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Caring for a sick canine can be incredibly emotionally painful, particularly when that sickness seems to impact the dog’s quality of life. How can you tell whether or not a dog is really happy? At K9 Carts, we’ve made it our mission to help pets struggling with mobility issues. Paralysis is one such issue that can drastically affect a pet’s daily activities. Some pet parents view paralysis as a tipping of the scales, a point at which their dog can no longer enjoy life. But that isn’t necessarily true. So, what is the truth? Can a paralyzed dog live a happy life? The short answer—it depends on the dog’s individual condition and unique health needs. Overall, it’s very possible for a paralyzed or partially paralyzed dog to continue to live a full, happy life. Mobility aids like dog wheel chairs and handheld slings can allow paralyzed canines to regain mobility, improving their mood, returning their independence, and ultimately giving them a new lease on life! Let’s dive deeper into the potential quality of life of paralyzed dogs. Causes and Severity of Paralysis in Dogs Certain diseases and health conditions can lead to different levels and severity of paralysis in canines. Sometimes, a dog may slowly lose the use of her back legs, eventually resorting to dragging herself around using her front limbs. That dog just wants to move, but this can cause further damage to the spine and back legs. Other illnesses may result in total limb weakness, leaving your dog completely incapable of moving around on her own. Here are a few causes of paralysis in dogs: Degenerative myelopathy (DM) Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) Cancerous tumors affecting the spine or brain Tick paralysis Spinal trauma Canine distemper Is My Paralyzed Dog Happy? Loss of mobility can lead to depression and further health issues for your pup, such as obesity. Before making any difficult decisions, you should consult your vet to fully understand your dog’s condition, as well as to agree on a treatment plan. Depending on the cause of paralysis, your canine may respond to rehabilitation, remain stable, or continue to lose the use of his limbs. To understand your dog’s current lifestyle and level of happiness, it can be helpful to monitor his behavior and compare it to how he acted when he was fully mobile. Ask yourself questions like: Does my dog eat an appropriate amount? Is he energized or lethargic? Does he still show interest in playing or going for walks? Is he experiencing discomfort or pain? Does he appear alert? Is he acting like his “usual self,” or does he seem “off?” Often, paralyzed or partially paralyzed dogs are still perfectly capable of living a comfortable, happy life. They continue to show interest in playing, they’re alert and excited when they see you, and they maintain a healthy appetite. If your vet verifies that your dog isn’t in pain and he’s just having trouble getting around, it’s time to look into mobility aids that can expand your dog’s range of motion and allow him to continue to enjoy life by your side. Wheelchairs for Paralyzed Dogs With a few lifestyle changes, most paralyzed dog can regain some or full mobility. This can drastically improve their happiness—and yours, too! At K9 Carts, we create customized carts for paralyzed dogs and other pets experiencing partial and full limb weakness. If your dog is a good candidate for a cart, we’ll get him or her moving again! Dogs experiencing rear limb weakness or who need rehabilitation after surgery are best suited to our rear support wheelchair, which is designed to hold the back in alignment, reducing stress, aiding in recovery, and helping to prevent further injury. And for dogs with strong front limbs that will eventually weaken, we offer a front support kit that can transform any of our rear support carts into a fully supportive wheelchair. Dogs with limb weakness in the front and hind legs may require a full support wheelchair from the beginning. These carts are fully adjustable and can be set with moderate or full support, depending on your dog’s needs. All of our carts are carefully designed to relieve stress and promote decompression of the spine, making your pup more comfortable and able to move around once more. Improve Quality of Life with K9 Carts Your dog could very clearly have plenty of energy and excitement left in him, and the only thing holding him back is his paralysis. We’re passionate about equipping dogs and other pets with the mobility aids necessary to regain their happiness and quality of life, allowing them to live out their remaining years comfortably by your side. Reach out today for more information on how our customized carts for paralyzed dogs can get your furry friend up and active again.

