Animal Assisted Therapy, Healthy Lifestyle
Wheelchairs for Pets: Advice and Information
There are a few important differences between using wheelchairs for pets and for people.
- Pets are in their wheelchairs standing up and not sitting so they can only be in them for short periods of time.
- They cannot get in and out of them by themselves.
- They cannot be left unsupervised
- Initially they can only walk in the wheels for a few minutes before they tire. If your pet has been dragging himself along the floor then he/she would b using different muscles to those that he/she would use in the wheelchair. It takes a few weeks for those muscles to strengthen.
One of the biggest misconceptions about wheelchairs in pets is that you can go off to work and leave your pet in his wheelchair while he runs around the house doing as he used to when you were away or at work.
Pets need to be supervised at all times when in the wheelchair. The cannot sit or lie down when they are in the wheelchair so if they get tired they might easily try and fall over possibly even hurting themselves.
One needs to look at ones environment as some situations such as step hills, stairs and split levels can be hazardous.
Most pets adapt very well to wheelchairs and after a few training sessions master reversing and negotiating furniture and obstacles.
Make sure you buy a wheelchair from an approved supplier as its not as simple as making a frame and adding some wheels. The wheelchair needs to be properly balanced so that it doesn’t cause strain or damage to the back. Wheelchairs should only be fitted by veterinary and rehabilitation therapists that have been trained in this field.
A wheelchair can enable your dog to go for a walk again with the family, get the exercise he (or she) needs, and live a happy, healthy life.
They are designed to help animals with hip and leg problems including degenerative myelopathy (DM), hip dysplasia, arthritis, paralysis, slipped disc, soreness, spinal and neurological problems, surgical recovery, and more.
For info on all our wheelchairs to rent and to buy please click here