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| Home Products Evaluating Your Pet FAQ's About Us Contact Us |
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Customer Support |
Thank you for Choosing Pet Mobility Rehab Center |
With over 35,000 happy clients, we have the knowledge and experience to support you in the mobility and nursing care of your handicapped pet.
We look forward to providing you and your pet with the best possible care and assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact us. Remember that no question is unimportant when it comes to the care of your pet.
Based on our experience working with thousands of clients over the years, we have observed that pet owners sometimes need help in the following areas: |
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Measuring Your Pet
If you need help in measuring your pet, please see Helpful Measurement Tips and Photos. |
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Assembling Your Cart
Standard Two-Wheel Cart
Your pet wheelchair requires minimal assembly. An Allen wrench is the only tool required and is provided along with written assembly instructions. Your cart will be shipped in either 3 or 4 parts, depending on the size of the cart. If you are unable to follow the enclosed assembly instructions, the following tips will help you to assemble your cart.
Assembly Tips for a Standard Two-Wheel Cart |
| 1. |
Your cart will include the following parts: |
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| a) |
Two wheel assemblies |
| b) |
One frame with the side bars attached. In the case of a large dog, the sidebars may be detached from the main frame. |
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| 2. |
Insert the side bars into the main frame. Note: the frame is in the correct upright position when the short strap is on the top. |
| 3. |
You will also note that on the main frame there are 2 blocks with a slot in each of them. On the outside of the blocks are thumb screws. These are the temporary locking screws used when adjusting the height of the cart. Make sure that the screws are loose. Slide the wheel assemblies up through the slots with the wheels facing towards the outside. You may have to really push the blades in as they will fit tightly. This is necessary so that the blades do not have room to move around. Temporarily set the blades at the same height and tighten the nuts. Once you have established the correct height, using the Allen Wrench, tighten the set screw that holds the wheel blade permanently in place. The set screw can be found on the inside of the black horizontal blocks closest to your pet. |
| 4. |
Congratulations your cart is now assembled! |
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Four-Wheel Cart (Fully Supportive)
The four-wheel chair will come assembled with the exception of the wheel assemblies, which are marked as front and rear, left and right. The only tool(s) required is a flathead and/or Phillips screwdriver. |
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Placing Your Pet In Its Cart
Once you have assembled your pet wheelchair, the next step is placing your pet in its wheelchair.
Two-Wheel Cart
With smaller pets, you will need to raise the pet’s rear, slide each leg through the individual leg rings, and then fasten the strap over the shoulders.
With large pets, as long as they don’t have bad knees, you can try the following method, which is sometimes easier than lifting your dog under its abdomen. First, see if you can get your pet to stand on all four legs, if even for a moment. Then, as you stand alongside, lean over your pet, place one hand in front of each knee and, keeping the legs straight, guide the rear legs down through the rings. This prevents your pet from pulling its legs up and getting caught in the rings. Lifting your pet this way has the advantage of not needing as much strength as you would if lifting it under the abdomen. However, if your dog is totally paralyzed, and is unable to stand on all four legs for even a moment, it is difficult to lift your pet this way.
Four-Wheel Cart (Fully Supportive)
For small pets, you will need to pick your pet up, position it above the cart, and guide all four legs straight down through the leg rings. Once all four legs are in the cart, off it goes!
Our larger pet wheelchairs, for dogs over 41 pounds, have removable leg rings that make it easier to lift larger pets in and out of their carts. With the removable leg rings, you place your pet’s legs in the leg rings and, using the two handles, lift the pet’s rear to position the rear leg rings into the cart. Simultaneously lift the front legs, using the same process as for the rear. Even with the removable leg rings it is best to use two people to help lift your pet into its cart, especially if it is totally paralyzed. Please see Products-Four Wheel Cart (Fully Supportive) for a picture of our removable leg rings. |
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Fitting Your Pet in its Cart
To Adjust the Height |
| 1. |
The thumb screw on the outside of the rectangular block is a temporary means for setting the height. The first step is to slacken the thumb screw. You may also need to slacken the set screws, on the inside of the block, that hold the wheel blades permanently in place. |
| 2. |
If your pet has the ability to still walk using its rear legs, the height should be set so that the paws are able to touch the ground in order for your pet to use them. If your pet has the ability to use just one leg, we recommend purchasing a boot to protect the other paw that is knuckling over or dragging. It is not a good idea to place one leg up in the sling and have one down on the ground as it may throw your pet off balance. If your pet has no use of its rear legs, and its legs are in the protective slings, the height should be set so that the back is perfectly level when viewed from the side. |
| 3. |
Once you have established the correct height, tighten the set screw that holds the wheel blade in place. |
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To Adjust the Length
While the side bars seldom need to be adjusted, occasionally some adjustment is necessary. |
| 1. |
To fit correctly, the side bars should be adjusted so that they fit right behind the front legs. The short strap should be on the top. |
| 2. |
If the side bars do need to be adjusted, the first step is to loosen the set screw on the underside of the block using the Allen wrench provided. |
| 3. |
Once the side bar is loose, adjust the length to fit right behind the front legs. |
| 4. |
Re-tighten the set screws on the underside of the blocks using the Allen wrench. |
| 5. |
Both straps should be snug. |
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| To Adjust the Width |
| 1. |
It is extremely unlikely that you will have to adjust the width of your cart unless you have a young pet. |
| 2. |
To make your cart wider, or narrower, you will need to adjust the space in the rear of the cart, and possibly the leg rings. Since this bar is extremely tight you will probably not be able to adjust it manually. You will need a rubber hammer. Before using the rubber hammer you must first loosen all the screws holding the bar in place, then position the cart on end, and gently tap until the bar releases. |
| 3. |
If you do widen the cart, you will need to adjust the leg rings, and make them longer, by means of the adjustment screws. |
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Balancing Your Pet in Its Cart
Three Key Areas for successfully balancing your pet’s in its cart: |
| 1. |
Correct height adjustment. |
| 2. |
Correct length adjustment. |
| 3. |
The side bars must be parallel to the ground when your pet is standing in its cart. If the bars are not parallel, adjust the straps. If bars are dipping downwards, loosen the underneath strap to allow you to tighten the top strap. This will pull the side bars up into a parallel position. Once the top strap holds the bars parallel, retighten the underneath strap. Do the opposite if the bars are pointing upwards. |
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Telephone/Email Fitting |
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| 1. |
Our experienced staff and technicians are available during business hours (Mon-Fri, 8-5 PST; 800-578-6960) to assist you with fitting and assembling questions. |
| 2. |
We have found, over the years, that the best method to assist you with fitting concerns is for you to send us photos and/ or a video of your pet in its cart. When taking photos, please have your pet on a level surface and take the photos from the front, side, rear, and looking down on your pet. |
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If you have a concern regarding your pet’s movement in the cart, a video is always preferable. |
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Re-Order Parts
We keep records of your pet’s cart for seven years. Generally, carts last the lifetime of the pet, depending on the age of your pet when the cart was received. If you do need to replace wheels, straps, or any other parts, we will make every effort to furnish them for you.
Please note: due to the fact that the design of our carts has changed over the years, replacement parts may not be available in some cases.
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