The invention of the dog wheelchair has given the gift of mobility to thousands of dogs, cats and a wide array of other animals who would have been left helpless because of paralysis, disease, old age and spinal injuries. The popularity of these carts has grown so much that I thought it was the perfect time to share a review of the top U.S. manufacturers in the industry.
If you’re surprised to learn there is more than one industry leader you aren’t alone. When my dog Sophie became paralyzed in 2008 I had only a couple of choices for her wheelchair. It was a novelty and people starred at us when we took a walk. Today in 2016 the story has changed. Dog wheelchairs are commonplace and the Internet is full of adorable videos of dogs, cats, pigs, goats and even a alpaca flying around in their custom designed wheels.
Today, in my opinion, there are 5 top dog wheelchair manufacturers to choose from. Each is a quality company that cares about the health and well-being of your pet and each understands the biomechanics of animals so their carts are built to properly move with your dog’s body. My goal for this review is to share an overview about each company and give you some guidance about the cart best suited for your dog. This review should serve as a starting point in your journey to get your pet mobile again.
Dog Wheelchair Categories
There are 3 basic designs of dog wheelchairs you should know because each serves a specific purpose to assist pets with different types of paralysis or limb weakness.
Rear support wheelchair– This is the most common type of dog wheelchair. It has two wheels in the rear, a saddle for your dog’s pelvis and a harness to keep them strapped in. A dog uses the muscles in their front legs and upper torso to walk around. The rear support cart is great for dogs who have hind end weakness or paralysis in their back legs, but have good strength in the rest of their body.
Front support wheelchair – This cart looks like a backwards wheelchair because the wheels are on the front end and a dog uses their back limbs to push themselves around. It provides support to the chest of a dog. Front support carts are used most often for dogs who have problems using their front limbs. This can be due to a birth defect, an injury or after an amputation.
Full support wheelchair or Quad cart – This dog wheelchair has two wheels in the front of the cart and two in back with support in the middle for a dog’s torso. Some of them look like little beds on wheels. It provides support for all four limbs of an animal who is unable to move around or stand on their own. These carts are used most often for dogs with neurological birth defects, after a stroke or have end stage Degenerative Myelopathy. They are also used as a rehab tool after spinal surgery.
The Test
If you’re confused which dog wheelchair will best suit your dog try this little test.
Can your dog walk comfortably using their front legs if you manually support their rear limbs? Try doing it while you walk alongside your dog. You can try this by using a towel as a sling under their lower belly. Can your dog scoot or drag themselves across the floor using their front paws? If the answer is yes to both questions, your dog is probably a candidate for a rear support wheelchair.
Of course you will want to confirm all of this with the professional companies listed below.
Click Here: My 5 Favorite Harnesses for Handicapped Dogs 2016
The Top 5 Dog Wheelchair Companies
K9 Carts is the first manufacturer of dog wheelchairs in the U.S. Their design was created in 1961 by orthopedic veterinary surgeon, Dr. Parkes, after he saw a need for dog wheelchairs in his practice. The company is run by Barbara Parkes who has been in the dog wheelchair business for 40 years. Each K9 cart is built individually to meet the needs of a pet’s disability. They build rear support and full support carts that are lightweight, durable and biomechanically correct. In addition, K9 Carts is one out of two dog wheelchair companies that offer a Rental Program and Rent-to-Own Program. (You can read my complete story about K9 Carts here: Affordable Dog Wheelchair Rentals)
HandicappedPets.com offers the Walkin’ Wheels dog cart. This is a very popular dog wheelchair because it is lightweight, balanced and reliable. It is a fully adjustable dog wheelchair that expands in length, width and height so it can grow with your dog. Owners can select from a mini version, medium or large size cart that adjusts with simple snap buttons and snap-in wheels to fit your dog. The wheelchair can be used on any dog and folds flat for transport and storage. These carts are moderately priced and can be ordered in rear support or full support designs. HandicappedPets.com also offers custom carts for dogs that weigh less than 6lbs or more than 170lbs. Custom wheelchairs are offered in rear, full and front support designs. HandciappedPets.com is the second dog wheelchair manufacturer with a Rent-to-Own Program and it is the only company that offers a wide variety of other products that aid in the daily and support dogs with disabilities. You can read more about their Rent-to-Own program here: Two Resources That Financially Assist Dogs In Need of Wheelchairs
Eddie’s Wheels is owned by Eddie and Leslie Grinnell. This dedicated team has been building custom dog carts for more than 20 years. Their goal is to customize a wheelchair that meets the needs of each pet’s individual disability. Ed, who is a mechanical engineer, designs his sturdy carts for on and off-road play so pets can enjoy a good quality life. The company has won awards for their design that features a comfortable saddle and weightless harness. Their custom wheelchairs are built in rear wheel, front wheel and full support designs. Eddie’s Wheels is also known for their variable axle carts that enable owners to change the balance of the wheelchair to compensate for increasing weakness in a dog’s mobility. The company hosts a monthly list of used Eddie’s Wheels on their website for people who are interested in purchasing a previously owned cart. In addition, Eddie’s Wheels always has an array of wheelchairs that have been donated back to them. If you call the company they will walk you through the inventory. (These are not advertised online) If there is a cart that is a good fit for your dog, Eddie’s Wheels will refurbish it for a small fee and ship it to you.
