German Shepherd survives Train Collision

German Shepherd Survives Train Collision - Regains Mobility in K-9 Cart Dog Wheelchair

We only recently became familiar with Monty's story. In December 2008, a German Shepherd Dog was hit by a passenger train in Montclair, NJ. The shepherd was laying in the snow in obvious distress surrounded by police men.

Dog hit by train in Montvale, NJ with police onlooking.

Joel Schwartzberg, who writes a blog for nj.com and the Star-Ledger, was on the train that arrived just after the shepherd was hit. In his blog, he mentions that despite his obvious pain, the dog never tried to bite or nip anyone. The German Shepherd Dog appeared to have no owner so he was rechristened Sir Montague or "Monty" for short.

Monty was treated by an emergency vet in Union, NJ, where his injuries were numerous. Monty had a severed spinal cord and was paralyzed in the hind end. In addition, he had a skull fracture, a nasty case of hookworms, and would test positive for heartworms. Later on the floppy ear that was thought to be a train injury would turn out to be an aural hematoma - an collection of blood in the ear that breaks down the normal cartilage tissue.

Monty tries out K-9 Cart dog wheelchair

In January 2009, Monty was taken in by Rosemary DiStefano, who runs Faith's Hope - a rescue close to Philadelphia. In the ensuing months, Monty has come a long way. He has two loving foster parents, Donna and Rick, who live on 14 acres in the mountains. While Monty had a loaner wheelchair from another dog wheelchair company, Monty could not be as mobile as he wanted in this wheelchair because of the excessive swaying motion and lack of stability. That's when we received a call at K-9 Cart Company East to build a custom dog wheelchair for Monty. On August 5, 2009, Monty and many friends came to Oxford, MD for a final fitting of his dog wheelchair.

We had been told that Monty loves to run with Rick. As a matter of Monty will try and run with or without a wheelchair and only accepts help supporting a rear harness from Rick on rare occasions. According to Rosemary, "Rick takes Monty on a 2-4 mile hike around their property just about every day." Using the loaner dog wheelchair, Monty would often take turns too tightly trying to chase down a bunny or squirrel and flipped his dog wheelchair a couple of times. Fortunately, Monty was never hurt and knew to wait for Rick to catch up and get him back upright.

Nonetheless, we weren't quite prepared with our video camera when Monty was put in his K-9 Cart dog wheelchair and took off down the road a 1/4 mile to the Oxford Community Center. But we did get a few clips of Monty testing out (or should we saw running at break neck speed) in his new wheelchair. See Monty's video in our video vault at www.k-9cart.com or a link on youtube.com. We all agree that Monty's ear gives him that special bit of character. He is just such a sweet, amazing dog given all that he has been through.

Now Monty is looking for a forever home. As stated by Rosemary, "Please spread the word about Monty, he is looking for just the right permanent home. He needs a family that is just as special and big-hearted as he is. He has survived against all odds and continues to inspire everyone he meets, now he just needs the happy ending he so truly deserves."

How to Choose a Dog Wheelchair Company

You Heard Right! We Make Pet Wheelchairs . . .

Whenever we tell people that our business is to make wheelchairs for paralyzed animals or dog wheelchairs, we are inevitably asked to repeat that statement. People are sure that they have heard us incorrectly.

In reality, dogs, cats, and many other pets don’t have the hang-ups that their human counterparts have about being disabled or in a wheelchair. In fact, the more handicapped your pet is, the more likely that it will readily take to a dog wheelchair or dog kart. Many dogs don’t even realize that they are in a wheelchair. Others dogs look forward to getting into their dog cart just like seeing the leash to go for a walk before their mobility impairment.

But why do dogs need wheelchairs? There are many reasons that they may either lose their mobility in their front or back legs. Wheelchairs provide a great way for a dog with weakness or paralysis of the limbs that still has a good mental attitude to be mobile and remain man’s best friend.

Common reasons for dogs to need wheelchairs include:

• Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)


• Ruptured discs


• Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)


• Neurologic disease


• Fractured backs


• Fibrocartilagenous emboli (FCE)


• Traumatic injuries (e.g., hit by car, fall)


• Birth defects


• Rehab device after orthopedic surgery on hips, knees, or elbows.

Normally, young dogs with arthritis, hip dysplasia, or amputation of a single limb, will NOT need dog wheelchairs. However, dogs with arthritis or degenerative joint disease (DJD), including hip dysplasia or elbow problems, may find that a wheelchair can assist with mobility as the body weakens as the pet ages. I know lots of dog wheelchair companies sell their product for hip dysplasia. But as a veterinary surgeon, I know that most of these dogs are not just suffering from hip dysplasia. Many veterinarians have never even seen a dog with degenerative myelopathy!

For most dogs, it is beneficial not to wait to get a wheelchair. With disuse, muscles weaken and atrophy and joints become stiffer making it more work to regain strength. Since dogs come in so many shapes and sizes, a dog cart should be custom made to fit your pet perfectly. One size fits all designs probably will fit only a few animals. Ideally, a wheelchair will have adjustments in height, width, and length, since it is often difficult to measure a dog that is paralyzed or unable to stand on its own.

Wheelchairs should be constructed differently to support a rear limb disability than a front limb one. Slings or stirrups for the hind feet are often beneficial in dogs that would other drag their feet in a cart and cause sores from them rubbing on the ground. The best dog wheelchairs provide handheld harnesses that can be used without the wheelchair for short walks or to assist in placing larger dogs into a dog kart. Amputees will require special padding to prevent sores as well.

It is especially important that the wheelchair keeps the dog in a normal posture so that extra weight is not shifted to the remaining mobile limbs. In addition, lightweight construction with materials, such as aluminum tube and foam-filled tires, mean that wheelchair is easy to move for the dog and carry by the owner.

So you are ready to order a wheelchair, but what next?

• First, investigate different dog wheelchair manufacturers and measure your dog according to their instructions. Ask your vet to help if you are unsure of your measurements.


• Call the manufacturer and make sure that a dog cart is right for your dog. Also, make sure that your wheelchair can be produced in a reasonable time frame.


• Visit the dog wheelchair shop for a final fitting if possible. Think about it. Custom orthodotics for your feet are not usually purchased mail order!


• Once you have had time to adjust your dog to the cart, send pictures of the front, side, back, and top view to the manufacturer to see if they have any suggestions to improve the fit (or just to show off your dog.)

The most important consideration when buying a dog wheelchair is not to have overly high expectations. If your pet is weak in all four limbs, a wheelchair is not going to turn the clock back 10 years on your dog. If you are not sure whether a wheelchair is right for you, talk to the manufacturer, look at pictures and video on the website, exchange email with satisfied owners, or ask other wheelchair owners their thoughts on a forum or bulletin board. Certainly, many dogs with weakness in either the front or hind limbs do extremely well in dog carts as is seen by the over 35,000 wheelchairs that have been sold by K-9 Cart Company East.

Have more questions, visit our webpage (www.k-9cart.com) or call us toll-free at 1-866-K9-Carts (1-866-592-2787).