XL Blue Dog Lift Support Harness for canine aid - Lifting Older K9 with handle for Injuries, Arthritis or Weak hind legs & Joints. Large / X-large breed Assist Sling for mobility & Rehabilitation

My 12 year old, 100 lb. Lab-Shepherd mix went from being fine from one day to collapse the next day. After a short stay at the vet, diagnosed with a pinched nerve, he came home...but the next morning he couldn't get up, couldn't walk, no matter how much he tried. Trying to get him to the car, into the car, and to the vet was an unimaginable nightmare. I was pretty sure his prognosis was not going to go well. After researching the best product for me to assist him, I ordered the Lift Support Harness. When I picked him up from the vet 10 days later, his back legs were so weak. He was definitely better than when I took him in, but I was not prepared mentally, for his state of being. I showed the Lift Support Harness to my vet, and asked him if it would help, or hinder his recovery, so that I could use it appropriately. It's been 5 days since he has come home, and he has gained some strength and more control...but it would not have been possible without the harness. He feels more secure when I strap it on him to go outside. I am able to stabilize him, and help him in situations when he needs assistance. You kind of saved my life...and I am grateful.

I have a very old active but decrepit 75 lb dog. He has bad elbow and spinal arthritis causing hind limb weakness. On top of all of this he underwent drastic surgery to remove cancer in his mouth. Recovery was hard for him because he's kind of like a shark- if he stops moving he'll 'die'. He's my decrepit energizer bunny. The more he moves the better he does, if he has to be in a run at work or lays down for really long periods of time, he has significant trouble with his hind end. I needed something to help support him a) on slick floors at the veterinary clinic I work at when he comes to work with me, b)to assist him up stairs, and c) to help lift him up when he gets stuck in a sitting position and can't rise. During vet school we mostly used sheets, or those narrow fleece slings with handles. I wanted to try this as it actually can attach in place on him and doesn't have to be removed each time.Pro's: durable, stitching seems to be holding up well, easy to clean. It also fits perfectly, has some wiggle room for adjustment and the strap height works for me (I'm 6ft tall and he's a shepherd/hound mix). The padding is minimal but the edges aren't sharp. I still wouldn't leave this on around the clock as there's no way around the fact that it would eventually rub.Con's: It occasionally slipped back in a way that covered his male parts and so he peed into it instead of it staying in front. The biggest con is that with my dog's spinal arthritis this DID NOT work to lift him up from sitting. Even if placed snuggly it slides up a bit towards chest/sternum and hurt him. He's a unique piece of work so to lift him during his post-op dark time I had to literally hoist him from his rear pin bones. It still worked like a charm to help support him on slippery or wet surfaces and it does help a little with going up stairs but only when he's working mostly under his power, if he needs most of his hind end weight supported we're back to the problem mentioned previously- it slides up, presses on his sternum and therefore thoracic spine and he yelps and growls.It stays in place well if you leave it on, the handles will eventually hang down slightly cockeyed to one side but no risk for him tripping or tangling. it was comfortable and if was in the proper place, allowed me to help support him a little during urination posturing.He is now 46 days post-op and is back to his usual activity (moseying around, going in/out through the doggy door clumsily but effectively approximately 80-100 times during my 14 hr work days), chasing toads, going for walks, acting like an excited goof when I get home mid-day for lunch check, and doing stairs completely on his own 75% of the time. But this will continue to hang by the foot of my steps permanently. Excuse his grumpy expression I interrupted his outdoor adventures to come upstairs and model this.

This product served us well for the 2 months needed. IF I knew then, what I know now, I would have purchased a more expensive, PADDED, very padded product. Daisy needed this EVERYTIME she moved- to get to the water bowl, go pee, change rooms, etc., so her lower stomach developed almost a stone- bruise from being LIFTED with all the impact on her lower tummy. I bought a super-PLUSH towel, folded over twice and duck- taped the towel on. HOWEVER- this sling IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SAID IT WAS and DESERVES 5 stars!The fault was mine for not purchasing what my individual long- term case needed. If you need something for once or twice a day forever, or nearly constantly for just A little support, I HIGHLY recommend this. LIFTING OFF THE GROUND- buy thickly padded models, and pay for that.

Fortunately I bought this harness before our 13 year old lab was in dire need of it. She has good days and bad days. When she could not make it up the stairs on her own, I would go downstairs and make a game of putting the harness under her chest and let her start climbing the stairs. Then I would just slightly help her along. If I tried to lift her too much or tried to drag her upstairs, she would balk and resist. So over time she taught me that she wanted to think she could do it on her own. My job was to hold on and give her a slight lift but mostly to be there in case she were to stumble.When she's too tired or sore to go it alone, she stands at the bottom of the stairs and waits for me to give her a gentle help with the harness... but only as much as she wants :). I love the harness and so does our lab!

Our 100 pound Labrador retriever, Baloo hurt his right hind leg jumping into the car. Initially our vet thought he may have injured his ACL, and suggested we use a towel to help him up the steps to get into the house, but it quickly became clear that this was not a good solution. We went to several local pet stores looking for a lift harness, but none of the stores stocked them so we went to Amazon and found the Red Dog Lift Harness. It has been a great help for us and for Baloo. It took him and us about a day to acclimate to it, but once we did we were able to use it with no problems. Initially it took two of us to help him up the steps, but once we got better at supporting him and he began to understand what was happening each of us was able to help him alone. It's a great product and very easy to use. I would recommend it to anyone with a dog with hip or hind leg problems.