Ruff Rollin’ is relatively new on the dog wheelchair scene, but it is quickly becoming a favorite by pet owners. Jason and Sierra Christofferson started the company in 2009 after they saw a way to improve on the conventional design of dog wheelchairs. Jason has 19 years of experience building and managing dog wheelchairs companies. Ruff Rollin’ dog carts are durable, lightweight and custom built to for the specific needs and size of each pet. The wheelchairs are also gender specific to make them as comfortable as possible. Ruff Rollin’ has built carts for a 1 ½ lb. Yorkie all the way to a 230lb. Mastiff and recently they built a full support cart for a miniature horse. The company builds custom rear support, front support and full support wheelchairs. (You can read my story about Ruff Rollin’ here: Inside A Custom Dog Wheelchair Company)
Best Friend Mobility offers dog wheelchairs with a universal design that are reasonably priced. Veterinary orthopedic surgeon, Dr. William Vachon, created the design of these lightweight aluminum carts that are adjustable and come in five sizes and weight classifications. The company sells only rear support wheelchairs. They can be ordered on the Best Friend Mobility website or on Amazon. Pet parent reviews suggest the Best Friend Mobility carts work well for smaller and older dogs that are less active.
Honorable Mention
Doggon’ Wheels is one dog wheelchair company you might not know about because they pride themselves in being a small company. They have the unique distinction of being the most widely used cart by veterinary teaching hospitals and canine physical therapy rehab centers. The company was started in 1994 by husband and wife team Chad and Lori after their dog Benny was hit by a car. In addition to selling wheelchairs to institutions, Doggon’ Wheels also sells to the public. Each cart is custom made and comes in rear support, quad (full) support and front support models.
The Real World
Dog wheelchairs are amazing, but don’t be discouraged if your handicapable dog doesn’t immediately warm up to them. When I strapped Sophie into her wheelchair for the first time she immediately tipped the cart on its side. Walking in a cart takes practice for some dogs. A good tip is to go for short walks on a very flat surface until your dog builds up confidence.
A second important point to keep in mind is that dog wheelchairs are best used for exercise and playtime or if your pup has to walk with you somewhere such as a veterinary appointment. They are not designed to be worn all day long. Dogs can’t sit down to rest in a wheelchair and because you are already dealing with a dog that has special medical needs, giving them ample time to rest is important.
And finally when your family no longer needs the wheelchair please consider donating it to another handicapped dog. HandicappedPets.com, Eddie’s Wheels and Red Flyer all offer programs for donated carts.
Here’s a fun video of dogs in their wheelchairs for you to enjoy!
Disclaimer: These is my personal review and I am not being compensated. I do have an affiliate relationship with Ruff Rollin’ and HandicappedPets.com.
I didn’t realize there are so many companies for wheelchairs. So nice to have all the information for some pups needing extra care.
Hi Julie, moreover there are carts that not only helps for our dearest friends to move, but some help them to rehab at the same time. I bought this one for my Pug from a French company and the results are just amazing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALgTQ3VDCj8
great job for maintaining this website, this helped us so much!
Hi Julie,
yes this is a gret job done here by Momma 🙂
Actually my dog has a special one called Kerdog from a French Company called SophiaDOG, which not only helps him to walk but also to pedal and recreate/strenghten his muscle. More expensive but more hope as well 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALgTQ3VDCj8
All the best to all of you and thanks a lot for this gret website
Cheers
I originally had a Walkin; Wheels cart for my Pug which was donated by a friend. My Pug was very discouraged by it. It put a lot of pressure on his shoulders where the strap went over his back, and he had to struggle to stay upright and to pull the cart. The pelvic support saddle was poorly designed and chafed his private parts and his thighs. The cart shaft on one side continually popped out of alignment and pulled out. My Pug hated it. He fought me putting him into it and was exhausted with the effort of pulling it after just a few yards. I donated that cart to another needy Pug and purchased an Eddie’s Wheels cart for him, one that was counterbalanced. It out no weight on his shoulders, had a comfortable pelvic saddle, did not chafe him anywhere. He is off and running the moment I click his chest strap closed and let him go. Best of all, he could play through the entire two hours of Pug meetup without becoming exhausted. It costs more than the Walkin; Wheels, but is worth every penny.
