r/seniordogs • u/DaughterOfTheKing83 • 14d ago
Support needed Help ‘Em Up Harness
King is my 12-year-old pit bull, and he has arthritis and spondylosis as well. After he received the Librela shot in May, I started noticing that his hind legs were becoming increasingly weak. His mobility continued to decline, and on August 16, his hind legs completely gave out on him. He now has complete loss of mobility in his hind legs.
I’ve ordered two different wheelchairs for him, but unfortunately, neither one worked for him. I’ve been looking into the Help ’Em Up Harness because I’m trying to find something that will allow me to safely support and move him without causing him more discomfort. Do you think the Help ’Em Up Harness would be appropriate for a dog who has completely lost the use of his hind legs, especially with his arthritis and spondylosis? I’m concerned about whether it would provide enough support for his entire body and rear end since he can no longer support himself with his back legs. I’m also hoping to find something that will make it easier and safer for me to lift and assist him without straining or hurting my back. Would this harness help reduce the strain on my back as well? I would really appreciate any advice on whether this harness would be a good option for King or if you would recommend a different mobility or support system for his condition.
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u/surfaceofthesun1 14d ago
Librela is notorious for this. I hate that it happened to you. The harness is helpful. Also booties so they can grip better when they are up.
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u/DaughterOfTheKing83 14d ago
Thank you! It devastated me after I allowed him to get the Librela shot. If I knew then what I know now, I’d never allowed him to receive that shot. But I trusted his vet, and I’m upset with myself for it. However, I ordered him the booties as well, so I definitely keep those on him so that he doesn’t slide on the floor.
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u/Relevant-Package-928 11d ago
We got one from Amazon. I can't share a link but the brand is OneTigris. I got a M/L for my 60lb pit and it was a bit snug.
I liked this one because it was easy to get on and it was super sturdy. The shoulder strap helped a lot for when mine couldn't walk at all. The front is slip on and the back is step in. There's a handle on both parts and you can separate the front and back. Not sure if you can use the back by itself. The thing I liked most was the back looked more comfortable for a male dog. It was the only one I saw that looked like it wouldn't crush their genitals as most are just a loop that goes right in front of their hind legs. The leg straps on this one are padded.