Senior Dog Mobility
How to Measure Your Dog for a Wheelchair
Four measurements, five minutes, and the one mistake behind most returned carts.
You need four numbers: back length (base of the neck to the base of the tail), hind-leg height (floor to the fold of the flank, dog standing), chest width (widest point of the ribcage, just behind the front legs), and current weight. Use a soft tape, measure with the dog standing square on a flat floor, and take each one twice. If your dog can't stand on its own, have a second person support the hips at a natural height while you measure. Leg height is the number owners get wrong most often: measure to the flank fold, not the hip bone, or the cart will ride too high and push the back legs off the ground.
The short version
Between two sizes? Go by leg height first, then weight, and pick the cart with the wider adjustment range rather than sizing up. Our wheelchair pick lists its full size chart with the same four measurements.
Related notes
The Dog Wheelchair Worth Buying for Back-Leg Weakness
For dogs with degenerative myelopathy, disc disease, or hind-limb arthritis, the cart with the widest size range and the fit to actually hold up.
Read the note
Signs Your Dog Needs a Mobility Aid
The early signals owners usually miss, and what to reach for once you’ve noticed them.
Read the note
Non-Slip Flooring Solutions for Senior Dogs
Hardwood and tile are often the real reason a stiff dog looks afraid to walk across the room.
Read the note