[angiesample]

Hello all! So my sister in law has a three legged beagle, Charlie. He is missing his back left leg. Charlie was hit by a truck when he was a baby.. and my sister in law got him through a rescue group, so he has always been the three legged beagle to us . He is approximately 6 years old. About a month ago Charlie also broke his toe on the back leg, while doing xrays and getting him better it was determined that his arthrities is so bad that they need to be thinking about purchasing a wheel chair. They knew this was coming they were just hoping it would be a little longer before they needed to invest in this for him.

My question is do any of u have any knowledge on wheel chairs for dogs and know of a company u would recommend? Price isnt really an issue.. but it needs to support his spine, so the kind that is like a sling, isnt going to work for him. Hope you can help. Oh and i posted some pics bc hes just adorable and i thought u might like to see him

[Todd]

What is the dog currently getting for the arthritis? have you tried adding fish oil to his diet? Fish oil acts as a joint lubricant. What about glucosamine/chondroitin? Here are some other natural remedies for arthritis that I found ONLINE...

"Here are some natural herbs and elements that can help ease the pain of arthritis:

1. Alfalfa
Alfalfa can help soothe the swelling in the joints. You can make a tea out of alfalfa herbs. To do that, you’re going to need anywhere from one teaspoon to three tablespoons of fresh or dried alfalfa leaves to make the tea.
The right dosage will depend on your dog’s build and weight. Make the tea a part of your dog’s daily meals for the best effect.
2. Mussels
Studies have shown that seafood, more particularly greenlip mussels and perna mussels can greatly help in restoring damaged connective tissues. There are also shellfish extracts that can be used as an alternative just in case the fresh ones are hard-to-find. There are quite a number of such products available at pet health stores today.

3. Yucca
Yucca is another herb that can help ease the pain brought about by arthritis. Yucca contains natural steroids that can relieve the discomfort caused by hip dysplasia and arthritis. A lot of dog owners and veterinarians are actually recommending it for use against these diseases.

5. Stinging nettles
The essence of the stinging nettle herb can greatly help dogs with arthritis. These herbs can help cleanse the blood while addressing your dog’s aching limbs. Stinging nettles can also be made into a tea. You can use nettle extract alternately with alfalfa to provide the best arthritis relief to your pet. Nettles can also help in detoxifying the body of your dog.

6. Comfrey
Another herb very effective against arthritis is comfrey. Some dogs eat comfrey leaves in their natural form.
For best effects, try to add chopped rosemary and parsley to the mixture. If your dog loves it, give it one serving regularly for the best results.

7. Massage oils
There is nothing better for your dog than a comforting massage if it is suffering from arthritis. Whenever your pet is in pain due to the disease, try to rub its limbs with herbal oils. If herbal oils are not available, sunflower oil or olive oil will also work."

Here is also a link I highly suggest checking out...

Arthritis Remedies for Dogs

I would stay away from prescription meds if at all possible. Pain killers/antiinflamitories such as rimadyl for they can be very dangerous. I say only use them as a last resort...

Please Do not Give Rimadyl (carprofen)--CAN KILL

What is the dog's diet? This can have a profound effect on arthtis. I have heard of dogs switching to a raw diet for instance and remarkable improvements came along with it concerning not only arthritis but other healthy problems. If raw is not a possibility I'd look into a home cooked diet or a high quality kibble. If you're looking for one here is an answer I, personally, have given in the past...

Have you considered feeding a raw diet? How bout a home cooked diet? In my opinion, these are your best options. If this is too inconvenient, I'd suggest choosing a high quality kibble. Most of the foods you see on television commercials and sold at the grocery stores aren't the best choices. Look for a high quality, natural food without artificial preservatives, colors, additives, fillers, corn, wheat, or soy as a initial rule of thumb. Grain free is the best way to go, which generally has high amounts of meat protein. If price is an issue, don't sweat it. There are plenty of good foods out there that are priced the same as poor quality foods. Here is a great site to learn more about what foods are the best and the worst, and their pros and cons. The 6 star foods are the best and the 1 star foods are the worse. I'd at least try to feed 4 star foods, but of course 6 star foods would be ideal. Here are some brands I'd recommend off the top of my head;

Best (Don't use these foods until your dog is an adult/done growing. At least until one year or more, maybe even less, depending on breed. These foods have too high amounts of overall nutrition and cause larger breed dogs to grow too fast and develop bone problems. Wait until adult)

EVO
Taste Of The Wild
Origin
Timberwolf Organics
Canidae Grain-Free Formula
Wellness CORE

Very Good

Innova
Wellness
Canidae
California Natural (Great For Dogs With Food Allergies)
Solid Gold

Good For Best Quality On A Budget

Fromm
Premium Edge
Natural Balance
Diamond Naturals

*Don't forget to consider home cooked or especially raw (which is EXTREMELY cost effective). Let me know if these interest you and I can give you more info. Good Luck!

