Door bolt in floor caution

My Lab got a 4 stitch gash in his leg Saturday that I think may have been caused by the door bolt in the floor. He's almost 9 with hip dysplasia and I usually need to help him up into the E. I think as I tried to lift him in with one hand under his stomach while holding on to the terrier pulling on the leash with the other, his leg got caught on the bolt. The bolt's not sharp edged at all, but if pressure and angle was enough, it could split the skin. I think that's what happened to him.
This is totally my fault for not securing the terrier first before trying to help the Lab. I thought I would mention it on the board, though, as a caution.

Sorry to hear about the injury to your Lab. :(

By "door bolt" do you mean the lower locking mechanism for the swing-out rear doors?

-brendan

I'm not the most knowledgeable about terms, but it's a small upside down u-shaped metal catch in the step where the two doors meet.
I think it just caught my Lab and caused the gash.

You might consider getting a doggie ramp - you can usually get them through any doggie products catalog or online. Unfortunatley hip dysplexia is really comon among certain breeds.

I have thought seriously about getting a ramp. Looked at them in Fosters and Smith catalogs. It's all the feisty little rat terrier's fault, anyway. If he hadn't been pulling on the leash, Sam, the Lab, and I could have managed him getting into the E just fine.

I just wanted to let dog people know that there could be a problem when dogs jump in to the E with the u shaped door thingy in the floor.

Thanks, though, for the suggestion.