Putting your dog into a wheelchair can be a real life changer; allowing them to regain their independence once again. Walkin’ Wheels wheelchairs are specially designed to support and help dogs with reduced mobility, whether this is due to a medical condition such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, spinal cord injuries, a neurological condition, broken or injured limb or just general weakness due to old age.
As an owner of a disabled dog you can spend a lot of your time carrying or supporting your dog to move around. While equipment such as slings and lifting harnesses can be amazing, they can also take a toll on your own back and mean that your dog is not able to wander around, to stop and sniff at their own pace and just enjoy being an independent dog. Putting your dog in a wheelchair can give them, and you, this independence back again. Having this independence and being able to have their doggy adventures, however big or small, can give their mood a huge boost as well.
Suitable for dogs, cats, rabbits, sheep, goats and more! Although the majority of pets we help into wheelchairs are dogs, Walkin’ Wheelchairs are suitable for, and have helped, a range of animals become mobile again.
What to consider before purchasing a wheelchair?
Generally dogs adapt really well to wheels, These wheelchairs are designed to get your dog back on their feet so they can do all their doggy activities, such as sniffing, digging or pottering about, as well as helping to boost their mood.
For a wheelchair the most important factor is that your dog has two good legs. If your dog is too weak, then they can struggle to have enough power to propel themselves. For a dog going into a rear-only wheelchair, then they will need good power in their front legs. If they are going into a quad or 4-wheel wheelchair, then they will still need enough power in two legs however it does not matter if these are front or back.
Quad wheelchairs are great however unfortunately they are not a magical cure. If your dog has no power in their limbs, then a quad wheelchair is unlikely to be able to help them. Your dog must have some power in their limbs in order to propel themselves. While these wheelchairs are designed for all terrains, if your dog is elderly or has weaker limbs then these Quad wheelchairs are best on flat surfaces, paths and more solid surfaces like concrete or tarmac.
If you are not sure whether or not your dog would be a suitable candidate, or if you are not sure whether they need a Quad or Rear-Only, feel free to send us a short video of your dog or other pet walking and we would be really happy to assess how they are walking and see if we think they would be a good candidate for wheels.
What conditions are suitable for a dog wheelchair?
There are a range of conditions which might make a wheelchair the right choice for your dog or other pet. Some of these conditions might include Arthritis, IVDD, spinal weakness or other spinal conditions, hip dysplasia, amputation (front or rear), degenerative myelopathy, cruciate injuries, post-surgical recovery or a temporary measure as part of a rehab plan or many more!
A Wheelchair can help a dog who has arthritis in their joints or spine, it can help to relieve pressure on their joints and make walking and running less tiring. The wheelchair supports them from underneath, relieving the stress on their joints which allows your dog to walk with greater ease. How your dog uses their wheelchair is up to you, many elderly or arthritic dogs use their wheelchairs daily while others only on the days when they need a little extra help.
With amputee dogs, although they can hop along on three legs, this does lead to them developing complications like early arthritis in their spines and remaining leg joints, as they compensate for the lack of a limb. Putting them into a wheelchair can help to relieve this additional pressure on their spines, joints and remaining legs and help prevent early onset of arthritis.
A wheelchair can be a great alternative to surgery if your dog is too old or unable to have surgery for whatever reason. We have helped a number of dogs with conditions such as cruciate ligament injuries into wheelchairs either as a rehabilitation aid or an alternative to surgery, where this has not been possible for them.
A wheelchair can also however be part of your dog or other pet's rehabilitation programme post surgery. IVDD and other spinal conditions is a good example of this. Every year we help dogs into wheelchairs who have undergone surgery for IVDD and other spinal conditions. A wheelchair can form a crucial part of their recovery process, much like hydrotherapy, it can be a way for them to strengthen muscles and build fitness in a controlled way. Enabling them to exercise without putting excess pressure and weight through their spine and back legs.
When to put your dog in a wheelchair
One of the questions which might crop up if you are thinking about a wheelchair for your dog is; when is it the right time? The answer is that it is never really too early, this is especially true if your dog has a progressive or degenerative condition.
The way that the Walkin’ Wheels wheelchair is designed means that your dog can be placed in their wheelchair but still use their legs and so therefore, they are able to maintain their muscle for as long as possible. Then, as they lose the use of their legs, they can be put up into stirrups so that they are not dragging on the floor.
Something to be aware of is some owners wait until their dog has lost a lot of muscle mass and fitness, this can impact how quickly your dog will then adapt to using their wheels.
Additionally, wheelchairs can and are used as temporary mobility aids, as part of your dogs rehabilitation programme, as well as treating temporary paralysis or limiting activity post surgery.
Rear or Quad?
Wheelchairs come as either a quad, which has four wheels and supports the dog all round, or two wheels which just take the weight off the back legs.