Great resource for kibble reviews: Dog Food Analysis - Reviews of kibble

I'm sorry but I cannot tell you too much about the wheelchairs. Good luck!

BTW... The dog is EXTREMELY cute!

[gambler-girl]

Todd has given you some very good suggestions that I am going to twek with an addition.

-glucosamine/chondroitin + MSM very good!

-anti inflamitories (NSAIDS) are very hard on the stomach and use carefully especially for extended periods, but sometimes it is nessicary. don't use NSAIDS with MSM

-I was at a dog show a couple of weekends ago, a freind of mine was showing a dog that she breed but did not own. Well this dog was gaiting like it was lame, my freind is freinds with a dog chiropracter who was showing her dog. She came over adjusted this dog and the difference was amazing. The dog was DQed on Saturday and after the adjustment took breed on Sunday, there was a huge difference. I am not a proponent of chiropracty but I may have to rethink my position.

Sorry no help from me with the cart, I have no experience with them, thankfully.

GG

[angiesample]

MY sister in law has a fabulous vet who is certified in holistic meds and able to adjust dogs. SO the beagle gets adjusted 2 times a month and this does help a lot! He also take the glucosomine with MSM and fish oil and something else that i cant think of right now, i will call and ask her later!

She feeds all her dogs Solid Gold and has great success with it. She does sometimes supplement with raw food but just doesnt really want to mess with it right now.

The vet has said he would not always use the cart it would be more for his walks, just to take some pressure of his spine.. i mean when he needs adjusting u can tell his spine literally starts to curve. And hes a beagle and he knows how to make u feel bad for him... She has tried acupuncture but that didnt do much.

She is very strict with his diet bc he gains weight quickly and knows how bad that is on his back.. let me know if u need anything else.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by angiesample

MY sister in law has a fabulous vet who is certified in holistic meds and able to adjust dogs. SO the beagle gets adjusted 2 times a month and this does help a lot! He also take the glucosomine with MSM and fish oil and something else that i cant think of right now, i will call and ask her later!

She feeds all her dogs Solid Gold and has great success with it. She does sometimes supplement with raw food but just doesnt really want to mess with it right now.

The vet has said he would not always use the cart it would be more for his walks, just to take some pressure of his spine.. i mean when he needs adjusting u can tell his spine literally starts to curve. And hes a beagle and he knows how to make u feel bad for him... She has tried acupuncture but that didnt do much.

She is very strict with his diet bc he gains weight quickly and knows how bad that is on his back.. let me know if u need anything else.

Have you ever thought about trying some accupressure or accupuncture? This has been know to be very successful for both back problems and arthritis. Maybe have her talk to her vet about this. A holistic vet should be very open to it. Magnetic therapy may also be something worth looking into...

Magnetic Therapy

[lulusmom]

I can't say enough about Eddie's Wheels. They make, without a doubt, the best front and rear wheel carts out there. I work in rescue, with an emphasis on senior and special needs, and we've saved and fallen in love with many paralyzed and amputee babies. Two of our really special babies were adopted by the owners of Eddie's Wheels. Willa and Webster were the products of horrible backyard breeding, siblings born without front limbs and dumped at a hell hole of a shelter at 8 weeks old. They have a wonderful life now and spend their days at Eddie's Wheels shop watching carts being built to perfect specification for dogs all over the U.S. Missing front limbs was something we'd never dealt with so I tracked down a number of pet owners and rescues who had experience with this handicap to determine which carts were the best. The general concensus was nobody but Eddie's was able to make a front wheel cart that worked well. Eddie's came through for us big time. I highly recommend that you give them a call and talk to them about Charlie's situation.

