Little Dog in a Big World

Archive for the ‘Dog Wheelchairs’ Category

So that’s what’s been happening since I’ve been laid up.  Cats have been taking over my front yard.  Oh, they think they are so smart.  Well, they’ve got another thing coming.

Here I have spotted the yellow cat in the neighbor’s drive way:

Aha!  I’m running after you sucker…

Ha! Ha!  You ran across the street…Phooey on you!

Today was absolutely, positively the worst day for the wheelchair.  Sierra was difficult.  She refused to get in the right place where there was room to put on her harnesses.  I think her ploy was the more difficult she was the more treats she would get.

It must have taken ten minutes to get her back harness on.  I don’t know how I did it but somehow her leg slipped out.  I went to lift her up and the leg was dangling.  I had to unhook everything and start over.  I got her leg in the hole and the straps adjusted.  But, I couldn’t get her up in the cart because she was in the cramped spot in the room.  It was like she kept sliding backwards.  UGH!!!!!

Eventually, I got her moved to the center of the room and got her in the cart.  I think by that point we were both exhausted.  We did a little trip around the yard and then pooped out.

I will be working on a better system!  I can’t struggle with the harnesses every time.  Sheesh!

Every other time we went outside, we went out back down the ramp and then out the back gate.  I figured it was time to see if I could get her out the front door since it might be necessary at times.

Getting Sierra out of the front room took some effort.  It was like obstacle course 101.  There are new scuff marks on the coffee table as well as tire treads on the hallway wall.

Getting her to the door was the easy part.  Getting her out was another thing.  The problem was getting her over the little hump to the porch and then being ready to assist her before plowed off the porch.  I had the sling with the handles on her so, I was able to control her somewhat.  We didn’t do too badly going out the door.

Coming back in was another story.  I had to grab the door and open it before nervous Gertie decided to climb the porch.  Our first attempt was a failure.  She came up to soon and wiped out the solar Tiki lamp.

The second attempt went much better.  I was able to hold the door and grab the sling handles to help her up.  Then I hurried to be even with her so I could get her over the door jamb.

This was a little more tiring for both of us.  I am sure as we practice we’ll get better at it.

There really isn’t enough room in the backyard for a dog and her wheelchair unless we seriously move everything.  It seemed logical to take her out front when she could roam the front lawn and sidewalk.

Crash!  Um…that was Sierra crashing into the fence.  Rule #1, dog in wheelchair does not know how wide her butt is when going through the gate.

Once we got out front, Sierra seemed to be a bit shaky.  I think she was wondering why she was out front off leash for one thing.  LOL  Here she is taking her first look around…

Then she started sniffing the air and catching smells.  She was pretty tentative at first, moving a couple of steps and stopping.  She got a burst of energy and ran about 20 steps.

She walked from one patch of grass to the other.  Then I got her on the sidewalk.  She was so funny.  Someone was playing at the schoolyard.  She craned her neck to look around me.  I was blocking the view!

Since this was pretty intense, I only kept her out front about 5 minutes.  It’s too easy to over do things when everything looks like it’s going great.

That was her first time out front without a trip to the Vets since March.  I think she enjoyed it, though she was exhausted afterward.

I highly recommend getting help from the HandicappedPets.com staff while adjusting the chair for your pets needs.  I set Sierra up but I wasn’t confident I had everything right.  In the first photograph I sent, I had the front harness on the outside of her front legs instead of the inside (I knew that was wrong, but didn’t see it). A second pair of eyes ensured that I didn’t make the same mistake twice.

At first, I had the wheels straight up and down, which is better for dogs with strong legs.  I readjusted it so they were slightly backwards.  This seemed easier for Sierra.

Next, I was asked to put the height up one notch.  It did seem that Sierra was leaning on her back leg a bit too much.  The higher notch took off some of the strain.

It’s really a live and learn experience.  One week it might seem right and then a slight adjustment is necessary.

I’m still debating on the belly belt.  If I ever figure out how to attach it to the chair, I might put it on

I found out the first day that a dog in a wheelchair in a room with furniture is not a good deal. Sierra was crashing into the couch and scraping the walls. If she kept it up, we’d be in need of a new house.

So, day two, we made our first attempt to get outdoors. One of the problems was getting her out the sliding door. I put my sling on her so I would have handles to life her. We navigated to the door and she was able to stay balanced down the little ramp.

