FAQs: How can AST help your Dog?

How are AST Support Suits and Get-a-Grip Dog Lift Harnesses different from other dog harnesses?

 

There is no need to thread your dog’s head or legs through loops of strap! Our Support Suits and Get-a-Grip Harnesses to wrap around a dog’s body and clip on around the head and forelegs. This eliminates the difficulties encountered when using many other harnesses.

 

The  wrap-around design and adjustable Bridge Strap™ allow AST Support Suits and Get-a-Grip Harnesses to fit properly and stay centered on any dog in their size range, and insure that the lift you provide is centered under your dog.

 

The AST X-Belly™ straps cross under the body, connecting the front and rear support straps, and creating a sling effect that lifts the whole dog at once.

 

Padded belly, Broad straps and Abdominal Cut-Out keep Support Suits and Get-a-Grip harnesses from uncomfortably binding or constricting a dog’s abdominal area.

 

Are Support Suits and Get-a-Grip Harnesses easy to put on and take off?

 

Yes, even if your dog can’t stand up on its own; just Wrap, Snap and Go! Once you’ve made the initial strap adjustments to get the desired fit, it really is that easy. Taking one off is even easier– simply release the five clips (and peel the Velcro® in the case of the Support Suit) and it’s off in seconds flat!

See Video Putting On/Taking Off the Support Suit

 

Which should I choose for my dog—Support Suit or Get-a-Grip?

 

Generally speaking, Get-a-Grip harnesses fit average-sized dogs and are designed with the emergency and occasional or short-term user in mind. If you need to move an injured animal in a medical situation or if your pet is recovering from surgery, or if you just want a harness to toss in your first-aid kit or use hiking with an active dog: Get-a-Grip.

 

On the other hand, if your pet is facing longer-term medical challenges or has an extreme body shape, consider the Support Suit. Because overall size and the degree of body taper vary greatly among different dog breeds, we custom-build our Support Suits based on the measurements you give us. This allows us to fit almost every type of dog: Big, Small, Slender, Stout, Long or Short - from Shih Tzu to St. Bernard, and beyond. You need only make three measurements, which will allow us to construct a Support Suit for your dog.

And - there are No Confusing Size Charts!

 

How long will it take to receive a Support Suit after ordering?

 

We can usually ship a Support Suit out about 3 days after receiving an order. Shipping time varies, depending on destination and mode.

 

How long can my dog wear the Support Suit or Get-a-Grip Harness?

 

Suits and Grips can remain on your dog for extended periods during the day, but we recommend removing them overnight.

 

Are AST Support Suits and Get-a-Grip Harnesses washable?

 

Yes. Hand wash in warm water with mild soap, or in your washing machine, gentle cycle. Assemble the Suit/Grip before machine washing. Lay flat or hang - do not tumble dry.

 

My dog is a big ball of hair. How do I measure accurately?

 

If your dog is very hairy, wrap a thin towel or pillowcase around your dog and measure over that. This will compress your pet’s hair much as a Suit will, and will help you get an accurate measurement.

 

What about male dogs?

 

Support Suits and Get-a-Grip Dog Lift Harnesses have an abdominal cut-out to allow male dogs to wear them without discomfort or interference with daily functions.

 

Will the harness still fit well if my dog loses or gains weight?

 

Yes. Support Suits and Get-a-Grip Harness  are designed to fit a range of body sizes, so the fit should only be affected if its weight change is very extreme.

 

Is overheating a problem with the Support Suit?

 

Most dogs that wear the Support Suit don’t exercise vigorously enough for overheating to be a problem. For active dogs in hot weather, you can remove the Support Suit altogether when it’s not in use. It’s easy and takes just a few seconds, and putting it back on when you need it is a breeze.

Or, Consider going Topless with the Get-a-Grip Lift Harness.

 

Do Support Suits and Get-a-Grip Lift Harnesses work for amputee dogs?

 

Absolutely! Check out the review below, done by the owners of a three legged German Shepherd, and see the Video they shot of the Support Suit on Jerry.

 

Do you outsource production of your harnesses to underpaid workers in third-world countries?

