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| Kayla getting very bored with all the photographs! |
Building carts for others?
I've been asked whether I would make doggy wheelchairs for others. I think it would be difficult and error prone to try to design and make a custom cart using only photos and measurements as a reference. However, I'd love to hear of anyone's efforts to make a cart!
What's next?
The next step is to paint the frame. My wife suggested a bright snazzy yellow to match the wheels...
Also, I'm considering adding a 'stirrup' for Kayla's foot. There are times when I don't want her to use her back leg. Other carts on the market have slings that hold the leg or legs either suspended behind or in front. I'm thinking of using one of the little dog booties we have, attached to a cord or chain, to suspend her foot under her belly. I'll post photos if I do this.
Thanks for taking the time to read the story of Kayla's wheelchair.
(c) Peter Heald
Oregon, USA, 2009.
California, USA, 2016-2019.
36 comments:
Thank you for the very informative article. Elvis is a 15 year young Saint Beagle with some major hip problems. He still like to be active but is held back by his "condition." I've been thinking about whether to buy or build a wheelchair when I stumbled across your site. It makes so much sense to build our own so I'm going to try it out and see what comes of it. I'll let you know. Thanks!
-Billy and Elvis (Marietta, Ga.)
Peter, thank you so much for this article! my girlfriend has a 8yr old Chinese Shar-pei who is loosing his abiblity to walk due to lower spinal disc problems. His name is Mai Tai, and he is in a great deal of pain. He is a fighter though, and refuses to stop walking around dragging his left leg. I was just doing some research on dog wheelchairs because it breaks my heart to see my girlfriends heart broken for her beloved Mai Tai. As you know, dog wheelchairs are QUITE expensive, and as a Youth Pastor, I don't make a whole lot, and she is jobless currently, looking for work. What would you have to charge to custom make one of your wheelchairs? Please let me know as soon as you can. Thank you again, so very much!
Thank you for this information. I need to build a wheelchair for my Tuff, an 8 year old boston terrier. He blew out his knee playing with my other dogs. Until he loses weight, the vet will not do the surgery. I have him on a diet but he will need at least a few months to go from 48 lbs. to 25 lbs. I can't afford the surgery and a wheelchair. My dad, uncle, and husband are building one similar to this but they are using PVC pipe so it will be lighter for Tuff to carry around.
Thanks!!
Thank you SO much for this article!! My pug Sophia needs a cart and I just cannot afford a pre-made version. I searched online and your instructions are THE BEST!
Will be sure to come back and post to let you know how we make out constructing a cart using your terrific instructions!
This is GREAT!!!! Thank you so much for sharing your idea. I have been researching dog wheelchairs for my 10 year old pit bull and getting discouraged by the outrageous prices. I knew there must be a way to build one but would have had an extremely hard time designing one myself. You have given me a step by step guide to doing something that now seems very achievable. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks Again!!!
thanks for your idea it is very basic and your instruction is easy to follow my dog just recently lost almost all mobility in his hinedquarters i can't tell you how hard it is to see him drag around its only been 3 weeks before that he was fine he's 11yrs old and we both are struggling to understand i am so glad that i found your site now i have a option that gives me hope for me and him you saved me from doing somthing we both didn't want to do thank you!!
Hi Peter, after reading your blog, i've started to fixed one using PVC pipes with some sawing and drilling for the wheels. It appear to be in good shape and look exactly like your design. But soon after i completed my design, my dog passed away due to old age. But still i want to thank you for allowing me to do something for her even though she did not have the chance to try it.
Wow i love you blog its awesomenice posting keep blogging,
these pictures are awesome!
Peter,
I was in the process of brainstorming of how to build a dog wheelchair for my neighbors 14 year old lab when I ran across your blog post. You have done an outstanding job in documenting your build and providing very useful information. This will help make an old dog feel better. Thank you for sharing :)
hi, this is a great idea, i'm going to build it for my 12 year old Pit Bull but i have two questions:
1) does the dog has to sleep with that on it?
2)the dog doesn't have any problem with the "bathroom"? can the dog go well with the wheelchair on?
Thnaks =)
I had to say thank you so much for posting this.. I was searching for a DYI wheel chair guid and I cant believe how much people are charing just for the guide... your a freakin rockstar for posting this! THANK YOU!
Thank you so much for posting this. We have a 3 legged beauty who is getting more and more problems with her remaining leg. So the wheelchair won't be used all the time, we will use it for longer periods with walking. Did you ever get to make the stirrup? Also could you give a hint (or tag) to use for finding those wheels on ebay?
TIA for helping us.
Thank you for sharing the information on how to build the dog walking cart. It just goes to show there are still people in this world who do the right thing for the right reason. God bless you.
i wanna thank you so much for this site we are trying to make one for our 13 year pit who is having back leg problems ill let you know how it comes out thanks again
Thank You Very Much
Thanks you for this great site and the information you have supplied.
