Slings for getting in the car?

[SunCzarina]

So hate to be posting this but Morgan is having trouble getting in the back of the car. Not when she's getting in to go somewhere, just after she's been walking like today running for an hour all over the park with my boys.

I've been trying to help her up by hoisting her back legs but I'm thinking maybe this isn't so good and I should do something with a sling? Never mind the affront to her dignity when she tries but can't quite do it when her legs are tired.

Can I use a leash for a sling? Would I just go under her tummy and lift?

Or do I need to make a sling for her? How would I do that, how wide and all that?

Thanks!

[Cassidy's Mom]

They have special slings that you can order for seniors, but the fast and cheap alternative would be to use a towel. You COULD use a leash, but I think a towel would be more comfortable for her.

[SunCzarina]

Thanks! I didn't even think of a nice big fluffy beach towel.

[Remo]

I have seen folks use the canvas firewood carriers. They are nice because you have handles to grip.

[LJsMom]

Originally Posted By: RemoI have seen folks use the canvas firewood carriers. They are nice because you have handles to grip.

I have a specialty harness for LJ, but lately I've been using my DS's old baby bag. It was an LL Bean canvass bag that I cut so that it's just the handles and the strip in between. It worked great until Wiley ate it.

[SunCzarina]

Joanne, Great idea on the old bags. Could sew a towel into it to make it soft for her. Handles would be really helpful - I've only got about 35lbs on Momma Moon and my back isn't as young as it used to be...

[sgtmom52]

I used a sling on my old girl Kodi who had DM It usually worked well although if you got it in a spot where it put pressure on her bladder it would empty her bladder rapidly. This could had been partly due to her DM though.

[SunCzarina]

That's another question - do I try to go around her tummy or more towards her ribs? I'm thinking of the pictures on the gsdrne website of Vanessa walking in a sling, looked pretty far back on her belly.

[jake]

Tough for me to reply-had bad prob with my last rescue a greyhound-trained to jump into back of car and then he could NOT-he eventually accepted a boost.This was just first sign of lumbosacral problems-he was 10 YO.Just starting to see signs of NOT being to jump into "the most loved car" with my rescue GSD.Giving a good 'run at it or space to get going ' can help.Jake used to be able to jump twice his height from a standstill=he can not now.He still jumps in car if given space for a ronning start

[SunCzarina]

I know, it's hard to think about it. Morgan is my baby cakes, my crazy chick. She's good to go with a running start when we leave the house. After the walk in the park or at the beach, she usually needs some help in. I want to start doing it for her becuase when she tries, it looks like she's hurting herself by not quite making it.

I keep telling myself it's a pretty high deck lid for a station wagon. Never went through this with my other dogs when they got older becuase I had cars, they could just step in.