 

No. Animal Suspension Technology Support Suits™ and Get-a-Grip harnesses™ are Made in the USA - Patent Pending.
The Association of Canine Water Therapy is dedicated to and inspired by dogs in our lives. The Association of Canine Water Therapy is a non-profit association listing those who are dedicated to becoming the best that they can be in the area of canine water therapy and the support for canine disabilities. The AST Pet Support Suit and AST Get-a-Grip Dog Lift Harness are great ways to provide support during rehabilitation. Animal Suspension Technology is proud to support the Association of Canine Water Therapy in all that it does to help dogs. Animal Suspension Technology's website www.petsupportsuit.com has been selected as the Dogmark.net Cool Dog Site of the Day for July 15, 2007! The entire staff of AST would like to thank the good people of DogMark.net for this honor!The AST Support Suit™ is a support and control harness designed to help dogs walk. It makes a sturdy dog rehabilitation harness for dogs post-surgery, and is useful as a dog lift aid to provide a senior dog support for walking. It also looks great as a police dog uniform or rescue dog harness. The AST Support Suit™ is great way to: Help injured dogs outside, Help blind dogs avoid obstacles, Help old dogs into cars or up stairs, Help a dog up a dog ramp, Help handicapped or disabled dogs walk, Help arthritic dogs get around, or Help rehabilitate your dog after injury or surgery. AST Support Suits™ are Veterinarian Tested and Approved. Support Suits are ideal if you need a Giant Breed Harness; the Support Suit is a Heavy Duty Harness for Dogs of all sizes. Support Suits are also a great dog training aid and make an excellent canine car safety harness.

Animal Suspension Technology       Helping Humans Help Their Pets

See what our customers say about the AST Pet Support Suit
Text Box: “Believe it. The AST Support Suit lives up to all of it's promises. We tested it on Jerry, a 75-pound, three-legged “tripawd” dog with hip displaysia. As Jerry will testify, the AST Support Suit is a critical tool that helps him get through life with as much mobility as possible.” - Rene, Jim and Jerry, www.tripawds.com Read their full review below: See Video of Jerry in the Support Suit

“I received it on Friday.  It truly is a miracle piece of equipment!!!  My initial assessment is outstanding!!!  I was able to walk with my dog Jessie with ease.  I had no need of crouching to stabilize her and straining my back.  Even though she almost lost her balance a couple of times walking; I was able to keep her from falling without any difficulty.  I actually got her to walk on her ramp while I walked beside her; something that has been impossible to do.  She is 90lbs and I have no help here at home so this really is a lifesaver piece of equipment for me and for her!!!  She is 13 with visual difficulties and balance problems.  I am trying to just keep her happy and healthy for as long as I can.   

 

I work at a School for the Blind and never imagined I would be my dogs sighted guide and would be using specialized equipment for mobility!!!”

 

Thank You sooo much,

 

Madeleine - Ohio

“I received Beau's suit yesterday morning. I can't thank you enough for shipping it so quickly. It has been a tremendous help. Beau will not give up even though his body is failing him. With this suit I can keep him from falling over. The suit has made a tremendous difference in the time Beau and I have together. You are welcome to quote me. Thanks again.”

 

Dorothy Fitch - New York

“Just wanted to share with you that I received the support suit for my black lab mix on Monday,  4/14, and it has transformed his life & made ours easier to be able to help him get around. The suit works great, has given my dog, Hooch, confidence when he needs assistance getting up or walking. It has made my life easier because now I can pick him up safely & securely without hurting him from just supporting one end or the other. I can't thank you enough for your product & God bless you for all that you do to help others & their pets with your support suit.”

 

Thanks again,

Olive - Maine

“Hi!  We received Ceci's suit yesterday and we love it!  It's wonderful!  Fits her great, I've got her wearing it around the house to get used to it (but she adjusted immediately, so must be very comfortable - she actually went to sleep with it on).   We're practicing walking now.

  

All in all, this is just exactly what I was looking for - thank you for inventing and making such a high quality product! - it's terrific!! and will really improve the quality of life for her this summer.  Now we can even go to the beach!”

 

Jenni (and Ceci) - Illinois

“I got Clara's suit today! thanks...that is one hell of a harness you've made.”

Calvin - Maryland

Hello, my name if Jeffrey. I was adopted from Rockin"P"Rescue. They find abandoned and abused boxers from a variety of places. I needed an amputation due to a deformity of my rear leg that rendered it useless. Mom just got me this wonderful harness from Animal Suspension Technology. Mom will take me for a walk in it.  I am a Certified Therapy Dog and want to continue to see the adults and especially the kids I have been visiting. Mom will use this to help give my leg a hand getting up from sitting down.

                                                   

Sloppy Boxer kisses from Jeffrey and warm regards from his proud mom, Rose Ann Dean - Alabama

“Just letting you know that we received Fletch's suit and it fits him nicely!  :-)

 

Thanks so much!”

