Carts

An initial dutiful specification on this aid: the cart must be the last solution possible for your pet!
First of all a precise diagnosis must be made by a veterinary (possibly an orthopedic or neurosurgeon) which will have subjected your dog to an accurate visit and eventually some analysis (radiological, myelographical, ecc).
Then there is phisiotherapy (still largely unknown by most veterinaries!), often associated to surgical operations, but not only. It can give very valid results! (see the page "Physiotherapy").

An early use of the cart will cause the animal to balance his bodyweight in response to the aid he is using. This is will be good only if the animal will have to use this aid permanently, otherwise, in the case the pet will be walking again, it will cause more difficulties.

Therefore, after all other options have been tried with no success, as a last resort the aid of a cart will be very helpful, giving back the joy of living to our pet.
Bringing him back to playing and running is the most beatiful gift that we can offer him! With the aid of a cart he will be able to regain his mobility thus his independence.

One most not think that this aid is a forcing for the animal: they dont live their handicap like humans do. They dont make themselves problems, they dont feel humiliated and they dont fell ''different''. If they can move and play like before they will regain immediately the desire, and not only the capacity, of moving, walking and playing. They behave absolutelly normally and other ''healthy'' animals also do so with handicapped ones. (See the page "The other stories")

There are various types of carts: the most commonly used supports the back legs. It can be of two types: an aid for the rear legs that are not able to support the bodyweight anymore, but still functional, consisting in a structure with wheels that sustain the back part leaving the rear legs free of moving and walking; the other type, instead, will completely immobilize the rear legs in a wheeled structured (in the case of paralysis, for example), however with the indispensable condition that the forward legs are strong enough to support the cart therefore allowing mobility (above picture).

There is also a cart for the front part (less frequent) and others that substain all the body in general, for old or seriously handicapped animals or in some post-surgery situations. The principle is similar to the harnesses described in the other page, but for bigger animals, where the owner is not able to substain by himself the weight of the dog. Here on the side there is an example easy to realize, but the models can also be very different.

Of course carts for dogs with an aputated limb can be made, even though I can affirm, by personal experience, that tripeds can carry out their life marvellously without any aid! Certainly through the years an aid may be useuful.

All carts must allow urination and defecation, always keep it in mind.

Most animals (not only dogs, also cats and even rabbits!) quickly adapt themselves in walking with this aid, however it may occur that the dog or cat, especially if shy, wont familiarize with this strange object. Therefore it is very important to put oneself in the right way at the beginning, to make him accept this new machine as a positive and playful factor, to make him get used to the object even before having him wear it, and only when you're sure he has a certain familiarity with it try having him use it, encouraging him to walk with morsels or with his favorite toy. The veterinary can surely advice you on the best way to approach the situation.

Also, the active participation of your veterinary is very important in the choice of the right cart for your pet.

If one has enough manual ability you may construct the cart by yourself like many other owners of handicapped animals have already done (see for example http://caneparalizzato.interfree.it/)

The below pictures of the trolley used for the back legs paralysis (the most commonly used) may help you in the realization. It will be important to have your dog ''try'' the trolley before having finished it, so that modifications can be carried out. Otherwise you can buy them from specialized companies, but keep in mind that prices are high. Below are the relative internet sites.

side view

high view

posterior view

The basic principles are always the same, but various constructors can give a personal imprint to their work with some little differences (bigger or smaller wheels, different design, ecc); the only substantial difference regards only one type (of the Dog Mobile Company), which allows the dog to lay by himself completely even with the cart on: an added comfort. Before choosing a company you must understand what your dog really needs and what use you will make of the cart. If, for example, you will often go to the beach or mountains, ask the constructor for wheels that work well on uneven terrains, like the one illustrated on the side. I repeat the importance of the active participation of your veterinary to help you through.

Some companies will give you back a part of the money spent for the cart if the dog doesn't adapt to it; therefore when buying it ask information on refunding. In addition ask information on reparations and on delivering time, which sometimes can be very long.

Doggon' Wheels (UK);

Doggon' Wheels (USA );

Dog Mobile Company (UK);

K9Carts (USA);

Wheelchairs for dogs (USA);

Pet Mobile (USA);

Eddie's Wheels (USA).

I advice you to give a look to the site Disabled Dogs, where the owner of a dog, affected by degenerative mielopathy, gives many useful advices especially on carts, but also on other aids.

Carts for cats respond to the same principles as the above described, but with some differences: less bodyweight compared to the dog, scarce tolleration of something hanged from the neck and a much more flexible backbone.

The do-it-yourself construction here is simpler, also for the reduced dimensions. Have a look at the Miciclo page (the pictures on the left) where there is a picture sequence showing you how to build one.

For anyone that wants to buy an already made cart, the same companies cited above also sell carts for cats.

There is another type of cart that allowes the dog to sit or lay down, being transported by the owner: a sort of pram!
It may be useful to have long walks with an old dog, that would otherwise have to limit himself to little walks due to tiredness. Especially when you have more dogs of different ages this type of trolley can come in handy, allowing all your dogs to go out together.

The structure of an old baby carriage with a wooden board on the bottom part (where packages are put) can be easily used to obtain a cart (picture on the left), otherwise you'll have to think about another ''boat-type'' structure with wheels under that can be pulled by a person with a string (picture on the right).

Any other information on these arguments is welcome! Write to info@oscardog.it.