You’ve probably spent many an evening teasing your kitty with a feathered toy or watching her pounce on a crinkly fabric mouse. Despite the fact that you feed them and provide for their needs, cats are still hunters at heart. And even though they sleep for about 15 hours a day, they love to play. But what happens when they’re no longer able to romp around? Our feline friends are valued for their adventurous spirit and playful nature, but mobility issues can rob them of their ability to explore and move around. This loss of independence may cause your cat to lose interest in the world around her. She may even grow depressed and begin to refuse food, leaving you faced with a potentially difficult decision. Is there any way to prolong a sick cat’s life in a way that ensures she’s happy? At K9 Carts, we’re committed to providing high-quality mobility tools and resources that allow pet owners to help their disabled cat or dog. The more information you have, the better prepared you’ll be to address your cat’s unique condition and special needs. Let’s talk about what we mean by “quality of life” and how customized pet wheelchairs can improve that quality for your cat. What is Quality of Life? The term is tossed around quite a bit in regards to animals, but what does it actually mean? Is it a black-and-white “good” versus “bad” determination? Or is it more of a sliding scale? And how on earth is a pet parent supposed to know exactly how their pets are feeling when they can’t open their mouths to tell us? Essentially, “quality of life” refers to a creature’s everyday wellbeing and ability to survive. Your cat has a high quality of life if she is well-fed, has no health issues, engages in regular exercise, and receives attention. She’s happy and living life to the fullest! A cat that has a poor quality of life is in continuous pain, suffering from a health issue that is making it difficult for him to function, and having trouble engaging in play, using the bathroom, or eating. Mobility Issues in Cats that Affect Quality of Life A wide range of diseases, injuries, and other health conditions can cause mobility loss in cats—that’s one reason that you should always seek veterinary care if your cat is suddenly having trouble moving. Here are some health issues and diseases that may cause mobility loss in cats: Arthritis Obesity Fractured back Diabetes Ingrown nail Cerebellar hypoplasia Front or rear amputation Disc disease Old age Post-surgical rehabilitation Because these conditions are so varied, so are the available treatments. In some cases, comprehensive treatment can get your cat back in peak physical condition. But in others, your cat may experience permanent mobility loss and other irreversible consequences. An ingrown nail, for example, can be addressed and rectified, allowing your cat to regain her footing and return to her normal routine. Others, like degenerative disc disease, may only worsen. Regaining Mobility with a Cat Wheelchair If your cat appears to be unhappy, don’t give up hope. Her poor quality of life may be caused almost exclusively by her inability to move. If that’s the case, restoring her range of motion can also improve her overall quality of life, perking her up and allowing her to thrive despite her health issues. First, seek input from your vet, who can evaluate your cat’s condition from a medical standpoint. Depending on your kitty’s overall health and current prognosis, she may be a good candidate for a customized cart. A cat wheelchair can get disabled or elderly felines moving again by providing needed support to their weakened limbs. At K9 Carts, we can create a customized cat wheelchair for back legs or for complete support, allowing your feline friend to regain her range of motion, independence, and quality of life. Each of our cat wheelchairs is built to balance easily on your cat without putting any pressure on his shoulders or front legs. Not only is this lightweight frame ideal for cats with limb weakness, but it’s also an excellent option for post-surgical rehabilitation, older, arthritic cats, and cats who cannot safely receive an operation. Feline Mobility Aids from K9 Carts Here at K9 Carts, we’re passionate about pet health. We believe that every animal deserves a high quality of life, and we’ve poured years of veterinary research into our customized pet wheelchairs to help add to that quality. We’re proud to design, manufacture, and custom fit the only wheelchair designed just for cats on the market today. Along with our high-quality products, we offer unbeatable staff support to ensure that your cat gets the very best fit. If your kitty needs some help getting back on his feet, give us a call today.

So your dog needs a wheelchair, but you have other pets. You might be worried that your other companions will act strangely around the dog with the disability, or get outright hostile. Don’t worry: that’s not very likely. We frequently build wheelchairs for dogs who have a pack—and the packs' humans have told us that all the other animals get along fine. This post covers cats and other dogs, since they’re the animals most likely to encounter a dog in a wheelchair. Check with your vet if you take care of a different animal. How Dogs in Wheelchairs Get Along with Other Dogs Dogs are remarkably perceptive about the condition of the dogs in their pack. They’ll notice if one of the pack has a disability, and what the pack needs to do to accommodate it. “[Dogs] all get it—it’s really interesting,” Patricia Denys says. Denys’s dog, Andy, is a Bichon mix. He’s six years old, and he’s had his wheelchair for a few years. Denys’s other dogs get along fine with Andy. She says they’re patient when Andy gets ready for the day. “If we’re going outside or somewhere, the cart comes out first for Andy,” Denys says. “The rest of the dogs know that, and they see the day starting.” The rest of the pack even keeps it together when Andy is getting ready for his walk! “While we put him in the cart, [the rest of the dogs] have to wait, but they’re patient.” So dogs in the same pack get along fine when a packmate gets a wheelchair. However, dogs that haven’t met your dog might have a bad reaction. You’ve probably met dogs at the dog park who get upset when they meet a dog wearing a vest or harness. That kind of dog will react the same way to a dog in a wheelchair. How Dogs in Wheelchairs Get Along with Cats Cats are very particular. (You may have noticed.) So they might be skeptical of the cart when you bring it home. Expect lots of sniffing. But it’s most likely that your cat will get used to the wheelchair. That’s what happened with Denys’s cats. After the initial skepticism, your cat will continue to enjoy a good relationship with your dog—or the opposite of that, if your dog and cat have never gotten along. We can help your dog with a disability get around again, but we can’t convince cats to do anything they don’t want to. Nobody can.

