The amazing dog mobility and support harness from Dogaids

There was recently an article in the Daily Mail telling us of this amazing new harness invented by a British man for his dog. It’s a nice heart rendering story and I hope you enjoy reading it.
The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. But what happens when your dog is unable to walk due to an injury, disability or even simply old age? This could include, arthritis, spinal injuries, CDRM, cruciate ligament injuries, missing limbs and much more.
It’s sometimes difficult to see the obvious, but that is exactly what a British inventor, Vikram Jashapara, did after his own dog lost a leg by producing a new type of mobility harness with the aim to helping his dog become mobile again.


The way in which the Dogaids mobility harness works is by initially placing a full body support harness made from nylon and neoprene onto the dog. Then the walker also wears their own harness which is made from thick nylon straps that are clipped into place with plastic buckles.
Finally there’s the adjustable lead which attaches both the walker and the dog together. This allows the walker to bear some of the dogs weight.
The design means that the walker can take some 30 to 40 per cent off the dogs weight. This weight that the walker takes is borne by their body and legs, leaving their hands free to hold a leash. Unlike harnesses where you hold the dog upright using your arms, this harnesses key feature is that you use your body and legs to take the weight; thus allowing you to walk a dog for much longer. The harness is also very useful as a lifting aid.
The product was only released at the start of 2012 and is now being recommended by a number of vets, hydrotherapists, physiotherapists and pet shops. 
The harness, which comes in three sizes, can help dogs rebuild the strength in their limbs following injury, illness or simply old age.
It can also allow dogs who are partially paralysed or have only one hind leg to get mobile again.
The harness was invented by Mr Jashapara, 44, for his 11-year-old Newfoundland, Quincy, who had to have a leg amputated after contracting MRSA during a trip to the vet in 2003.
Due to Quincys amputation, the same year, Mr Jashapara decided to build his own hydrotherapy centre. Then 18 months ago he began developing the harness, called Dogaids.
As well as trying to help Quincy, he was moved by the plight of a friends German Shepherd who suffered from CDRM and was unable to walk.
‘Swimming cures lots of dog problems but not all of them and it was heartbreaking seeing the German Shepherd not being able to get out and about,’ said Mr Jashapara, who was born in India but raised in Britain and served in the Royal Corps of Signals for eight years.
‘I knew that if I was prepared to build a pool and invent a harness such as this for my dog, many other dog owners also felt the same way about their dogs and all they were looking for was a solution. I decided to develop this product and now it feels like I’ve created a monster – anyone who has a dog with a walking problem and then finds out about this harness seems to want one.
‘Initially I managed to sell more than 150 through eBay, word of mouth and other hydrotherapy centres until the Daily Mail did an article on this harness in March this year, and now its being sold worldwide.’
‘Originally, I had applied to both the Apprentice and Dragons Den without any success. Eventually, I decided i had to go it alone. I invested £5,000, the last of my liquid capital, into Dogaids. A Chinese manufacturer made prototypes, and after a years worth of trials on around fifty dogs, the finished product went on sale three months ago.’
‘Whatever size you are you can use the harness,’ Mr Jashapara said. ‘It is your own centre of gravity taking the weight.’
‘You could have an 80-year-old woman walking a Great Dane with this system.’
For more information on the Dogaids mobility harness, visit their website at www.dogaids.com

How you can help your dog suffering arthritis

What is arthritis in dogs? 

Arthritis is a degenerative condition that affects one or more joints. Most cases occur in dogs with an inherited orthopaedic disease such as osteochondrosis or hip dysplasia, or those with a joint injury. Osteoarthritis is a common disease that affects one out of five dogs during their lifetime. The problem isn’t confined to older dogs. Hip dysplasia, ruptured cruciate ligaments, patella luxation, joint trauma, and other joint conditions can cause degenerative arthritis, even in young dogs. Some cases of arthritis are related to an immune-mediated joint disease or a joint infection. Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD), is a progressive, debilitating disorder characterized by a loss of cartilage and the death of cartilage-producing cells. It can lead to permanent loss of function. You do find that large-breed dogs are affected more often than small dogs. Heavy dogs are more likely to experience symptoms because of the extra strain placed on ligaments and joints.

The diagnosis is made by joint X-rays that show bone spurs at points where the ligaments and the joint capsule attach to the bone. There may be varying degrees of joint space narrowing and increased density of bone around the joint.

What breeds/ages are prone to dog arthritis?
Arthritis doesn’t discriminate. In most cases, DJD occurs secondarily to trauma, nutritional disorders or infections. It is prevalent in middle-aged to older dogs (and sometimes in cats). DJD may also occur in young dogs who suffer from canine hip dysplasia, a common developmental disorder of the hip joint found primarily in the larger breeds. Some of the breeds include Labradors, Retrievers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Collies and Kelpies

What medications are used to treat canine arthritis?
The goals of drug therapy for DJD are to control pain, increase mobility, slow down the destructive process in the joint and encourage cartilage repair. The drugs most often prescribed to control pain and inflammation are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

- Aspirin, a NSAID, is probably used more often than any other medication to treat DJD in dogs. Although effective in most dogs, aspirin does have gastrointestinal side effects.

- Carprofen (Rimadyl^®) is significantly more potent than aspirin and has a very wide margin of safety. Rare instances of liver toxicity have been reported in dogs receiving carprofen.

- Etodolac (EtoGesic^® has potent analgesic activity. At the recommended dosage, Etodolac presents little potential for development of stomach ulcers.

Chondroprotective agents are drugs that help protect cartilage as it attempts to repair itself. They have become increasingly popular in treating DJD.
- Two such drugs are Cosequin^® and Glyco-flex^®. They consist of glucosamine and purified chondroitin sulfate, major building blocks of cartilage. Cosequin and Glyco-flex are neutraceuticals, i.e. dietary supplements or food additives that do not require FDA approval.

-Adequan^®, on the other hand, has been approved by the FDA for the management of DJD in dogs. It works by inhibiting some mediators of inflammation, as well as enzymes that contribute to the destruction of cartilage. This chondroprotective agent is given to dogs by intramuscular injection. Successful treatment is more likely if the drug is given early in the development of DJD. For example, when puppies diagnosed with hip dysplasia were given Adequan before arthritic changes occurred, their radiographs showed significant improvement and development of DJD was delayed.

Because the drugs work in different ways, NSAIDs and chondroprotective agents can be given simultaneously to dogs who are severely affected. 

Are there other ways, besides drug therapy, to treat dogs with canine arthritis?
Drug therapy is effective when combined with appropriate exercise and weight management such as non-strenuous exercise, such as swimming or walking. This is a must for dogs and exercise should be on a regular basis. All strenuous, high-impact activities should be avoided. Overweight dogs should be placed on an appropriate diet. Furthermore, there is a dog mobility harness available from www.dogaids.com that allows the walker to support and bear some of the weight; thus allowing the dog to walk further. This can help with muscle build up.

Is surgery an option for dogs with canine arthritis?
If medical management fails to reduce pain and improve function, there are many surgical options for hip dysplasia. The most common is femoral head ostectomy, where the head of the thighbone is removed to resolve the pain of the thighbone grinding against the hip socket. Triple pelvic osteotomy is a corrective surgical procedure that reorients the hip socket to realign it with the head of the thighbone, thus stabilizing the joint. If all else fails, total hip replacement with a prosthetic device can be performed.

 
The following information is to help you understand various aliments that your dog can suffer from and is not intended to replace seeing your vet on a regular basis. If you think your dog may have a problem, we recommend that you see your veterinarian immediately. And remember, please do not give any medication or buy online without first talking to your veterinarian.