Booties for DM

[Mega's Mom]

Does anyone have any recommendation for dog booties for DM? I read somewhere that rubber bottoms are the best. I was going to buy MuttLucks but they have leather bottoms. The ones that I bought from PetSmart were garbage.

I have hardwood floors with area rugs everywhere but he still manages to walk NOT on the rugs.

Thanks!

 

[Mega's Mom]

Also looking into Vetrap. Has anybody heard of it? Wondering if that would work instead of booties. Any help appreciated!

 

[Gunther]

Not sure what Vetrap is? Oh I Googled it, I've used that before on Gunther, he was always cutting up his feet.
What do you need it for?

The rubber bottom one give better traction but the leather ones are easier for them to get use to. I think the leather ones are for indoors? They wear out pretty quick outside on hard surfaces.



You should post your questions in this thread:

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/do...r-has-dm-anyone-use-dwanecart-wheelchair.html

Thatcher's dad started and it's a very good source of information! My baby girl Struddell finally lost the battle
lost Nov. :(

 

[furrykidmom]

Same question

We are having the same dilemma. Our boy is knuckling and dragging from his DM. My husband wants to go with the boots with the rubber bottoms that come up over the front for drag. I want to go with the Hindlimb Dorsi-flex assist from therapaws. Everything is so expensive and not returnable. We want to make the right choice.

Please keep this post going. I will post our trials and errors.

 

[SherylM]

Pawz boots are great for indoor use as they are rubber and provide traction. Muttlucks are your best bet for outisde. I found when Jack had DM the leather Muttlucks were the best, lastest the longest.

 

[DaveJ]

The people who make the Dorsi-Flex also make a boot:
Therapaw dog boots

We used the boot because it is thick and won't wear through but it is also heavy and after a couple of months he could no longer pick it up so it actually caused his toes to drag more.

We then went to the Dorsi-Flex Assist:
Hindlimb Dorsi-Flex Assist

It works well but with both the boots and the Dorsi-Flex you need to watch for sores from rubbing. I ended up using vet-wrap under the boots to prevent new sores from developing.
We were still working on his original boot sore at his end a year and a half later.

If you do try the Dorsi-Flex please note that there are screws on the toes. They will drag on your floors and leave scratches. I purchased those plastic cap things that snap closed over the screw head to save my floors.


I really wanted to try the Biko Brace:
Biko Mobility | Animal mobility & fitness products

There are elastic cords which run from the lower leg to a harness. It looked to me like it would help by pulling up and forward at the same time. I tried hard for a couple of months to order one but he ran out of time before I got one to try.


At the end I had a pile of boots which I offered up on a DM forum.

Best of Luck

DaveJ & TuckerJ

 

[Rbastedo]

As I said on the other thread, if you get booties and they wear out quickly then go to an auto parts store and buy a can of spray on bedliner.
I got black, matched the booties, but color doesn't matter.
It dries quickly, I sprayed on 3 coats.
The booties I applied have lasted (so far) about 4 times as long as the booties I did not treat. Same exact booties, the rubber coated nylon type with velcro straps. Only spray the part that can come in contact with the ground.

 

[furrykidmom]

The people who make the Dorsi-Flex also make a boot:
Therapaw dog boots

We used the boot because it is thick and won't wear through but it is also heavy and after a couple of months he could no longer pick it up so it actually caused his toes to drag more.

We then went to the Dorsi-Flex Assist:
Hindlimb Dorsi-Flex Assist

It works well but with both the boots and the Dorsi-Flex you need to watch for sores from rubbing. I ended up using vet-wrap under the boots to prevent new sores from developing.
We were still working on his original boot sore at his end a year and a half later.

If you do try the Dorsi-Flex please note that there are screws on the toes. They will drag on your floors and leave scratches. I purchased those plastic cap things that snap closed over the screw head to save my floors.


I really wanted to try the Biko Brace:
Biko Mobility | Animal mobility & fitness products

There are elastic cords which run from the lower leg to a harness. It looked to me like it would help by pulling up and forward at the same time. I tried hard for a couple of months to order one but he ran out of time before I got one to try.


At the end I had a pile of boots which I offered up on a DM forum.

Best of Luck

DaveJ & TuckerJ

Wow!! what a wealth of valuable information. The Biko bands look great. I can't find pricing. What scares me is they look like great chew toys for the puppy. And I wonder if I can make my own?

And now I know why everyone posts about vet wrap. Good to know now for prevention

 

[Mega's Mom]

OK ... my first experience with Vetrap. It worked wonders!! Cornelius was walking around like a champ - no dragging and no slipping. I still need to tweak it because I put it on too loosely so after about 1/2 hour, it was starting to come off. The owner of the feed store told me not to wrap it too tight as to not cut off circulation but I think I went the other way and went too loose. Trying again tonite when I get home from work so I'll give another update later.

 

[furrykidmom]

bottoms of feet

OK ... my first experience with Vetrap. It worked wonders!! Cornelius was walking around like a champ - no dragging and no slipping. I still need to tweak it because I put it on too loosely so after about 1/2 hour, it was starting to come off. The owner of the feed store told me not to wrap it too tight as to not cut off circulation but I think I went the other way and went too loose. Trying again tonite when I get home from work so I'll give another update later.

You are not wrapping this over his pads for traction are you? Are you only using vet wrap and for what purpose? I am confused. Thanks