I have a mini Dash hound who has lost the use of his back legs and is now on crate rest and meds while he Heals - he missing going out for walks with his best buddy with this plan here I can follow what you have done and create a Dog wheel chair so he again can get out and round
At reasonable Cost
Tip *** found lawnmore tires @ Canadian Tire different sizes ***
Thanks
A Lindstrom
thanks. we have a 13 year old gsd who is now paralyzed. we hope to copy your example, and hope we are successful at it. very grateful we are to you. more power
Thank you for posting this!!! It is really helpful!!! A dog in my shop called coco is currently blind and the back bone is in a bad condition. I will finally be able to get a wheelchair for her!! Thanks a lot!!!!! ����������������
Your link the harness doesn't work for me. We have quite a few normal harnesses, (the kind that go around the chest) and I want to know what kind you used.
I have a male doggy and he tore his ACL really badly, and now has the worst trouble moving around. He can't go on walks anymore and that is going to cause some pain for his arthritis in his other legs. So we've looked up some things, knee braces (two hundred and more) and I've thought, we have a few bikes we never use, so why not take the bike wheels from a kid bike and make a wheel chair? Something to keep his back legs off the ground.
There are harnesses that they make where you carry the dog's back legs while he walks so I've been thinking of that, and then attach that to the frame to keep the hind legs off the ground. Since those don't put weight on the belly and would free our old man to pee. If push comes to shove I can MAKE one from our gailian leashes.
The design and materials are perfect, THANKS VERY MUCH for posting this information, you are so cool.
Thank you so much. I work at a rescue center here in Cairo, Egypt. There are several dogs that have been hit by cars and had to remove their back legs. Buying a wheelchair and then shipping it to Egypt is too costly ( especially for more than one dog). I am going to attempt this and see how well it works out! Thanks again
Thank you very much for this informations Im been searching for this infos and your blog lead me to some details. I needed it for a dog who is in the shelter of CAPA here in Phnom penh cambodia.
All the best of kayla.
Thanks and hugs all the way from cambodia.
myfurryplace.com
Peter,
Thank you for putting this site together. I have just received enough donations to begin making a cart for Bruno, a Daschund mix that was surrendered to my rescue in horrible shape and paralyzed from the mid-section back. Your site has provided the best home-made cart with the most information to duplicate the cart you made.
We will begin construction of the cart Monday (6/23/14) and as soon as we are done I will send you photos.
Thank you again!
Clare, FurEver Fosters
Thanks so much for sharing your design and instructions! Have an aging Husky who is loosing her mobility and it breaks my heart. This looks like an affordable and doable solution. Thanks so much!!
I live in Oregon also!
Do you know of a place that has loaner wheelchairs? My Malinois is geriatric and on her last days. Her hip dysplasia keeps her from moving any at all. We can tell her mind is bright, but to be able to move with freedom would make her more comfortable (just no dignity at all watching the cats through the fence when you can't stand) It would make us more comfortable too, my back is constantly sore from picking up her hind end going up and down stairs. I am not going to put a dog to sleep just because my back hurts when the dog isn't in pain and the front end works fine.
Thank you for the easy to follow directions! Like others on here, I've been researching dog wheelchairs for my 10y.o. 'puppy' that blew a disk in her back a few years ago. Pre-made/custom jobs are pretty expensive for the ones that don't look like they'll fall apart in a couple days. Definitely plan to try your directions out!
Jon
Thank you very much for the beautifully described and elaborated post. I will remember this blog every time I see my dog walking.
Thanks for your suggestions it helped me in a unclear mind state as our 8 year old Lab developed almost overnight Displacia and Spinal nerve issues in the lower hips. So I took much of your advice for parts and materials all which were helpful. Ace and Lowes were my choices and both had what I needed. I do have some kinks to work out with but that's expected with each animal being different than k again for taking the time to be so detailed and helpful.
Thanks for your suggestions it helped me in a unclear mind state as our 8 year old Lab developed almost overnight Displacia and Spinal nerve issues in the lower hips. So I took much of your advice for parts and materials all which were helpful. Ace and Lowes were my choices and both had what I needed. I do have some kinks to work out with but that's expected with each animal being different than k again for taking the time to be so detailed and helpful.
Thanks for your suggestions it helped me in a unclear mind state as our 8 year old Lab developed almost overnight Displacia and Spinal nerve issues in the lower hips. So I took much of your advice for parts and materials all which were helpful. Ace and Lowes were my choices and both had what I needed. I do have some kinks to work out with but that's expected with each animal being different than k again for taking the time to be so detailed and helpful.
Peter,
Elegant and thoughtful solution, on which I will build (steal) for my aging lab. Well done!!
Really useful article! You helped a lot and in the dachshund Boris' name and my behalf, many, many thanks.
How would you make this for support of the front legs too?? My pup could use the help with the back legs...but his front legs are also becoming weak??
What do you think...could we add a wheel on front???
SORRY IF THIS IS A DUPLICATE.
What do you think about making this a 4 wheeled chair? My pups back legs are loosing their strength..but his front legs occasionally collapse.
How would you modify to add front wheels?? Any suggestions would be great. I want to make the rear legged one to start with...but really interested in adding front wheels!?
Peter,
I can't thank you enough. We have a litter of kittens and one has paralyzed back legs. I'll be making a small wheelchair for it tonight. Thank you.
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