Dachshund Wheelchair

Intro: Dachshund Wheelchair

our dachshund hurt his back, so for rehab we made him swim a lot and i built this chair until he could use his back legs again.

STEP 1: Some Assembly Required

bought about $20 worth of stuff

STEP 2: All Together Now

parts: 2 - 8" pneumatic wheels, 1 aluminum tent pole, 2 dome nuts, 1 medium black dog harness,

2 locking nuts, 1 box of tennis racket padding,

2 metal right angle frame braces, 1 8" all-thread,

2 crown locking nuts, 4 - 1/8x3/4" nuts and bolts,

2 tap screws, 2 -5/8 carriage bolts and nuts,

1- 36" aluminum shaft

i believe i found the wheels at "northern tool co":

https://preview.tinyurl.com/y6ekrh7a

tent poles:
http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm
all thread rod from home depot
the harness is made by petwear and it is a medium harness.

STEP 3: Wrapped the Harness to the Bar

made a U shaped bar and wrapped it with tennis racket tape

STEP 4: Last Step

fixed it all together and made it to where it would adjust for length of the dog.

STEP 5: Figure 8

i bent the aluminum rod into a figure 8 shape with a mallet, by hands and a vise.
i made sure there were no ruff marks on it so it wouldn't scratch the pup.

STEP 6: Another

i drilled to small recessed holes in the aluminum shaft to connect the L-brackets.
and bolted them together. i hand-sanded the heads of the screw to wear they were smooth.

Comments

[nelie126]

My Duchshund was completely paralized in his back. The Vet. said they had to operate. Unfortunately I couldn't afford the operation of R7000,00 plus. Myhusband build him a car from this instructions. We also got a prescription for ""Rimadyl" chewable tablets.

We gave him the medication twice a day, and after a month and a half my dog is completely recovered. This is true and the Vet's will kill me for this, but this is not the first duchshund that we treated on this medication and all 3 recovered.

While recovering my dog loved his car and was mobile. Thanks to this site who gave us the instructions on how to build the car.

Nelie

[ConnieR22]

what are rimadyl I have a wiener dog and he started walking funny last night it got worse this morning I took him to the vet who said it looks like he may have slipped a disc we r trying prednisone he cant walk with out falling over and I need advice what to do next thanks connie

[joelsprayberry]

thanks for sharing the story! that is the exact reason that i posted it on here! awesome~

[leondebs]

Hi Joel, thanks so much for posting this wheelchair design. My son and I are going to build the wheelchair for our 5 year old doxie. She is also starting to loose control of her hind legs. We are also from South Africa.
Just want to check about the height of the wheels as she is a miniature. Are her paws still suppose to touch the ground so she can do some movement of her legs while she wheels along?

[joelsprayberry]

I believe the wheels are 7 inches.
Our doxies back legs had no control and would eventually drag the ground. The system I made allows him to move his feet a little or to prop his feet up to where he wouldn’t s rape them.

[joelsprayberry]

i think that if you add another strap about halfway down the rails. might interfere with her breathing though?

[Kimber1967]

Thank you so much for answering my question so quickly! I do have one more question regarding the design and what I might be able to do to tweak it a bit for my dachshund. Sophie is elderly and she is one of the shorter leg variety of dachshund. (We have two, Sophie who is a true “low rider” and Satchmo who has the longer legs, much like the image you shared of your dachshund). I believe Sophie will need some support for her torso from behind the front legs and up to right before her rear legs begin. She is so short to the ground that there are only a few short inches of clearance between her chest, torso and the floor. Using your design, how could I “add some support”for her?

[Kimber1967]

Now am I right in thinking the figure 8 is for your dachshund to put his rear legs through?

[joelsprayberry]

that is correct kimber1967, the legs gently slide into the figure 8

[themostwonderfulplaceonearth]

It is a very good idea but its probably putting alot of pressure on his front legs, I would suggest some sort of weight on the back to take the load off. I hope he gets better.

[Kimber1967]

The wheels are balancing the “pressure” he doesn’t have to “drag”the thing behind him or lift anything, the wheels are doing the work.

[designsolutionz]

I don't understand how / where the ' soft shcok' product is being used?

[joelsprayberry]

It is the tennis racquet tape that is wrapped around the U shape bar that goes over the dogs bacj.

[designsolutionz]

thanks for the reply. very nice of you to take the time. I'm looking at the metal 8 shape that your pooch puts hi legs in and rests his back end on... that looks like it could get quite uncomfortable, too cold or too hot depending on the weather and even pinch at times. Seems that it would be more comfortable wrapped with something? Did you ever try that?

[joelsprayberry]

I never tried wrapping it but it’s not a bad idea. We wouldn’t leave him in the chair for long amounts of time, Our idea was to have him use it as rehab.

[designsolutionz]

Just thinking out loud is all... Maybe wrapping it wouldn't be such a good idea. That could cause chaffing as well. Any lower support I've seen for the legs and abdomen has always been rubber material based or even fabric material based. What did you do with your wheels once your pooch recovered?

[joelsprayberry]

i've kept it all together and have it in storage.

[NancyT82]

Hi, My mini dachshund will be 15 and she has limited mobility due to arthritis in her back. I had purchased and returned a traditional doggie wheelchair because, #1 too many parts, and #2, no way, I would be able to get her out of it in time for her to go to the bathroom, outside!

What I am looking for is something sooo easy that a 2 yr. old could put it together! Or, even better, YOU, have it already together for me-:) My concern, your pic, shows wheels that look big enough for a truck!

I have a wagon that was made for her along time ago and she loves it, but she wants to keep up with the other dogs.

ps she's killing my back

can you help?

[joelsprayberry]

sorry, i am currently out of the country. but many folks on this forum have built the chair and adapted it as well, maybe you can ask them for some assistance

[Fredrick1111]

Hello I have a dachshund named Frederick He Is paralyzed from the waist down and has issues with his bowels It has been almost three days We cannot afford the surgery They are vet keeps telling us that is probably best if he is euthanized I have read stories about dogs that have successfully Had productive lives With the wheelchairAlong with some pain management medication Does anyone have any thoughts or experience Of dogs regaining their ball ability Or the quality of life you see your dogs having in the wheelchairsIt pains my family and I so much to think we won't have our Frederick Any helpful opinions or experiences will help