Chelsea lost all control of her rear legs in September 1999 and has been using the doggie wheelchair since then. Wheelchairs can help dogs who have difficulty or can no longer support the rear portion of their body due to disease, accident, hip dysplasia, surgery, or old age. However, in order to use the wheelchair, the dog must still have enough strength in their front legs to pull themselves.
Most dogs adjust easily and quickly to the cart.
To entice them, you can use food treats or their favorite toy and coax them to come to you after you first place them in their new cart. In Chelsea's case, it was best not to have our other dogs around during her maiden voyage. Simply moving several feet ahead of her and cheerfully telling her to come to mommy, along with LOTS of praise, was all it took to get her going in her cart. Overall, there are a number of devices which can help a disabled or elderly dog move around better and give them a better quality of life. You may need a wheelchair, a sling, booties, a ramp, specialized food bowls, or just scatter rugs to allow traction on slick floor surfaces.