My labs aren't really too heavy to lift in and out when poorly but as they both love their planks/dog walks now thought it could be worth getting one to use regularly to protect those joints!
How do these things fit onto the car? Are they secure?
Last edited by Luna-Tuck on Sun Oct 02, 2011 1:49 pm; edited 1 time in total
I'm going to sound dreadfully harsh but I wouldn't consider it, let the dig be a dog. Keep it trim and you will be able to help it in and out even if you get two legs up and help the back end after. I understand the whole lab joints thing, I really do but one can go too far, don't worry about it. Just enjoy them.
Luna is off to specialist to get intermittent limping checked out on Monday and if there is anything going on I'm not going to want her leaping in and out of the car boot anymore than necessary so will be lifting her for the foreseeable!
I see the ramp as a long term investment in ensuring Luna gets to walk and play and maybe do agility 'as normal' by not cracking her front joints jumping out of car!! Having just had nearly 3 weeks of on lead walking for no apparent cause this is one possible 'trauma' I can remove with very little hassle!
I have 2 very trim labs I can walk around with on my shoulders! And my days are full of enjoyment with them!! Considering getting a ramp for them is definitely NOT going too far IMO!!!!
I didn't know she was under a specialist and I did say it was my opinion. I do still think it is a lot to ask as she will do far more damage running around like a loon in the woods, fields etc and probably more than all of that playing with tucker, I know mine do more damage to themselves body slamming into the ground and twisting at awful angles. I don't think one can really protect them from these things they will find trouble somehow and the things one can do to protect them I think will do little in the grand scheme of things at this level.
I'm going to sound dreadfully harsh but I wouldn't consider it, let the dig be a dog. Keep it trim and you will be able to help it in and out even if you get two legs up and help the back end after. I understand the whole lab joints thing, I really do but one can go too far, don't worry about it. Just enjoy them.
I agree with you Celine - but not about 'going too far' but that you sound dreadfully harsh!!
You're very lucky to have 2 dogs without joint problems but I know Luna is having problems with her front legs and jumping out of the car is putting excess strain on her joints and Laura is wanting to minimise any extra stress on her front.
Laura, I have thought about getting a ramp for Charlie as he's a very big boy to help in and out of the car, and that one sounds good as it folds right down. I have no experience though but would definitely consider one for the future
I didn't know she was under a specialist and I did say it was my opinion. I do still think it is a lot to ask as she will do far more damage running around like a loon in the woods, fields etc and probably more than all of that playing with tucker, I know mine do more damage to themselves body slamming into the ground and twisting at awful angles. I don't think one can really protect them from these things they will find trouble somehow and the things one can do to protect them I think will do little in the grand scheme of things at this level.
I think at the moment I just want to get her back to the point where we are all able to have an off-lead walk together Celine. Tucker and Luna are doing no running around and playing together at the moment so anything that will help to get Luna back to the point she can body slam, twist turn and enjoy herself like the loon she is named for is worth doing! When she's doing that I imagine the ramp will be just extra weight in the car! Luna hates not being allowed to jump in and out of the car with Tucker at the moment - I don't let her! So if they were both using the ramp I wouldn't be looked at like an evil Mom for making her wait for me to lift her!
And Wendy I'm not even sure I would attempt to lift either of your boys in the back of a car!!!
I did qualify it and I do think that one needs to evalute all of the issues if a dog is having joint issues, and this is one tiny fish in one very big pond, a dog will be a dog and in my opinion do far more damage doing other things than this. Laura has said she is a small dog and fit, so like I said, keeping her trim and giving her the odd hand, in my opinion, would help her. But one could end up with all manner of things to stop a dog jumping up etc and yet, like I said, playing probably creates more problems than anything else (well in the way mine do anyway!).
I wouldn't bank on mine not having joint problems, Fern is only 13 months and Grouse not quite 4, there is plenty of time for these things to develope and happen. Grouse spent a week or two limping badly from her shoulder due to her and fern playing very roughly, yet she will jump a 5 bar gate from standing most days. I think if Grouse has issues with her joints in the future the rough and hard body slamming play will be as much to blame as any other aspect of her life and she lives a more jumpy life than many dogs I would imagine.
Someone who goes to the dog club i go to has recently got a ramp for her flatcoat and it just rests on the bumper bit... it took his weight no problem and he seemed really happy with it
I've also seen an old leonburger (sp?) using one and theres no way she would get in the van without it.
I would definately use one if needed, i think jumping in and out of a high boot can put alot of unnecessary pressure on joints when getting a ramp can stop that
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to help in and out of the car, and that one sounds good as it folds right down. I have no experience though but would definitely consider one for the future
