Dog Wheelchair

I love watching how comfy he is when he is napping. Honestly, all the outings/wagon/wheelchair stuff impacts him less than 10% of the time. 95% of his time is spent at home in a controlled environment where he cannot hear anything anymore. His dog beds...the couch...my bed. My adding in the ramp to my bed, all the throw rugs so he doesn't slip, and the long stairs to my couch have made a much greater impact on his daily life. But Gavin does love his little outings. Even if they only total 5-8 hours a week. Without them he can get so depressed. When I was doing the whole limited activity thing in hopes of him healing, he was so down. He has turned into a very affectionate dog when he never was before, so meeting people and dogs who love on him in his wheelchair or wagon is so important.
 
Everyone who meets Gavin knows what a treasure he is! To all of us at Sheltie Nation too!

I see people all the time with elderly dogs in strollers! We are blessed to live in a time that we can appreciate the senior years with our dogs! Go Gavin!!
 
Sadly, I have only ever seen one dog in a wheelchair. And strolllers are very rare here, and then its small dogs so you can't tell if they need it or their owners think its cute..
I get lots of people interested in the wheelchair because 'their old dog could have used this'.
I just wish I saw more of them in the real world, because until I do it means either those dogs are put down or are living a limited life at home (which may or may not be painful).
 
Although the time was brief when I got the stroller for Mr. Chance, I was stopped by so many people curious about where I got it. They all said the same thing... We wish we had one for our senior dog. I would have loved to try the wheelchair but since Mr. Chance had so many backbone spurs (that were incredibly painful) it may not have work for him anyway... he did LOVE his stroller...
 
I think adoption of strollers and wheelchairs will be slow until vets start recommending (and maybe even sellling) them.
Seriously, the bay area is one of the areas on the country where people spend the most on their pets, but yet I haven't seen dog strollers or wheelchairs....
The wheelchair facebook group is quite active, almost entirely dogs paralyzed with disc disease (often corgi's, dachsunds) and degenerative myelopathy (german shepards and other larger breeds). I think vets mention wheelchairs to them as an alternative to putting their dog down (many people mention being told to euthanise their pets).
many people are pleading for free or cheap carts as they can't afford the $250-$500. while others talk about the cost of the back surgery they had done that didn't help.
Doggie diapers and managing incontinenece and fecal expression are also common posts.

I am so thankful Gavin is not paralyzed, is completely continent, and such a happy sweet guy!
 
I have to say, I would have exhausted every alternative to euthanasia! As long as he was happy but less than mobile I would help in every way I could. Since I still had 2 other shelties at the time I knew he enjoyed our 1:1 time with 1-2 mile walks. He would sniff the air and you could see the joy on his face! Stopping and meeting others just brightened his day... Gosh... I miss him so very much!

Gavin makes me happy seeing all the care you take of him... he and you are so blessed to have one another... crying happy tears...
 
It can be a different thing when you are talking about extended care as opposed to a hospice type situation.
I can understand people not being eager to totally rearrange their life and homes for an indefinite period of time for their disabled dog, especially if they have kids.
Gavin, well, it has been a little over 2 years and we will hopefully have at least 2 more years. That would be more than 4 years in total. I can't imagine if it was 10 years or longer (as opposed to IVDD or other disc problems or injury related paralysis).

I am in no way regretting ANYTHING I have done or will do, but I am lucky I am in a position to do it for him without any negative impacts on anyone but me.
His sleeping next to me on my bed is my reward :) He would NEVER do that before he was hurt. He really has become a little stealth snuggler.
 
ghggp said:
Gavin has the BEST LIFE EVER! He deserves every bit of his special care. Gotta tip my hat to you for being the most caring sheltie mom.
He looks so good! ... and happy too...

You have to imagine that he is so happy to be mobile. Getting out seeing and smelling new things keeps him young and engaged!
Click to expand...
Your so right Gloria! It's a dogs life never had so much meaning!
 
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