Charlotte, I’m glad you didn’t give up and found the perfect cart for your dog. Every dog’s paralysis is different as is their body shape and overall health; so it makes sense that fitting them for a dog wheelchair is an individual effort.
I have a now almost seven year old Italian greyhound mix, Beatnik, who I flew in with a tech from Minneapolis after I discovered his photo on petfinder. He was born with no front legs and I wanted to help him and be a part of his life. Being in the veterinary world, I had come to know of the remarkable work that Leslie and Eddie Grinnell at Eddie’s Wheels were doing with handicapped animals so Beatnik and I paid them a visit. Beatnik was outfitted with his zero gravity cart and although Leslie and Eddie assured me he would be mobile almost immediately, I was skeptical. But, to my absolute amazement, he was mobile in five minutes time — in fact I had to catch up with him as soon as he got his bearings on his cart Since then, Beatnik’s cart is very much a part of his life and mine. It’s a very comfortable cart for him and he loves using it. In the park, he’s an independent sort and loves to run ahead so I have to go after him. Beatnik’s Eddie’s Wheels cart has made a world of difference in his life, and I’m so glad we have it for him.
Linda, I’m happy to hear that Beatnik (love the name) is doing so well in his wheels. Eddie’s Wheels helps so many dogs in need. I am interested in doing a story about your dog and would love to set up an interview.
I will bookmark this as a wheel chair review is so important for folks — I’ll also share and pin too so I can refer to this later as folks ask me from time to time since I have long dogs that are prone to disc disease. Thanks for posting this as a resource in your recent post.
Real World also includes financial difficulties. I hope that this Do It Yourself video might help.
Nice video Dan. Thank you for sharing it and how to build your own dog wheelchair. If you are considering a DIY cart for your dog please check with an expert in dog physiology so the cart fits properly and doesn’t cause further damage or stress on your dog’s back. For those who can’t afford to buy a cart I have several posts about organizations that can help.
My tripod hates the wheelchair order thru UC DAVIS and I just returned it bought from Waggin Wheels. The strapping was crazy complicated. And frankly the information was way to cumbersome.
I am looking for an EASY strap wheelchair. My dog had an injury related amputation.
Liz, I’m sorry your dog had problems with his wheelchair. I think a custom made wheelchair might be your answer, especially with an amputation. Eddie’s Wheels is famous for tailoring carts for individual dogs (and lots of other animals) and so if Ruff Rollin. Both wheelchairs are easy to use as well. Please let me know how this goes.
I’m sorry UC Davis couldn’t offer an appropriate wheelchair; they’re usually the best(albeit expensive), But finding the right wheelchair can be incredibly difficult. I’m currently shopping for one for my Boston, and I’m stuck on which one to order. She has complete disc degeneration between L2-L3, and progressive spondylosis currently causing partial paralysis. She’s 13 years old, and my Vet and I agreed surgery would be too risky and costly compared to therapy and a wheelchair. Plus, since I live so close, the recommended surgical center is UC Davis($$$$). I’ve already spent thousands on her in the last 6 months, and the benefits just aren’t there to justify spending even more money. She’s in great shape for a dog her age, and were it not for the disc degeneration, she’d still be running all over the place like she did just last year. My vet would be happy to refer her for MRI/surgery if I wanted, but even he suggests against it due to there just not being much benefit even if everything is a success. I’d go flat broke for my little girl if I had to, but I digress.
