Skippy celebrates his regained freedom at the beach
A large percentage of our business involves building carts for dogs with degenerative myelopathy. A progressive neurological disease (similar to ALS in humans) for which there is no known cure, carts help to preserve mobility by keeping dogs active for as long as possible. We have worked closely with veterinary professionals and on-line DM support groups, and have designed a cart that serves the progressive needs of these dogs as their condition deteriorates.
German Shepherds, corgis, boxers, Bernese Mt. Dogs, standard poodles, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers , wirehaired fox terriers and pugs are among the breeds of dogs who are prone to this painless, disabling disease. Up until recently, diagnosis of DM has been a process of elimination involving X-rays, MRI’s and myelograms to rule out tumors or disc disease.
However, now a simple inexpensive test has been developed that picks up a genetic marker for the disease. For information go to: www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/DM/ancmntDM.htm
In our experience, dogs with DM typically require mobility assistance within 9 months of the first onset of symptoms – toes scratching on the sidewalk, loss of muscle mass in one rear leg, followed by ataxia, scissoring of the rear legs, and dragging. Many dogs find that they can run, in a bunny-hopping gait, more easily than they can walk.
This Chessie has a standard large cart with stirrups, and a belly strap to support his long back.
Most dogs start out in standard rear wheel carts that allow them to take a normal stride, and are used as walkers. As they lose sensation in their feet, start “knuckling”, and lose motor function in their legs, they use the stirrups. The stirrups move with their forward motion, allowing the leg to swing in reciprocal movements, almost as if they were walking. Older dogs who have been compensating for rear limb weakness may opt for a neutral-balanced cart that is weightless on the shoulders. Our customer service team will help you choose the appropriate design for your dog.
Some dogs with DM experience weakness in their front legs and have difficulty with a standard cart at which point the cart can be upgraded to a fully counterbalanced cart. This cart removes up to 40% of the dog’s own weight off its front legs, making them lighter and stronger. We do NOT recommend counterbalanced carts for dogs at the onset of DM because removing so much weight-bearing from the front legs would have the effect of making them lose muscle mass in the front end.
Any standard cart can be upgraded to be counterbalanced with the acquisition of new axles and a support strap. See what the effect of this upgrade was for Jasper, a corgi with advanced DM :
Abby, a 14 year old shepherd, has arthritis and hyperextension of her carpus (wrists), as well as DM, so a neutralbalanced cart was called for – by moving the wheels slightly forward and adjusting the support strap under her chest, the yoke is weightless on her shoulders. Abby is still using her rear legs, so she does not use her stirrups yet.
Jasper in his counterbalanced cart. The addition of detachable front training wheels can be added to counterbalanced carts to give DM dogs at the end of their lives continued stability in the forelimbs. Use them to stand the dog to eat, and to walk on paved roads.
Additional Aids for DM Dogs include: Canine massage therapy, hydrotherapy, and a balanced healthy diet, along with regular exercise in a cart will help prolong the lives of dogs with DM. On our links page, you will find information about booties, incontinence aids, and a listing of rehab facilities. We understand that guardians of DM dogs face many challenges and have many bridges to cross in their DM journey. We are here to support you and your dog along the way.
Krystall, a Bernese Mountain Dog, with a variable axle cart. As the disease begins to affect her front legs, her owner will move the wheels forward one notch at a time. A variable axle cart can go from the standard wheel position to fully counterbalanced.
My sweet, goofy 8-year old boxer was diagnosed with DM this past January (it is now July) but most likely had it earlier than that—his symptoms were hidden due to a torn ACL injury. My husband and I slowly transitioned him into his Eddie’s Wheels cart and by the time Otis absolutely had to be in his cart in order to walk, he was competely used to it. In fact, getting into his cart to go for our 2-hour long walks became the highlight of his day. I am convinced that his cart gave him extra months of happiness, and I will always be grateful for that.
Katie, I also have an 8 year old male boxer with the same disease. Was your boxer afraid of the device at first? Can he go up a step or down a step?
Thank you and very sorry you are going through this too.
For most dogs, using a cart is returning to normal – they can walk again without falling down. We rarely see dogs who are afraid of the cart – watch the videos posted on the Eddie’s Wheels channel on youtube – they are mostly taken the day that dogs are put in their carts for the first time, and after only a few minutes, they get the hang of it.
Yes, you can go down a couple of steps in a cart, provided that they go down straight and square – not at an angle……
My 13 yr old German Shepard was recently diagnosed with DM. She knuckles and sometimes crosses her rear legs, and obviously stumbles. When she falls I am the only one who can pick her up, so she rarely moves around when I’m not home. I am wondering how long would be appropriate to leave my dog in a chair when I am not home, or when I have to leave her at my mom’s house. Can she stay in a wheelchair for 4+ hours? Can she sleep/relax while in a chair?
I posted this in another article but this one is specific to DM.
Dogs don’t stand around the house when you’re not home – they’re snoozing….. and it would be a mistake to leave a dog stranded in a cart with no one around. When you have a disabled dog, you re-structure your life so that you can take the dog for two short walks a day – morning and evening, and then when you’re home and life is busy, the dog can be in its cart. My dogs wander around the yard for 30-60 minutes in the evening, stand in their wheels for dinner and clean-up the kitchen time, and then are out of their carts and relaxing.
We have a 7yr. female German Shepherd that was just diagnosed with DM 2 months ago. She is at the beginning stages, slight dragging and criss-crossing of the legs. I have thought of getting her a cart when things progress. But I was wondering are they able to go to the bathroom when wearing the cart? Do you have to take them out of the cart? Trying to figure out how that will work.
Dogs with disabilities have alot stress around toileting and posturing to go potty. In the cart, they do it all in a standing position. You don’t have to take them out the cart.