With effort we made it out to the grass. There Sierra stood.

I imagine she was trying to figure out why she was able to stand and what the heck this thing with wheels was doing following her around.   She seemed pretty happy to stand it place, but I made her take those first important steps.

She went a couple of steps then stopped.  Turning was impossible.  She knocked over a couple of chairs in the process.

I took her down to the side of the house where there is a straight stretch.  There she was able to get a few steps in a row together.

It was enough to go down to the end of the house and come back.  She was exhausted with the effort.

Getting her back in the house took some work.  Much to my chagrin she rolled right up the side of the ramp with her chair.  I had to grab her quick and get the door open.

We made it inside without breaking the sliding door   Sierra immediately made her way to her bed, a little confused that she couldn’t lay down.

I unhooked her from the chair.  She collapsed to the ground with a big smile on her face.  I removed the harnesses which made her happy.

She only went outside for about 5 minutes.  I could see from the panting that that was long enough.  She is 13 and hadn’t been on her feet for longer than a potty run in over two months.  It would take time to get her up to a reasonable about of time in her chair.

I don’t know what my “owner” is up to. One minute, I am enjoying a good rest on my bed. The next minute, I’ve got these black things on and my butt is in the air, and I’ve got wheels. This is crazy!

She made me go outside which was really weird. I haven’t walked well for a couple of weeks. There I was sort of rolling out the door.

I wasn’t sure I liked this contraption at all. Then we went to the side of the house! I haven’t done that in a long time. I haven’t even been to the side of the house because it was too hard to walk down there. Can you imagine all the smells I’ve been missing?

You’ve gotta see my video! Here I am…and I am actually running!
Sierra’s First Run

I felt pretty good after our first attempt at the wheel chair. But, after looking at the photos on the website then looking at the photos of Sierra, I knew something was wrong. I just didn’t know what!

As I was getting ready for bed, I decided to look at the back harness again. Sure enough, there were four rings not two! DUH! I didn’t have her butt hooked up all the way. No wonder she was all saggy.

I decided that I should get some expert help before proceeding. I didn’t want to hurt Sierra in the process of trying to help her.

I was put in contact with the wheel chair person at HandicappedPets.com. After several emails back and forth, I finally got the wheel chair adjusted correctly.

That was more like it!  Her back end is up in the air and even with her front shoulders.  No more saggy butt.

As you can see, the first thing she did was roll over to her bed and try to lay down.  Doesn’t quite have the concept, does she?

I got Sierra into her harnesses and let her rest a bit.  Next up, getting her into the chair.  I don’t know how many times I watched the video, but nothing prepares you for getting an uncooperative dog up log enough to do clips and clasps.

Connecting the front harness wasn’t too bad.  Slip the poles through the holes and then connect the clips.

Connecting the back end was alot more work.  First I had to figure out how to do it.  Then I had to figure out how to lift 63 lbs.  Since I only weigh 80 lbs myself, it was almost like lifting myself.

I have a sling with handles and used that to bring her up to the wheel chair bars.  But wait!  Where to these rings go?  I got her hooked up eventually.  I was pretty impressed with my work.  I’m not sure what Sierra thought!

I wasn’t sure about the height.  At least I got her into the chair.

We took a ride down the hall and across the living room.  Then I unhooked her.  30 minute set up for a 5 minute ride.  I hope this part gets easier!

After putting Sierra’s chair together, I watched the video again and made my first attempt at getting her into her wheel chair.  Some things are easier said than done.

Putting on the front harness wasn’t so bad.  Once I got it adjusted and got the points in the right direction…LOL

The back harness was another thing altogether.  Picture trying to get a 63 lb three legged dog to sit or stand long enough so you can get their leg through a hole, reach around grab the other end of the harness, bring it over, and then adjust and clip two clips.  Just as you get the leg in the hole, the dog decides it would be great to lay down.  Now you’ve got 63 lbs to move so you can find the other end–or start over.

With alot of “Sit up, Sierra’s” and treats, I eventually got her into the back harness.  She wasn’t very thrilled with it.

This is our first attempt at the harness…and exhausting 20 minutes!  I am fairly sure she is laughing at my lack of coordination–since the front harness is on the wrong side of her front legs!