Dog Wheelchair

Gavin's boots are worn from his toe touching, it's very obvious he only uses his toes one one paw. He only wears them on his rear paws.
He has gotten pretty used to them, although his last boarding in August the daycare place said he would take them off!
Thankfully I can order than as a pair (instead of 4) so replacing isn't an issue.
 
So today we went to a park we hadn't been to since he got hurt. very popular with dog owners. Gavin had a blast saying hi to all the dogs and enjoyed the paths. We did maybe a mile in 45 minutes. When we got to the car and I took him out of his wheelchair, his bad leg basically collapsed. I carried him to the car, and he was better when we got home. But he was still limping worse than normal. I guess this is part of any rehab, his leg is tired and needs to rest. I was concerned this would be to much for him, but it also his last walk for a week while I am out of town.
 
What a good boy saying HI to all his doggie friends and being outdoors having fun!

Actually, I am not too surprised that he was so worn out after his happy escapades! Sometimes when we are having so much fun we aren’t paying attention to out bodies!

Hope he feels better after resting up tonight!

Are you going out of town to visit family? Isn’t Gavin able to go with you? Does he have to stay alone? Inquiring minds need to know!
 
Gavin has to stay here.....I am flying to St Louis tonite. My Niece always asks me to bring Gavin, but most people do not understand what is involved with flying a dog that doesn't fit under the seat (an even then it isn't simple) much less a gimpy dog!
So he goes to a doggie daycare place he has been going to since he was a puppy. He is probably their longest client since they had just opened.
He wasn't thrilled when I dropped him off, but once he sees all the doggie friends he will be happy.

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I totally understand that flying these days with a dog is not safe! Unless he was certified as a therapy dog and could be with you in the cabin! Even so, needing a wheelchair chair does not lend itself to travel and would be too stressful on him.

Glad you have secured a doggie daycare that know him and his special needs! Hope they have a doggie cam so you can check up on him from time to time!

Safe travels!

Thanks for posting the videos! I never get tired of seeing him happy and moving along so easily in his wheelchair! I can only imagine if he did not have it how difficult it would be for him and how it would effect the other muscles of his body trying to compensate for his bad leg!

I swear he could be a model for the company that manufactures those wheelchairs! Showing how well an animal can move and enjoy their later years!

Bless you for all you do for sweet Gavin!
 
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Sadly no doggie can. It's not a cushy doggie daycare. But Gavin in used to it!

Most videos of fog wheelchairs are of dogs who can't use their hind legs at all, so they are pretty fast. But Gavin is pretty slow using his bad leg. But I am just glad he can go on decent walks now!
 
Gavin had a fabulous walk today! Sadly, my phone was at home so no videos.
He saw a squirrel and actually trotted after him! It was soo cute with his ears perked up.
He had good energy for most of the walk, moving much more quickly than he sometimes has in the past.
right now he is busy going through my recycling, but his bad leg while weak after his walk is not as bad as it was on our last walk before his 10 day rest with no walks.

Happy New Year!
 
Awww...would've loved to see that! I'm glad he enjoyed himself...they do love those squirrels!
Happy New Year to you and Gavin too!
 
It is getting challenging to think of places to take him to walk.
It needs to be 1-1.5 miles in length, dirt paths preferable, and within a 5-10 minute drive of home for before work.
So we have the walk we did today which was good, the walk by the baseball fields is good for meeting other dogs but has less dirt paths, and I am struggling to find more. We are going to try the local park on Thursday; I just don't think it is a long enough walk.
The weekend walk he likes is further away so that is taken care of.
 
He might have degenerative carpal hyperextension (dropped carpal) - it is quite common in Shelties and Collies as they get older. You'll notice a more developed curve in the front legs. Deska had this and it meant the pads of his feet were a little more splayed and some of the inside of the pad, which ordinarily wouldn't touch the ground, now was. He became a little more sensitive on the pads of his feet, esp in extremes of weather, and preferred to walk on grass, which was good because walking on grass was far better for his joints. I also sometimes made him wear socks.

Have a look at Gavin's pads and see if there is a pinker area around the edge or his feet, or a less worn area - that's what the vet looked for.
 

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