lift Jet so as to minimize movement in her back. He said if her back bowed UP a bit, ok, but try to avoid. Bowing down would hurt her. I mean I lifted her myself, didn't use a harness, she only weighed 56 pounds.
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    Mollysmomma (01-12-2017)

 



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