 

--Angie - Washington
AST Pet Support Suits are custom built to your dog's measurements. Small dogs, medium dogs, large dogs, Huge dogs, even three legged amputee dogs like the boxer pictured here can have a suit made to their measurements. If you need to lift a large dog or help a pet with a long term or serious medical condition and have been looking for a canine mobility harness or other dog lift aid, consider the AST Pet Support Suit. You get a choice of five colors - Red, green, blue, black and yellow. And Support Suits provide unbeatable support and control when moving a dog.

The AST Support Suit: Giving Amputees a Leg Up

Tested by Jerry G. Dawg, www.tripawds.com

Written by Jim Nelson & Rene Agredano

7/7/07

 

Believe it. The AST Support Suit lives up to all of it's promises. We tested it on Jerry, a 75-pound, three-legged “tripawd” dog with hip displaysia. As Jerry will testify, the AST Support Suit is a critical tool that helps him get through life with as much mobility as possible.

 

Since his bone cancer diagnosis and subsequent foreleg amputation in November, 2006, Jerry has been wearing a search-and-rescue webbing type of harness to help him along. The harness has worked OK, and allowed for full mobility. But, it was tricky to use just after his surgery. It's webbing loops make it cumbersome to get his front leg into it. Also, the harness structure requires two front legs for the best fit, and because Jerry's missing one, the harness constantly shifts to the side. Despite these flaws, this harness was the best available for amputee dogs – until now.

 

Upon first sight of the AST Support Suit, the buckles and webbing might intimidate you. Don't let them. You'll soon learn as we did that the suit is not as tricky as it looks. AST's instructions are clearly written and explain how to properly adjust all the straps so that you only have to make a good fit once. After that, the Suit is always ready to go with no further adjustments.

 

The first time we put the suit on Jerry, he was too tired to get out of bed and unwilling to budge. Since AST's instructions say that the Suit can be applied to a dog that's lying down, we wanted to prove this claim.

 

Dressing him was a breeze. The harness lies completely flat when it's opened, so when it was time to dress Jerry, we just had to slide it under his torso, wrap it around, adjust the webbing and snap the buckles as instructed. He hardly moved.

 

When it was time to get him out of bed, the adjustable handles made it heasy to hoist him and get him on his feet. As we lifted him, it was clear that the underbelly fabric had far more bottomside support than the his old harness. And the AST Suit did not dig in as we guided him up.

 

The Suit also makes going up and down stairs a whole lot easier. Jerry's old harness didn't have an adjustable handle, so one always had to stoop and hang on to him while ascending or descending obsctacles. This created a jerking motion, which can aggrivate bad backs or shoulders. But, with the AST Suit's adjustable handles, they are always adjusted to arm's length, making stair navigation a lot easier on humans and the dog.

 

Once Jerry was outside, it was clear that the AST Suit wasn't adversely affecting his mobility. In fact, it helped it. Jerry ran, walked up boulders, played fetch, and not once did the Suit slide around like his old harness always did. He didn't seem to notice it was there.

 

The Suit also delivers on its full potential when it comes to traveling. Even with tall trucks like our 4x4 Dodge Ram 2500, the AST Suit makes it easier than ever to get him in and out of a vehicle. With the adjustable straps for and istributed underbelly support, hoisting him up into or out of the vehicle is lot faster and steadier than with his old harness.

 

As Jerry ages and his hip condition worsens, it is clear how the AST Support Suit will be a huge help. He's a heavy dog, and lifting him isn't easy, but with the AST Support Suit, we know that we'll be able to keep his quality of life to a maximum by being able to easily move him, travel with him, and most importantly, play with him as long as possible.

 

For a complete video review of the AST Support Suit, please visit www.tripawds.com.

AST Pet Support Suits™ and Get-a-Grip Dog Lift Harnesses™ are Made in the USA - Patent Pending.
Dogs in Suits - We've put our AST Pet Support Suit on hundreds of dogs of all different shapes and sizes, with all kinds of reasons for wearing a suit. Some are dogs with long term medical issues, others are older dogs that need help up stairs or into cars. Some dogs are blind or have balance problems, and still others are active dogs, with owners that take them hiking and boating. There are service dogs, therapy dogs - all kinds of dogs can be found in an AST Pet Support Suit. If you need a heavy duty harness for dogs or if you have been searching for a giant breed dog harness, stop searching and order an AST Support Suit or Get-a-Grip Dog Lift Harness.Animal Suspension Technology is proud to be recognized as a Verified PayPal Merchant. You can count on PayPay to support your transaction with AST, and you can count on AST to support your pet.AST makes it easier for you to get the help you need quickly by accepting credit cards and PayPal. AST Support Suits and Get a Grip Dog Lift Harnesses - Helping Humans help their Pets.