Our dog wheelchair is fully convertible. Therefore, if your pet needs more or less support, parts can be added or subtracted to make sure it is the correct support system that your pet needs at its particular stage of mobility loss. The basic standard two wheel cart is for the pet that has lost, or is losing, its ability to walk with the rear legs, but is still strong in the front legs. This orthopedically designed cart gives total support to the rear, keeping the spine and body in alignment, while taking stress off the front legs. This K9 cart may be used either with the legs up and protected in padded slings, or with the legs down on the ground enabling the pet to walk on its paw or paws. If your pet is able to walk with one hind leg only, then we suggest covering the paw that is not functional with a protective boot. Strength in the front legs is important for the standard 2 wheeled cart. A pet dragging itself around is not an indication of forelimb strength as a pet will drag itself from A to B just to get there. Unfortunately, dragging itself around is weakening causes the front legs to weaken, and places strain on its body. The longer it goes without mobility help, the weaker your pet will become in the front legs, at which point they may not be able physically to handle the standard two wheeled dog wheelchair. We suggest making up a handheld sling to test the front leg strength. Take an old towel or piece of material, cut two holes in it for the rear legs to go down through, and then holding the ends of the towel and keeping the back level make sure that your pet is able to walk well on the front legs. If you have any doubt at all, or need questions answered, please call us and we will advise as to whether this design cart is suitable for your pet.

The most common question we're asked is, "Will my pet be able to go to the bathroom in the cart?" The answer is... Yes! Dogs are able to eliminate when in their K9 Cart dog wheel chair. They do not squat, but tend to spread their legs and urine and feces will fall onto the ground missing the supportive frame of the wheelchair. Indoor cats of course will be unable to get into their litter boxes, so we suggest laying some plastic on the floor and covering it with kitty litter, so the cat can roll over to it and void on the litter. For those pets that need to have their bladder expressed, it is easier to do that when they are upright in their wheelchair. For small pets that use their K9 Cart in the house and are able to be in their cart for a long period of time, we do have an attachment designed by K9 Carts that can be put on the back of the cart called a Catch-It-All. The Catch-It-All will catch feces and urine in the case of a cat or female dog, and feces only for male dogs. For male dogs, we have male dog wraps for the urine. For urine absorption, sanitary pads will have to be placed in the Catch-It-All. The Catch-It-All is especially helpful for cats and rabbits.

Seeing your dog lose partial or complete mobility is not easy for any owner. Whether the condition is due to an injury or permanent paralysis, it’s never fun watching a pet struggle. Luckily, despite the unfortunate turn of events, your dog still appears to be generally happy. Sure, your dog may have a hard time running or using the stairs. But in general, he or she appears responsive, alert, and, most importantly, motivated to be active. If you find yourself relating to this situation but are unsure if your dog’s condition is severe enough for a wheelchair, then you have come to the right place! General Guidance: Consult your vet: If you notice your dog is experiencing any signs of mobility issues, don’t wait to talk to the vet. Although some conditions are easily managed, others may lead to chronic problems if they are not addressed in a timely manner. At-home evaluations: If you believe that a wheelchair is the best next step, try the “towel test” to see if the dog has enough strength to support itself by its forelimbs. Mobility issues can be caused by: Soreness General weakness of the limbs Accidental injuries Surgery recovery Spinal problems Paralysis Arthritis Amputations Neurological issues Aside from the mobility issues listed above, here are five specific conditions that could mean your pet will benefit from a dog wheelchair: Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) If your dog has IVDD, a wheelchair could be the best recovery option. IVDD is a common condition, caused by displacement or deterioration of the cushion between spinal discs. Although some dogs are more prone to developing IVDD than others, this uncomfortable and often painful disease can affect all dogs. Depending on the degree of damage, weakness or paralysis of the legs may occur. Depending on the severity and the stage in which IVDD is discovered, your dog may still maintain full usage of all four legs. In the early stages, a wheelchair would be useful for rehabilitation. If, however, the damage is too severe and your dog becomes paralyzed, the wheelchair would become a tool of your pet's daily needs. Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) The onset of DM usually appears in older dogs, ages 8-14. In the simplest terms, DM is caused by loss of connectivity between your dog's brain and its spinal cord. Dogs affected by DM will display symptoms like excessive wobbling and dragging of their feet. Although there are no known treatments for DM, the wheelchair is perhaps the most appropriate option for this condition because your dog is not experiencing physical pain. Regardless of the extent of your dog’s disability, the wheelchair is guaranteed to improve mobility and the overall well-being of your pet. Arthritis and Dysplasia Dogs with arthritis or dysplasia suffer from joint stiffness. Although arthritis occurs primarily due to old age, dysplasia tends to cause similar symptoms in your dog's health. Overall, both conditions make it difficult for your dog to be supported by its own legs, making basic tasks like running or walking painful and nearly impossible. Your vet may advise supplements (e.g. Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate, Omega Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, Selenium, and MSM), that work to reduce inflammation and create more comfort for your dog. However, the important thing to note about this condition is you still need to find the motivation to keep your dog active. Movement and exercise cause the production of joint fluid, which ultimately aids in lubrication of sore joints. A wheelchair for dogs can helps get your pet moving while strengthening muscles and taking stress off other limbs in the body. Sudden Paralysis As seen in the cases of IVDD and DM, paralysis in dogs typically occurs based on genetic predispositions or old age. There are, however, other completely unexpected instances in which your dog may become paralyzed without warning (e.g. complications of the spinal column, tick bite, and bacterial infection). Although such instances can be incredibly frightening, the good news is that most of these cases are treatable if they are identified early on. In any case, even if your pet’s paralysis is temporary, using a wheelchair will help your dog return to its happy mobile self. Knee and ACL Problems Whether your dog tore its knee ligaments or an ACL, the road to a full recovery can be both long and costly. Regardless of your dog’s prior health history, knee/ACL damage can occur at any time. While in some instances surgery may be necessary, in others, all your pet may need is rest. In this situation, “rest” does not mean a couple of weeks off from strenuous runs and hikes. A dog with a torn knee/ACL may be limited to very basic physical activity (e.g. taking a short walk in the park), for up to several months! Not to mention that if your dog does not receive adequate support during the rest period, he/she can also tear the adjacent knee. In any case, if approved by your vet, a wheelchair can support your dog’s recovery by ensuring that he/she is not overcompensating for the injured leg. No matter the size, age, or the needs of your dog, if he or she has any of the discussed symptoms or conditions, you should always start with contacting your vet. Remember, that above all else, your dog’s health is in your hands. Be sure to take full precautions by medical advice from a licensed professional and continuing with the prescribed treatment even if you see a drastic improvement in your dog’s mobility. After all, we all want your dog to receive proper care needed and be on his/her way to an improved well-being! Key takeaways: Exercise is a huge contributor to your pet's well-being. Getting your dog mobile again will ultimately prolong his/her life. Wheelchairs are handy for both long and short-term conditions. *If you’ve discussed the benefits of a wheelchair with your vet, but you are still hesitant about the full-time commitment, renting a wheelchair is a great option.

Unfortunately many owners and veterinarians believe that if they put a pet in a wheelchair, it will become dependent on the wheelchair and will lose its present mobility and desire to try and walk, when actually we have found the reverse is true. Over our 50 years of providing aid to mobility impaired pets, we have found that if a pet has the ability to recover while using a wheelchair, the wheelchair will promote that recovery. When a pet is fitted to an orthopedically designed and balanced K9 cart, your pet will exercise more. The K9 Cart takes the stress not only off the rear legs, but also the spine and front legs, allowing your pet to use their legs for a longer period of time. Very often, a pet will lose use of one rear leg faster than the other. In that case, it is important to leave both paws down on the ground, to keep the pet balanced in the wheelchair. You will need to purchase a protective boot for the paw that needs help. An added benefit is that it helps them mentally for like us pets become depressed when they cannot go for walks either on their own or with the other canine members of the family or chase balls or go back to doing all the things they love to do.

The second most common pet requiring help with mobility are cats. Cats normally do very well in carts and are equally in need of support as dogs for a various mobility impairments. One of the most common questions we get daily is in reference to our cat wheelchairs. One of the most amazing cats in a cart was named Scooter, who was adopted after being found lying by the side of the road after being run over and abandoned. He was taken in by Laura, a wonderful lady who gave her a home for 16 years. When Scooter first got her cart I would receive videos of her playing in the snow, chasing the other cats around her home batting toilet paper along the floor and just being playful. I even received a video of her trying to catch mice in her cart. The mouse would outsmart her by running between her front legs and out the back of the cart- but not always! I have a beautiful photo of her up on our waiting room wall plowing through the snow in the woods. Nothing stopped Scooter. I particularly loved the photo Laura sent of her peering in a huge flowerpot – no doubt looking for mice! Over the years we have many success stories with cats, but Scooter will always remain one of my favorites. She was so very lucky that Laura came along, picked her up and despite her paralysis gave her such a wonderful home filled with love and happiness.

