Hammocks for pammered pets

Hi All,

I know my son said there had been some discussion of this topic, but I can't find that thread.

I have a almost 16 year-old Golden that had a stroke a year ago and has been valiantly struggling to survive since. I am gone 14 hours a day and he can no longer turn himself or get up, so started developing pressure sores. My son had suggested I build him a hammock but I was concerned he would flop out. It got to the point where I had to do something, so two weekends ago I made a try. It lasted two days - but when I had to move him back to the eggcrate he cried. So last weekend I spent the weekend redesigning and rebuilding him another hammock stand. This time studier using ceder 1.5" X 1.5" posts with (2) 3" screws attaching each piece and 5" steel braces inside and outside each corner (16), eyehook screws and lead pipe, rubber foot stoppers on the ends of the pipes, then open weave stretchable cotton fabric lined with canvas where I created a loop to slide over the pipes.

Have been using for a week. He loves it. Is sleeping better (which means after a year I am getting to sleep better), and his decubitus are healing. Other advantage is since he is incontinent, it allows the urine to go to blue pads below without him having to lie in it all day and the fabric dries quickly. My cats like it too. I know his time is short and this cost, but would do it again and only wish I had done it earlier. Would advise for anyone with older pets suffering joint pain.

Am posting a couple of pics - cammo & tropical prints, and yes one of one of the cats.

That is so very sweet!

that's great wayfarer... & much simpler than my idea.
for some reason i couldn't find that thread either were we talked about hammocks for aging pets, but here's the picture i drew as a possibility...
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...5/P8080012.JPG
but your idea is much simpler.
hey, there could be a market... seriously.

Thanks! My first try was more complicated and didn't hold up, but as a result I learned. The hardest part to figure out when I first started was figuring out how to have something that would support him but let me easily change out the sling/hammock, so I could wash it. I had the eyehooks from trying to hang my own hammocks from the walls and I was wandering around Home Depot and the lead pipes/wooden poles leaped into the design and one of the guys that helped me suggested the rubber "leg tips" to keep the pipe in place. It is just so easy. The hardest part was putting the first few pieces together by myself.

Your pictures have reminded me that I need to start pampering my dog too. What a great idea for an older pet. At one time I bought some dog beds for my dog, but when he was a puppy. Apparently puppies eat dog beds, but they grow up and mellow out ( huh, just like us!), well most mellow anyway. My dog doesn't like my hammock, but maybe a framed hammock like the one you have would work for him. the big box hardware stores have iron and plastic pipe that can screw together.

Great Job.... once again hammocks prove useful.

Pan

Great job, Wayfarer. I bet your dog is in heaven now. I had thought about building a hammock window perch for my cats. I still may do that in the future.

Way to go Wayfarer...errr Mom.

Looks great! I agree with slowhike, there really could be a market there. People love to spend money and pamper their pets. Heck, Paris Hilton alone may clean out your inventory. :p

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=1567