Good luck with everything.

The dog still had its hind legs, so it must have been paralysis. The dog obviously was enjoying its walk with "Dad", and did fine on the incline slope of the roads & parking lot to get to the coffee shop. Seemed to do fine going on the downhill slope too.

If you look on youtube.com and search for dog wheelchair, there are a couple hundred videos of dogs in wheelchairs. While some videos are posted by businesses that make the wheelchairs, it seems most are by the dog parents. Some people say they built their own wheelchair. The link below goes to handicappedpets.com, where they have links to instructions on how to make your own. (I haven't looked at the instructions myself.) I'm not a DIY person, but if you are, it might be worth looking into.

Scooter is one lucky dog to have you. :)

You've got some good leads, (gotta love this board!), and I'll be interested to know how it goes for your little boy.

I am having a LOT of trouble convincing her to get a wheelchair, because she thinks he will lose quality of life. The vet she goes to (who is a "boxer specialist") tells her that when he loses all function in his rear legs, which is inevitable, that she needs to euthanize him. I completely disagree. He might be older, but he could have a year or more of life ahead of him. I think she should at least try a wheelchair, and then see if he's happy or not. Why give up without even trying? And it's not a money issue, by the way. Anything I can say to convince her?

Thanks.

My 12yr old German Shepard Dog is in the 8th month of use of his cart from Doggone Wheels and a year and a half from when he was first "diagnosed" with DM. I introduced my dog to the cart when he was beginning to get weak in his back legs but BEFORE he lost full control & became incontinent. My GSD is smart he figured out what it was in the first day of introduction to it! He realized I was going to give up on him just be cause he was a little paralyzed... in the hind area. I love the design of the Doggone Wheels because it has a nylon Saddle that you slip over you dogs hind legs and you can use that same saddle to handle your dog in case of their lameness, placing themselves some where in the yard and when you need to clip it to their cart it makes the process so much easier on your animal. The saddle is washable and does not harm your pet!

My GSD is up to walking 3/4 of a mile with his cart.. we go on walks every other day..and I have gotten his strength built up to where it was nearly before he came down with DM.
If it wasn't for Doggone Wheels I would have had to euthanize him for sure. This is not to say that this cart will take all of your ills away. But it will alleviate 85% of them if you have the time and the patience to care for your pet as if they are another member of your extended family.
The friendly folks in Montana have been nothing but the best for dealing with me & my dog . I Thank them every day for having "invented" this cart, it is well thought out, lightweight for the pet & easy for use retired citizens to utilize it.. Just My Humble Opinion.
BRW sometimes they sell these carts up on EBAY for a reduced price & sometimes you can get real lucky & find one on craigslist..but they are specifically sized for your pet.

woodinvirginia, my corgi began showing symptoms of DM last december. he is progressing although slowly. he still has the use of his left hind leg although his right hind drags most of the time. i recently got a doggon' cart for simon but i am having problems getting him to use it. i went to the yahoo group, posted pictures, was assured i had everything properly fitted. still, he refuses to move unless i have a tasty treat out in front of him. i KNOW he can do it as i have left him behind, walked away, looked back to see him coming but as soon as he sees that i notice him, he stops.

do you have any suggestions as to what i could do to get him to accept it better? i really want this to work as i think it will give him some quality of life for a longer time. i just hate the thought of seeing him completely down in the back end and unable to get around other than seal walking. any tips you can give me would be much appreciated. the little stinker is a typical corgi...stubborn as the day is long but he's cute as a bug's ear! :)