Eddies Wheels | Wheelchairs for Handicapped Pets

YouTube- Willa and Webster go to work in the shop

YouTube- Willa and Webster practice in their carts outside

We currently have another rescue, Jiao, who was found tied to a bridge in horrific condition. We think he was hit by a car...his legs looked like they were on backwards and he had horrible wounds from dragging himself around. He ultimately had a severe amputation and doesn't even have much of his hips left. He was only about six months old when found and he's about a year old now. He didn't let the loss of his legs slow him down and we alway get a big kick out of him streaking through the grass like a flash....but I cried when I saw him in his new cart for the first time, walking like a dog should. He took to it like a duck to water. We are hoping that Jiao finds a forever home soon.

Jiao's first time in his new wheels
jiao in cart.jpg

Jiao being measured by Leslie of Eddie's Wheels
Jiao getting measured for cart.jpg

[angiesample]

Originally Posted by lulusmom

I can't say enough about Eddie's Wheels. They make, without a doubt, the best front and rear wheel carts out there. I work in rescue, with an emphasis on senior and special needs, and we've saved and fallen in love with many paralyzed and amputee babies. Two of our really special babies were adopted by the owners of Eddie's Wheels. Willa and Webster were the products of horrible backyard breeding, siblings born without front limbs and dumped at a hell hole of a shelter at 8 weeks old. They have a wonderful life now and spend their days at Eddie's Wheels shop watching carts being built to perfect specification for dogs all over the U.S. Missing front limbs was something we'd never dealt with so I tracked down a number of pet owners and rescues who had experience with this handicap to determine which carts were the best. The general concensus was nobody but Eddie's was able to make a front wheel cart that worked well. Eddie's came through for us big time. I highly recommend that you give them a call and talk to them about Charlie's situation.



We currently have another rescue, Jiao, who was found tied to a bridge in horrific condition. We think he was hit by a car...his legs looked like they were on backwards and he had horrible wounds from dragging himself around. He ultimately had a severe amputation and doesn't even have much of his hips left. He was only about six months old when found and he's about a year old now. He didn't let the loss of his legs slow him down and we alway get a big kick out of him streaking through the grass like a flash....but I cried when I saw him in his new cart for the first time, walking like a dog should. He took to it like a duck to water. We are hoping that Jiao finds a forever home soon.

Jiao's first time in his new wheels
Attachment 1926

Jiao being measured by Leslie of Eddie's Wheels
Attachment 1927

Thank you so much for your advice lulusmom... that cart looks perfect!! It looks like it supports his back really well. I am so glad he uses it so well and is able to move around like a "normal" dog!!

Todd- Yes she has tried acupuncture and it helped a little... the chiropractor is what helps the most and he gets adjusted 2 times a month and massages 2 times a month.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by lulusmom

I can't say enough about Eddie's Wheels. They make, without a doubt, the best front and rear wheel carts out there. I work in rescue, with an emphasis on senior and special needs, and we've saved and fallen in love with many paralyzed and amputee babies. Two of our really special babies were adopted by the owners of Eddie's Wheels. Willa and Webster were the products of horrible backyard breeding, siblings born without front limbs and dumped at a hell hole of a shelter at 8 weeks old. They have a wonderful life now and spend their days at Eddie's Wheels shop watching carts being built to perfect specification for dogs all over the U.S. Missing front limbs was something we'd never dealt with so I tracked down a number of pet owners and rescues who had experience with this handicap to determine which carts were the best. The general concensus was nobody but Eddie's was able to make a front wheel cart that worked well. Eddie's came through for us big time. I highly recommend that you give them a call and talk to them about Charlie's situation.

Eddies Wheels | Wheelchairs for Handicapped Pets

YouTube- Willa and Webster go to work in the shop


YouTube- Willa and Webster practice in their carts outside


We currently have another rescue, Jiao, who was found tied to a bridge in horrific condition. We think he was hit by a car...his legs looked like they were on backwards and he had horrible wounds from dragging himself around. He ultimately had a severe amputation and doesn't even have much of his hips left. He was only about six months old when found and he's about a year old now. He didn't let the loss of his legs slow him down and we alway get a big kick out of him streaking through the grass like a flash....but I cried when I saw him in his new cart for the first time, walking like a dog should. He took to it like a duck to water. We are hoping that Jiao finds a forever home soon.

Jiao's first time in his new wheels
Attachment 1926

Jiao being measured by Leslie of Eddie's Wheels
Attachment 1927

The dogs in the pics are so cute. Glad you're making an effort to help them out.