Our carts are designed for a pet either to use its hind legs or to have them up and protected in slings if they are paralyzed or just have minimal feeling without sufficient ability to take steps. Very often a pet will have the ability to walk with one paw but not the other. In this case, the rear height of the cart should be set so that both paws touch the ground. In the case of the paw that is knuckling over, a protective boot should be used. If you put one leg up in the sling and leave one down it will throw your pet off balance. I talked with a client today who had been informed that she should leave the legs dangling to encourage leg movement as placing them in the slings would discourage the return of feeling to her pet’s legs. Leaving legs hanging in the air will not only discourage leg movement, but will cause sores in the groin area. Placing them up in the slings will encourage leg movement because as they walk or run with the front legs and as feeling returns to their legs, they will swing their legs and build up muscle tone and feeling. This encourages rehabilitation and ability to walk on their own. Over our 50 years of manufacturing carts, we have had a large number of pets return to walking on their own after a short time in carts. In fact, we encourage you to rent a cart after your pet has back or knee surgery to encourage a quicker return to full mobility. We do not advocate allowing them to run off in the cart but give them controlled exercise during the recovery period. There is absolutely no question that use of our well balanced cart, which keeps your pet’s spine and limbs in alignment, will encourage return to mobility 100% faster. Your pet will be happier and active, doing what it wants to do, and it will make nursing care easier for you. Wheely Willy , a little Chihuahua, was in one of our carts for 20 years. He was totally paralyzed with flaccid hind legs but when he was placed in the cart his little legs would swing vigorously in the slings. He never did regain the ability to walk as his back was fractured, but his legs maintained good muscle tone and he lived a happy, active life, bringing joy to thousands of his fans all over the world. If you think about it, after we have surgery and need help getting around, we are given crutches or a walker to help us get back to mobility and why should the same not apply to pets. Placing your pet in a cart will never discourage it from coming back to walking on its own! Look at the video of the 12 year old Corgi, named Lola. She is suspected of having degenerative myelopathy, which is a progressive loss of mobility starting with the rear legs, and which may eventually travel up the spine to the front legs. Corgis are the second top breed needing carts at the moment, because they suffer from DM. As you can see, without the cart she is still able to move around using her rear legs. However, the added stress being placed on her back and front legs will cause mobility loss at a faster pace without the aid of the K9 Cart. I often hear the remark that “I don’t want to put my dog in a cart while he/she is still able to use the hind legs because placing them in a cart will cause them not to walk and use their legs.” The exact opposite is true and we know this from helping pets with dog wheelchairs for 50 years and having our own veterinary hospital. Pets never become dependent on carts and use of a cart will keep the hind legs stronger until eventually they do weaken with their disease. If you wait too long before getting your pet a K9 Cart and allow a dog to get to the stage that it is only able to take a step or two without falling, then by that time they have placed undue stress on their front legs and you would have to go to a supportive cart for the front legs. The extra supportive carts (and parts can be added onto our 2 wheeled carts) give excellent support, but the front wheels are caster wheels and therefore not as maneuverable as the standard 2 wheeled cart. Therefore, why wait to purchase a cart when it can be running around and going for walks before it gets to the stage that it can barely walk and all the fun has gone out of its life- no more walks or playing with its friends, etc. It is extremely important that you purchase a cart for your pet when they start having mobility problems like Lola. Then when given the support of the K9 cart, she is able to run around using her hind legs while keeping her back level and taking the stress off the front legs. She can now go for walks, chase balls, run around in circles and do whatever she was used to doing while keeping her happy and healthier and delaying the progress of degenerative myelopathy. Without the aid of a K9 Cart, she would gradually deteriorate faster in the rear legs, start dragging herself around, get sores and become weak in the front legs. We know it is hard to look at your pet and see the sadness in their eyes and watch them struggle to get up and not be able to go for walks etc. K9 Carts do bring K9 Happiness. I know as I have been seeing it and hearing about it for the past 38 years. When a pet takes off in a cart and realizes that it can run again, eyes brighten, tails wag and they are off! And depending on their condition, very often helps them return to full mobility!