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Dog Carts and Pet Wheelchair Companies
Dog wheelchairs are made by several manufacturers. All of them (except the new Walkin' Wheels) are custom made and require exact measurements. Many, except Walkin' Wheels have restrictive return policies.
If you visit these sites, please let them know that you came from HandicappedPets.com and let us know how you like your cart so we can tell others. Note that HandicappedPets.com does not necessarily sell or recommend these dog wheelchairs.
Walkin' Wheels for Handicapped Pets.
 This is the only fully adjustable wheelchair that works great for dogs between 20 and 250 lbs. It is veterinarian approved, folds flat for easy transportation, and has great resale vale when your dog no longer need it. Great to donate to rescues and shelters because it is so versitile. Adjusts to fit your dog and adjusts as your dog's health changes. Easy to order, no complicated measurements. Overnight delivery available. WalkinWheels.com
Evans Mobility
 Units are a new style of veterinarian-designed, low cost carts. These units are ideally suited for Post Surgical, Arthritis, Hip Dysplasia, Paralysis, Post traumatic injury, and Pelvic surgery. They feature Casters with bearings for 360 degree mobility and virtually no chance of turnover. Evans Mobility Units cost around $400.
Eddies Wheels
 Eddies wheels makes a custom designed wheelchair. They have a welded saddle-type seat that is made of metal, covered with rubber and is molded to fit perfectly to the pelvic structure of your dog. These carts cost about $300 - $600. Be sure to measure carefully and read their return policy which states "...A 30% non-refundable deposit is required with each order, with the balance due upon shipment. As our products are custom built, we cannot offer cash refunds. All sales are final..." Eddies Wheels also makes custom designed specialty carts for other animals from rats and rabbits to alpacas.
Doggon' Wheels
 Doggon Wheels makes custom dog carts for Handicapped Pets. Their sling-style support is easy to use and does not require that the dog is liften into the cart (like eddies wheels and K9 carts). The dog is secured in the carts with a series of clips. The cart can be disassembled using the radiator-clamps that hod together the tubing.
Deweys Wheelchairs for Dogs
This custom made wheelchair is lightweight, weighing only 9 lbs. for the larger dogs and of course much less for the smaller ones. Its easier to place and remove the dog from the wheelchair. The rear support system is detachable as well as the harness up front. By removing these and placing them on the dog then attaching the dog to the wheelchair, no lifting. Costs between $250 and $500.
Dogmobile
The DogMobile, from England features what they call a "Lay-Down Design" It allows a dog to lie down and recover to standing at their own will. Giving disabled dogs their independence back.
Dogs To Go
A very simple and inexpensive cart, under $100 for small dogs. It is made of PVC tubing,
TailWagon.
The Tailwagon cart provides mobility for recovering of immobile pets. Carts range from $100 - $150
Discussing Dog Carts
On Saturday, June 9th, "Pet Projects" filmed a segment on HandicappedPets.com. I met them in a part in Boston with two dogs in Carts. There was such a tremendous difference in the carts. I'll show you what I learned. I invite you to email me your comments and I'll add them to this page. I will review other carts whenever possible.
Eddie's Wheels
This is Cassandra. This dog cart was made by Eddie's Wheels. The large wheels add stability and make it very easy for Cassandra to run and play. Lightweight Aluminum braces offer firm support. The soft rubber harness hold the dog around the chest and back. The cart opens with the removal of the two pins which allow the hinged top to open.
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For Legs
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Hinged top
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Lightweight
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On Camera
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Jackie Lays down in a cart made by Eddie's Wheels
K9 Carts
This is Pugsley. His pet cart was made with smaller wheels that did not do too well on the uneven grass. The stainless steel wire animal cart was connected with "C" clamps that may have made the cart more adjustable. Pugsley was strapped in with a series of padded straps that took his Mom a few to put together.
According to his Mom, the doggie cart worked extremely well at first and Pugsley was able to run around on the carpet.
Doggon Wheels
Doggon' Wheels offers custom made, light weight wheelchairs and other products to assist disabled pets. Our wheelchairs are used often by top veterinary health care professionals throughout the world because of our unique design and ability to meet the needs of disabled pets.
A poorly fit cart will not work for your animal.
Different styles of carts require different types of measurements, with the exception of the adjustable Walkin' Wheels. For all other carts, accurate measurements are very important. Measure the animal standing up. If a cloth measuring tape is not available, use a leash to take the measurement, then measure the leash. The measurement charts available on their websites have detailed diagrams to show you where and how to measure.
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Ebony Beam is a truly amazing rabbit! I met her and her human mom Elanie when she asked me for advice on how to care for her four year old disabled rabbit. Ebony had a fractured spine which injured a nerve which controls her balance in her hindquarters. This injury left her unable to use her back legs. Ebony was suffering from bladder sludge and bladder infections and she needed frequent daily bathing to keep her clean. |
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I was so moved by Elanie's love and commitment to Ebony vets had advised Elanie to euthanize Ebony), that I purchased a cart for her over one year ago. Soon after receiving her cart, I visited Ebony, and cried tears of joy when she greeted me at the door of her mom's gift shop! Ebony loves her cart and her new "job" as greeter at her mom's gift store. And not only does Ebony clearly love her cart (just watch her do binkies and wheelies in it!), she has gained muscle strength in both her front and back legs and can stand on her own again and can and even "walk" 12 feet across the floor without her cart! |
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Elanie now only washes Ebony once a week, making her care much easier, and Ebony no longer suffers from bladder infections.
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Czar just wants to say thank you sooooooooooooooooooooo much. He hadn't had a walk in 5 days & when I picked up the cart last Wednesday he was so eager to get out. He has adapted quite well & is drawing a lot of attention, especially from the female dogs. I have attached 2 photos so you can see how the cart fits Czar. Nancy Schmidt Vancouver, B.C. |
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I used a cart for my GSD girl for almost a year when she lost the use of her rear legs to Degenerative Myelopathy. The cart is in great condition and has now gone on to be enjoyed by another DM dog. I highly recommend this cart. I did a lot of research before I decided which cart to get. I based my choice on the following criteria. The cart had to be:
--Comfortable for Raffi to use for long, rough terrain walks.
--Not compromise her front legs by putting weight on her shoulders.
--Maneuverable, for her to run and play freely.
--Easy for me to get her in and out of. (A nearly 90lb. dog and a past middle-aged woman with a questionable back!)
--Lightweight and easy to get in and out of the car.
--Durable and able to survive the long rough woodland and beach walks, sand and seawater.
--Allow her to use what leg movement she had initially, yet support them well later.
--Adjustable to accommodate her weight changes as she lost muscle bulk.
--Affordable
Raffi's Doggon Wheels met all these requirements and more. I was very happy with the cart and with the follow-up service and caring concern that I got from the company.
As well as all of the above, a great help to managing Raffi as she became more disabled was the design of harness system that suspends the dog in the wheelchair.
The Rear harness can be slipped on while the dog is still lying down. There is a handle accessory that clips onto it so that it can be used as a walking harness for quick trips out to "Potty", or to get up into the car or up the stairs. With this harness in place it was SO easy for me to clip it, and therefore her, into her cart without having to worry about lifting her whole weight.
Because the rear harness is a flexible webbing and neoprene design it supports the dog's weight without restricting leg movement. She could use what leg muscles she had left while being supported by the cart. When they tired or later when she completely lost use of them the legs were comfortably suspended in the stirrups.
Ann
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