Needing Help Getting Up

[Toby17]

I am considering purchasing a wheelchair for my dog, because his hind legs are weak and preventing him from being able to walk strongly. However, his biggest problem is getting out of a lying position. He lies on his side, and then flails his paws wildly when he wants to pull himself up; sometimes he's successful, sometimes not. What I'd like to know is if a wheelchair would help him in this situation. Does a dog sleep in his wheelchair?

[Bobbie]

No, they don't normally sleep n their wheelchair. Some dogs can lie down, many can't. What kind of floor surface is your dog trying to get up from? What kind of dog? A wheelchair will help if he is strong in front but the struggling to get up makes me wonder about front strength.

[Toby17]

Bobbie, thank you for responding to my post. My dog sleeps on a large, soft cushion that is about six inches thick (I've enclosed a photo of him sleeping on it). Often, he sleeps on the floor, too; our floor is hardwood.

He is a mixed breed, I would say a mix between terrier and basenji. He weighs 45 pounds and is 11 inches tall. He walks fairly well once he gets going, but his hind legs sort of trail off, making him rely mostly on his front leg strength.

I'm trying to figure out whether a wheelchair would really be helpful in our situation.