"HOW DO I KNOW MY PET NEEDS A CART?"
If your pet is recently paralyzed or is having trouble walking without assistance, a cart will help provide much needed exercise. Your Veterinarian may recommend that you get your pet a cart to provide mobility. We make carts for pets with all types of mobility issues, from hip dysplasia to ruptured discs.
I must stress that you do not want to put your pet into a cart too soon after a disc injury. We recommend a 4-6 week recovery period before cart use. This allows that damaged area time to begin to heal.
Be sure to check with your Veterinarian before using a cart for your pet.
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"CAN MY PET USE THE BATHROOM WHILE IN THE CART?"
Yes, with practice, your pet will be fully capable of urinating and defecating while in the cart.
Some pets will take some time to get used to this feeling, but most will catch on within a couple of sessions.
However, while your pet is in the process of learning this new technique, we do recommend that you make sure he or she is eliminating sufficiently by taking them out of the cart if they have not gone within a reasonable amount of time.
We find it is helpful if you take them out to the same spot in the yard each time so they learn to associate the trip with eliminations.
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"HOW DO I KNOW MY PET WILL ACTUALLY USE THE CART?"
Most pets that are disabled do want to be mobile again. However, some pets will not readily use a cart in the beginning. There can be a couple of reasons for this.
Some pets are simply not strong enough in the front quarters to use a cart. You can test their front end strength by sling walking them around the yard. If your pet tires quickly, he or she may not be strong enough to use a cart. This is especially important in older pets. They often have arthritic or neurological changes in the front end that make them weak.
Some pets may be fearful of a cart. These pets can be desensitized by leaving the cart in the area that they spend most of their time. Go slowly, this is a new concept for them. Make using the cart a good experience. Using treats or toys to encourage forward movement can help with timid pets.
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"DOES MY PET NEED A WALKING CART OR A FULL SUSPENSION CART?"
A full suspension cart takes the pet's feet completely off of the ground. These are carts best suited to totally paralyzed pets.
Walking carts allow the pet to put his feet down and walk, while still supporting the bulk of his rear end weight. These carts are well suited for dysplastic dogs, arthritic dogs, dogs with mild signs of Degenerative Myelopathy and dogs that are recovering from IVDD and are starting to walk again.
We do not recommend walking carts if your pet is knuckling, crossing his rear legs or is not able to make the "walking" motion with his rear legs. These dogs will get friction sores and they will really do better with a full suspension cart.
Both of our models can easily be converted to the other type if needed.
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"WILL A USING A CART SLOW MY PET'S RECOVERY PROCESS DOWN BY MAKING HIM LAZY?"
In my many years of making carts for pets, I have never found this to be true. If a pet is going to recover, it will do that no matter what!
Carts do not hinder the progress, they actually help to speed it up by providing great aerobic exercise which helps to stimulate circulation. They also help the pet psychologically, by bringing them back to a more "normal" state of mind. (Being able to run and sniff and hunt.)
We do recommend that you continue your range of motion exercises and any physical therapy that your Veterinarian has recommended while your pet is out of his cart. This is also a key to helping them recover much quicker.
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"HOW LONG CAN I LEAVE MY PET IN HIS CART?"
When you receive your cart, we recommend starting out the first two weeks with short sessions of 15-20 minutes with rest periods in between. (Eventhough your pet may seem active by dragging himself around, it is nothing compared to the exercise that the cart will provide!)
It is especially important to start out slowly with the older pets. They need time to adjust and they may tire quickly. You can help them adjust quicker to cart use by sling walking them around in the yard while you are waiting for your cart to arrive. This will also help strengthen the front end.
Once your pet is used to the added exercise, you may leave them in the cart for longer periods. If you see your pet trying to lay down while in the cart, that generally means it is time to rest.
We do not recommend leaving your pet in his cart unattended at any time.
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"WHY ARE YOUR CARTS SO CHEAP? ISN'T IT TRUE THAT YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR?"
My Momma always said "you get what you pay for", and in most cases I have found this to be true. However, in the case of Dogs To Go carts, this is simply NOT TRUE!
Our carts may be less expensive than others carts on the market, but the reason is simple. There are a lot of people out there (including ourselves not so long ago) that just cannot afford a more expensive cart. So, because of financial restraints, they are not able to purchase a cart for their pet. THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE!
Our carts are backed by two things that I think are most important. One, you get expert, professional help dealing with your pet's problems. A working Technician with 20+ years of experience in a Veterinary Surgical practice dealing with disabled pets on a daily basis.
Two, you get a cart that has been tested on many patients in that practice, all under the supervision of Board Certified Surgeons. We currently have over 300 pets happily using our carts for over 3 years.
We stand behind every cart we build and if you have any questions about quality, we will be happy to provide you with testimonies from our many satisfied clients.
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"AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR MY PET?"
I wanted to include this answer because so many people ask me this question.
These wonderful creatures do not see this "disability" as we do. They never feel sorry for their circumstances, they just want to be "back to normal" again. A cart gives them that opportunity to become like new again.
You will see them actually "smile" when they take those first new steps in a cart. They know it is there to help them. They learn to adapt quickly and before you know it, they are off doing what comes naturally. Just like before their injury.
So, as long as you are willing to commit your time and devotion to them, my answer is, yes, you are doing the right thing. They are still your babies, they just need you more now. Cart dogs are happy, well adjusted "able" dogs!
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