Mobility Aid
A pet’s inability to move presents a challenge for many families, especially when the animal is too big to lift. For many pet guardians, the challenge presented by the need for bathroom assistance is enough to start conversations of euthanasia. For both ours and our pet's well-being, it’s critically important to address the mobility needs of our dear animal companions. We have learned that helping our pets with mobility aids sooner rather than later can protect their overall mobility. Ease of movement improves both their mental state and quality of life.
There is a range of conditions that can lead to pain and/or weakness in our animal friends. These conditions often make it difficult for them to remain adequately mobile. Injuries, hip dysplasia, disc disease, arthritis, degenerative myelopathy (DM), cancer, and a variety of other conditions can all leave your pet's mobility impaired.
If your pet struggles to stand up, limps when she walks, or is unable to balance, they may be in pain. As our old friends get weaker, it’s important to recognize that allowing them to struggle will not help them stay strong. Rather, it makes it more likely that they will injure another part of their body that is straining to make up for the weak or painful part.
(Note: There are lots of exercises that you can do to help your pets stay strong. Watch for another newsletter on this topic.)
If your pet has suffered an injury or is going through the normal aging process, mobility aids could be key. These devices can help your dog stand up, walk, and accomplish tasks that improve his lifestyle and happiness. In some cases, these things might protect you from injury as well as you try to lift your pet.
Mobility Aid Enhances Traction
One of the simplest things you can do for a pet, especially those with mobility issues, is to enhance traction. Be sure to keep your pet's nails trimmed. This allows more of the paw pad to be comfortably in contact with the ground. Carpet runners, throw rugs, yoga mats, or interlocking foam squares can work to make a non-slippery path. This can greatly improve their willingness to participate in family activities. Sometimes older dogs don’t want to go to a certain part of the house because the slippery floors pose too treacherous a journey for them.
A google search for dog traction pads leads to many options that may work for your pet. Small pads that you can secure to the bottoms of your pets’ paw pads, like a bandaid, improve traction. There are a variety of dog socks and booties. Anti-slip socks can be problematic in the summertime as they will warm your pet's paws. Additionally, it is common for them to twist around so the slippery side is down, defeating the purpose. Ruffwear and Mutlukks make sturdy products that can help protect pets' paws outdoors and serve to provide traction inside. Another product, called Toe Grips, can be a useful aid for some dogs who struggle to get up.
Harnesses Mobility
There are a variety of harnesses available for pets, from simple sling type devices to more complex styles. More complex harnesses may work better for more impaired or larger pets. A support harness for a pet is like a cane or a walker for an elderly or injured person. The idea isn't to completely lift the pet, but to remove some of the weight, allowing easier movement. As weakness increases, you may find yourself needing to lift more. Harnesses are invaluable for lifting large dogs in and out of cars or out of water.
The most basic sling is just using a towel under the belly. For hind end weakness or injury, you can place the towel just in front of the back legs near the flank. For front leg inguries, place the towel just behind the front legs. In some cases, you can support both locations. This offers a gentle lift for an animal who can mostly get around, but just need a little assistance. For pets who don’t like a lot of handling and manipulation, this may work fine for quite a while.
You can also buy fleece-lined straps or slings with handles. These designs are made specifically for the task. For smaller pets, a soft belt (like a bathrobe tie) might be enough to give them the support they need. Click here for a YouTube video that shows how to use a towel as well as how to repurpose a fabric shopping bag to make a sling.
Help 'Em Up Harness
When your pet needs more support, a sturdier harness will help them more . The one we like the best is the Help ‘Em Up Harness by Blue Dog Designs. This harness is ergonomic for both you and your pet, allowing you to more safely support your pet to get up off the floor, up and downstairs, or in and out of the car. Its handles are perpendicular to each other, one over the shoulders and one over the hips, redistributing the weight thereby making it easier for you to lift and making it more comfortable for your pet to be lifted. The company is very helpful and responsive so we recommend ordering from them directly.
Do pay attention to your pet’s skin under the fabric part of the harness, especially under the back legs, as harnesses can cause irritation if it gets wet or is too tight.
Dog Wheelchairs
Some families can’t imagine putting their pet in a wheelchair or cart as that degree of disability may seem like another one of those lines in the sand. However, for clients who have tried them, many report great improvement with mental attitude and overall quality of life once they all get the hang of it. The cart supports animals while they pull themselves forward with their front legs. Carts give our pets a way to stay mobile, continue going for walks, and be engaged in more family activities. Sometimes the wheels are temporary, as an animal gets back to functioning after surgery or injury.
Other times the wheels become a part of everyday life. Whether a dog is paralyzed, starting to lose strength in its back legs, or just needs a little help to improve its mobility, every dog wants to be moving and carts can help with this. Many veterinary pain management specialists believe that we should be getting pets with degenerative conditions into carts much sooner rather than later to help them maintain their quality of life for longer. Carts must be properly fitted to the pet, and it’s best if they can adjust to the changing needs of the animal. Here is a company that makes carts for varying degrees of disability and situations.
If you think your pet might benefit from mobility aid but want to discuss further with Dr. Chandler, schedule a consultation to get more information.
You can also check out our Elderly Pet Devices page for more helpful tools for elderly pets.