If you are not sure which your dog needs, then feel free to send us a little video of your dog walking and we can assess which might be most helpful in keeping them active for as long as possible.
Often mobility loss begins with weakness in a dog’s rear legs and as the condition progresses the dog’s mobility worsens over time. In many cases, the weakness slowly works its way up the spine and eventually impacts the front leg strength as well.
The Walkin’ Wheels wheelchair is designed to adapt to your dog’s changing health needs. It easily converts from a rear-wheel wheelchair into a full support four-wheel wheelchair, giving support in both the front and rear legs if or when they need it. In this way the Walkin' Wheels wheelchair can adapt as your dog’s mobility and health needs as they change.
Getting them used to their wheelchair
Most dogs take to their wheels very quickly, however for some it can just take a little longer, don’t worry if this happens, praise and patience will get them there.
First introduce your dog to the harness and wheelchair, allowing them to sniff and smell it.
Introduce the wheelchair slowly, with little and often sessions, so that they do not get too tired. For many dogs going into a wheelchair is the most amount of activity and exercise that they will have done for a while and they can easily tire until they become more fit. Again, make sure that you are frequently positively reinforcing with lots of praise and treats.
Activities which your dog enjoys such as running after a ball or playing with a friend can also help to settle them into their wheels and get them used to being independent and able to run around once again.
The most common reason for reluctance or not wanting to move in their wheels is due to poor fitting – if this happens, please get in touch as we are always happy to help you with adjusting the wheelchair for a good fit.
Toileting while in the wheelchair
This is a question we are often asked - can my dog go to the toilet while in their wheelchair? and the simple answer is yes.
The rear leg rings of the wheelchair support your dog from underneath and are positioned for your dog to comfortably relieve themselves. For dogs with a long tail, simply place their tail over the back bar of the wheelchair to keep it from being soiled.
Dogs (and other animals) seem to adapt very quickly to toileting in their wheelchair. Additionally a wheelchair can actually encourage and help with toileting. Because the wheelchair allows for them to stand upright and move around more, this encourages peristalsis in the gut meaning their bodies function correctly and they relieve themselves more naturally, helping to resolve issues such as constipation or incomplete bladder emptying.
What is included within your wheelchair?
The wheelchair comes with a front harness, a belly belt, leg rings and stirrups included. The stirrups are optional, you put their back legs up into these if they are not functioning, so they don’t drag on the ground.
These are all a sort of a 'basics' range. Some people upgrade to a more padded harness which can improve the fit of the wheelchair and distribute weight better across the shoulders and wider belly supports, especially if they are in their wheelchair quite a lot or have any spinal issues.
We sell a few different harnesses and which one will suit your dog best, is generally dictated by their breed and level of activity.
NB: If you have a Dachshund, the standard harnesses rarely fit well and we would always recommend that you purchase a Front Vest Harness.
Optional extras
Front harnesses: We have a range of front harnesses, some are more suited to some breeds of dogs than others. Most are suitable either as standalone harnesses as well as being compatible as a wheelchair harness. Please see our collection here
Rear harnesses: We have a couple of different options of rear harnesses available. Most of these are compatible with the wheelchairs so can be used as standalone lifting harnesses and double up as a rear harness in their wheelchair. Please see our collection here
Belly support: If your dog has poor muscle tone and overall body condition, a spinal condition or is quite 'long' in their body we recommend you consider an upgraded belly support, this can be found here
How to measure your dog or pet for a wheelchair
There are four different wheelchair frame sizes; Mini, Small, Medium and Large. Which wheelchair frame your dog needs is determined by their weight.
We then use your dogs back leg length and their armpit to rump (ATR) measurement to determine the strut and wheel size which will fit them best.
When working out which size wheelchair your dog needs we need four bits of information:
- Breed
- Weight
- Back Leg measurement
- Armpit to Rump (if they are less than 17kg)
Please see the diagram below to help know how to take these measurements. It is important when taking the back leg measurement that you allow some natural bend on their leg and do not pull this into a straight line.
The measurement can be taken with your dog lying down or standing up, however taking the measurement when they are standing can help you to be more accurate.
Fitting
We do offer a fitting service here at our office, which is near Petersfield, West Sussex. Please contact us if you would like to book a slot, a fitting usually takes about 40 minutes but can take longer for complex cases. Fittings are free if you purchase a wheelchair, if however you do not purchase a wheelchair there is a £30 fee.
Alternatively, a dog physiotherapist or even your vet would also be able to help you with hands-on fitting. If they do not have any experience with fitting Walkin’ wheelchairs, we are always happy to talk them through the process. If you don't know any animal physios in your area, your local vet practice can give you a list of local ones.
We also do as much after-sale care and fitting advice as you need, so you can send us pictures and videos and we can let you know how the fit is and if there are any adjustments which need to be made for a good fit.
