Wheelchairs for dogs, cats, ferrets, alpacas, goats, sheep, rabbits, & possums

[alaskaguy]

A growing number of pet owners are turning to custom-built wheelchairs to restore mobility to furry friends whose legs, hips or backs don't work. The owners' goals are simple: to reward their pets' unconditional love with whatever it takes for the animals to live normally.

The two-wheel carts support the dog's midsection with a padded saddle, and are secured with a shoulder yoke and chest strap. Most dogs have rear-wheel carts to compensate for lame hind legs, though a growing number of front-wheel carts are being ordered for animals with front-leg problems.

Eddie and Leslie Grinnell, founders of Eddie's Wheels, built their first pet wheelchair in 1989 when their 10-year-old Doberman, Buddha, lost the use of her rear legs because of disc disease and spinal problems.

Since launching the business, Eddie's Wheels has shipped carts worldwide — the largest to a 220-pound Saint Bernard in Great Britain — and has made wheelchairs for several cats, a ferret, alpacas, goats, sheep, a rabbit and a possum.

They even keep a supply of tiny wheels on hand for a gerbil or hamster.

Link:
Wheelchairs keep disabled pets moving - Yahoo! News

 

[Phaedrus]

A possum? Maybe they're related to this guy:

 

[Cyclonepride]

Very interesting. My wife's dog was born with a problem in his back legs, and they don't bend. He can use them together to get around pretty good, but when he's in a hurry, or doesn't like the surface he is on, he does a handstand on his front legs and gets around pretty good. One of these things might be a good thing for him as he gets older.

 

[Flag Guy]

What exactly is natural about an animal wheelchair?


I know what angle they're coming from with trying to reward the unconditoinal love thing, but at some point you're not doing them a favor anymore.

My dog is pretty old and the vet was ready to put him down a year ago - my dad won't do it though. He wants him to die "naturally" and is saying that Shadow took care of us when he was younger (protection) we should take care of him in his old age. Problem is Shadow has bad arthritis and getting up, walking, pooping, ect are painful for him. Shadow still has the spirit of a puppy but he has the body of an old dog and I can see the pain he is in - I don't really think we're doing him a favor by keeping him alive.

Don't get me wrong, I love the dog and will miss him, but I don't like seeing him in so much pain :sad:

These wheel chairs maybe help animals avoid some of that pain but at some point it probally crosses a line

 

[DaddyMac]

The daughter of my neighbor raises Burmese Mountain dogs. A very large and valuable dog, and she shows them regularly.

One of the younger ones developed a spinal issue - she told me what specifically, but I can't remember. Anyway, the dogs back legs no longer function. But otherwise it's perfectly healthy and happy, no pain. The only problem is that because it's hind legs don't function, it pretty much drags them along as it runs about - still a very active dog. Obviously, allow the dog feels nothing, it scrapes up the skin and bleeds.

So they got something similar that props up the back legs off the ground and has wheels to allow easier movement. Dog seems content as can be.

 

[BKLYNCyclone]

So they got something similar that props up the back legs off the ground and has wheels to allow easier movement. Dog seems content as can be.

When did Bernese mountain dogs get so popular? When I was a kid I wanted one but you could barely find them outside of europe (so not in the budget). Now I see one every day walking around in brooklyn...

Back to the point. My fiance and I take our dogs to Prospect Park every weekend during off-leash hours. It's an amazing thing to see hundreds of dogs running around playing. Anyway, there's a dog there that has what appears to be an off road type wheel chair holding up his back legs. While he's definitely not the fastest dog out there, he seems to be having just as good of a time as the rest of them.