Making Your Own Animal Wheelchair

In some cases, purchasing a professionally made wheelchair for your animal can be cost prohibitive. These carts can cost between $300 and $500, a price that some families can't afford. Fortunately, there are ways to create your own cart or animal wheelchair for your dog, cat or small animal. Many websites on the Internet offer instructions and schematics to build your own cart, and the materials required to make these wheelchairs can be found around your home or at hardware stores. A good way to start out is by measuring your animal, and then deciding what strength of materials you will need to make a good cart (ie, copper piping, tubing, or aluminum frame); you'll also need to devise a harness/support for the back end of the animal (one suggestion is to use a back brace made for humans), and figure out what sort of wheels you'll need. With a little bit of ingenuity, a cart can be custom built for the cost of a few inexpensive parts.

Canine Wheelchairs

When man's best friend is unable to walk, what do you do? Buying one of the canine wheelchairs (also known as mobility carts) that are available from various sources may be the answer. While canine wheelchairs may not be a solution to the underlying problem that's causing your dog to be unable to walk, they can be a helpful aid to get your doggy moving again.

Types of Animal Wheelchairs

Depending on the reason that your pet needs a wheelchair, there are several different varieties available to suit your animal's needs. Most animal wheelchairs are custom made to fit the size of the animal that will be using them; unlike with wheelchairs for people, there is no way to make a chair that fits various sizes. There are three typical types of animal wheelchairs available

1. The sling type, where a wheeled cart is fitted onto your animal via a sling saddle support (gender specific) that attaches to the cart, which is made of tubing and other components.
   
2. A standard saddle type is used for animals that are larger, and is a two wheeled cart that is attached to the animal's body via a saddle fitted to the pelvic bone.
   
3. A portable wheelchair, which is easier to fold up and carry with for travel. It is made of lightweight aluminum and connected to the animal with foam straps.
   

Getting a Dog to Use a Wheelchair

Generally, animals that have been unable to use their hind legs will adapt quickly to using a dog wheelchair. They will enjoy the freedom that being in a wheelchair provides them, such as being able to walk around without having to be carried, and being able to defecate/urinate when and where they please. Most animals learn to propel themselves quickly with just their front legs, as well as how to maneuver with the cart. Some smaller animals, such as cats and small dogs, may even learn how to lay down when they are in the cart – but they should not be allowed to sleep while still tethered to the cart. Dogs should also always be supervised while in their wheelchairs.

Vet Opinions on Animal Wheelchairs

Veterinarians are often faced with decisions regarding how to treat animals that come into their offices. The treatment of animals differs from that of humans, because unfortunately, there are not as many options to give them back quality of life. When an animal, such as a dog, becomes unable to walk because their hind legs are paralyzed or injured, the vet has to make a decision as to how to proceed. Some doctors might recommend euthanasia, as they feel that the dog or cat will not have a good quality of life after the injury, but others wholeheartedly endorse the use of pet wheelchairs or carts. If you feel your vet is not giving you enough options for the treatment of your pet, be sure to consult another doctor – they may be able to assist you in finding a wheelchair for your animal.

Animal Wheelchair Alternatives

Sometimes, an animal may appear to need the help of a wheelchair or cart, but there are other options that would actually be better. If a dog, cat or other pet has some use of their hind legs, a wheelchair will not encourage the use of those legs, and in fact, may decrease the strength in the legs. In these cases, a hip brace or other bracing system can be helpful. If the weakness in the hind legs is a bit more advanced, a rear harness (which can be used to help gently lift the rear of the dog or cat) or rear end leash support can help the animal to move around more easily. These supports can be especially helpful when walking your animal outside, or up and down steps, while still encouraging some use of the hind legs.

Introduction to Animal Wheelchairs

Whether you're a dog person, cat person or even someone who prefers the company of smaller animals, you know the value of having a pet in your home. Sometimes, however, that pet gets sick, and becomes unable to walk because of advanced age, arthritis or even an injury. In these cases, one of the best options a pet owner has is to get their furry friend an animal wheelchair.

When your pet loses the ability to walk due to these conditions, a wheelchair (which usually straps onto the back of the animal, and replaces legs with wheels) can be a way for your pet to get around in a manner that's similar to what they're used to. Animal wheelchairs can be used for a short amount of time, to allow an animal's legs to rest or heal, or they can be a permanent solution for problems like paralysis or old age. The types of animals that take to wheelchairs best are typically dogs and cats, but other animals have been known to have been placed in animal wheelchairs as well.

Small Animal Wheelchairs

Not every pet is a dog or cat – and they are also not the only pets that might need mobility assistance. Animal lovers can get just as attached to their small animals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets, but unfortunately, there are not as many options for caring for these animals once they become disabled or ill. Some veterinarians may recommend euthanizing animals that are small and paralyzed, or hurt, but there are some alternatives. You can make your own cart for animals such as ferrets, that are unable to use their hind legs. Or, you can even have some professional companies create carts for them, provided you can give accurate measurements. Ferrets seem to adapt especially well to being tethered to a cart, and while other animals may not be able to use carts as quickly, it's often worth a try in order to give your small animal a more full life.

Cat Wheelchairs

Dogs aren't the only animals that can benefit from the use of mobility carts. Cats, when unable to use their hind legs, also can use wheelchairs that will help them to move around. While most companies specializing in wheelchairs for animals do not create wheelchairs for cats specifically, many of the carts that are constructed for small dogs can also be used for cats, with a bit of modification. Cats are usually skinnier and shaped differently than dogs, so you will need to specify to the cart company that this cart will be used for a cat. Some companies will also evaluate the way that your cat fits into its wheelchair for you via photos, so that you can be sure you have your animal correctly positioned in the cart.