My dog is not completely paralyzed, so getting her a wheelchair was left entirely to my discretion. No one knows my dog, and the conditions in which she must navigate, like I do. When I finally decided it was time for a wheelchair, I contacted my vet(who, coincidentally, received his Veterinary training at UC Davis, and even he says they’re too expensive in most instances), and he said there’s no definitive suggestion among wheelchair options for dogs. It’s kind of a mix between trail-and-error, individual needs/physiology, living environment, as well as monetary constraints. He would NEVER send me to UC Davis just to get fitted for a wheelchair and have one made, or even simply order one through them. Even he, who is still directly associated with the University in a variety of ways, thinks that’s overkill. UC Davis is an amazing veterinary school and they offer some of the best treatment in the world…but going there just for a wheelchair? Wholly unnecessary. I mean, if you have a ton of disposable income, and want what is considered by many to be the best-of-the-best, then sure. But even they’re not perfect, as evidenced by your experience. There’s really nothing they can do that hasn’t already been done by the established dog wheelchair companies. Can they properly size the chair for an amputee or paralyzed dog? Certainly. But so can all of us. Measuring our pups isn’t difficult if we know where to measure, and this information is readily available on all the respective websites for wheelchairs.
I guess what I’m trying to say in my long diatribe here is that there’s no “one size fits all” dog wheelchair. Some are better than others, sure. I’ve read reviews that say the Best Friend Mobility products aren’t the best quality, and hardware breaks and comes loose too easily(I understand adjustments are always necessary, but these chairs seem to fall apart on some people), and that they have almost zero customer service. Some people love them, and gave great reviews, but these seem to be younger dogs with acute injuries that simply need rehabilitation. For older dogs with chronic mobility issues that simply wont get better, it seems like you get what you pay for. Some brands like Eddie’s Wheels and K9 carts aren’t what I would consider cheap; but what is your dog’s comfort worth? Even I almost decided to pinch some pennies after all the money I spent on vet bills this year so far, but after doing some research, I realized I’d be doing my dog a huge disservice by trying to save some money. I’m actually mad at myself for even considering a cheaper option when I can technically afford something better. If you can’t afford a decent wheelchair, there are charities that will help. I don’t know any off the top of my head, but if money is an issue, just know there are plenty of non-profits that can assist you.
So I’ve brought my decision down to K9 Carts or Eddie’s Wheels. I’m leaning towards K9 Carts since she isn’t fully paralyzed, and has decent back leg mobility and deep pain response. If she were younger, or needed complete support, I would likely go with a fully custom Eddie’s Wheels. But she’s very old, and still needs to use her legs as much as possible to build up some lost strength. Plus, I think a K9 Cart will be slightly easier to donate/give away when my little girl finally passes. I may even keep it in case I adopt a similar sized dog who is already disabled. Overall, they seem easier to re-use or donate without needed adjustments. Eddie’s Wheels just seems too custom-fit to easily reuse without a complete refurbishment. After I receive the wheelchair, my vet already told me to come in and they’ll help get her in it, and properly adjust it. We’ll then see how she takes to it. If it’s not the right one, I’ll return it and try another. This is pretty much what my vet has advised me: Trail and error. Buy one, bring it in, and they’ll work with me to see if it’s appropriate for her. If it’s not right, they’ll let me know and I’ll try another one.
Basically, there are way too many factors at hand for anyone to give you any direct suggestion as to what’s best for your dog. They all have different issues and physiology. They can’t tell us what’s wrong and where it hurts, so it stands to reason they can’t tell us if the wheelchair is appropriate(unless they just take to it immediately, which is awesome). Your vet should be working with you to find what’s best for your dog. Even having one custom-made at UC Davis can’t be 100% guaranteed. As good as they are at what they do, they cannot read your dog’s mind. They can do their best to make one based on what they know, as well as size/dimensions…but even they cannot know what will definitively work until it’s used in a practical real-life scenario. If my UC Davis trained and affiliated vet didn’t suggest them for a wheelchair, then I think it’s safe to say there are usually better options.
I thank anyone with the patience to read my very long comment. I’m very long-winded when I write, sorry. I wish everyone the best of luck with their wheelchair shopping and decisions. And, most importantly, I hope all the disabled pups(and kitties, horses, etc.) out there get the love, comfort and activity they deserve!
SacramentoDan, I successfully worked my way through your whole comment. You have definitely done your homework about dog wheelchairs. K9 Carts makes a great wheelchair. They were actually the first dog wheelchairs made and they take pride in their work. That said, because your dog is not fully paralyzed I would like to throw another cart into the mix. Have you looked at KerDog? I’m just getting to know the company, but they have put in a lot of research into their unique cart. KerDog (AkA SophiaDog) is based in France. Their wheelchair exercises a dog’s hind legs while they pull themselves in the cart. It is worth checking out. The other handy item to have is a lifting harness for your dog. That way you can easily move your dog without having to put them into a wheelchair all day long. Please send a photo of your dog when you make your final decision about a wheelchair.