In any case, it is difficult to watch one’s pet lose partial or complete mobility – even temporarily – due to an injury, disease, old age, or a combination of those factors. Today, loss of mobility is the leading cause of euthanasia among senior dogs – even if they are still happy, alert, responsive, and otherwise healthy.
It is true that certain conditions can cause mobility issues which can be improved by hip replacement or spinal surgery, but these procedures can be very expensive. Fortunately, there are alternative options (widely utilized in animal rehabilitation practices) available that can enhance a mobility-challenged dog’s quality of life and extend its longevity.
A dog wheelchair can be a life-changing experience for dogs recovering from surgery or injury, and it can also be life-changing for dogs suffering from general limb weakness, paralysis, or other painless illnesses, allowing them to continue walking and maintaining their independence. A canine wheelchair can give your dog a second chance at happiness.
The following are just four ways it can help
Ligament or joint injuries:It is often necessary to perform surgery in order to correct severe ligament and joint injuries, or to treat skeletal diseases such as hip dysplasia. The use of a dog wheelchair can help speed up recovery after surgery by relieving pressure on hips, limbs, or joints that have been repaired.
Spinal cord disorders:Certain dog breeds are susceptible to spinal diseases that can cause nerve damage, weakness, and paralysis. In order to aid in rehabilitation, a dog may need a canine wheelchair. Your dog can enjoy being active and happy by using a wheelchair.
Arthritis: Medication is helpful in treating arthritis, but a dog wheelchair can also greatly reduce pain in arthritic joints and slow down their deterioration by keeping tension off them.
Amputation: Whether due to injury, infection or accident, an amputation can be devastating to a dog, but a dog wheelchair, with slings to allow the wheels to move, can give him mobility once more.
It isn’t the end of the world for your dog just because it has lost or diminished the use of its legs. There are various therapeutic devices available for mobility-challenged or disabled dogs in today’s animal rehabilitation practices. If you decide that a dog wheelchair is right for your dog, certified canine rehabilitation practitioners can help you choose the right one, assist your dog throughout the adjustment process and provide long-term follow-up support.
Dog Wheelchairs: How to Choose the Right One
Choosing the right wheelchair for a pet will depend on his or her mobility needs
You must understand your dog’s current and future mobility needs in order to select the right wheelchair for him. Is your dog’s mobility condition likely to worsen over time? It’s possible that your dog’s rear leg weakness could cause leg paralysis or even stop him or her from being mobile in his or her front legs. Dogs diagnosed with progressive mobility problems, such as DM, need a fully adjustable dog wheelchair that can adapt and change with them.
When choosing a dog wheelchair, your dog’s age and breed are important considerations. A puppy or growing dog with mobility issues needs a cart that can grow with him. It is best to have an adjustable dog wheelchair if your dog is growing because it can be adjusted in width, length, and height.
Dog wheelchair sizes and styles can be determined even by a dog’s breed. Dogs of different sizes have different mobility needs. A wheelchair frame or extender is required for dogs with long bodies such as corgis and dachshunds. It is also beneficial to the spine and abdomen of both dachshunds and corgis to wear belly supports.
