How to Make a Dog Cart or Wheelchair

Ready-made dog carts or wheelchairs are expensive, but you could cut the cost by making your own. With just a few supplies, making a cart or wheelchair for your dog is easy to do and will give your dog independence, mobility and freedom to begin being active again.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small Dog:
• ¾-inch PVC pipe
• Four PVC elbows
• Four PVC T-shaped pieces
• Handsaw
• PVC glue
• 1 yard of fabric
• Four threaded caster wheels
• Sewing machine
• Large Dog:
• Used manual (human) wheelchair
• Two 1/4-inch eye bolts with nuts
• Two carabineers
• Two 1/4-inch pins or nuts and bolts
• One piece of heavy walled conduit or bar
• A harness that fits the dog

For Small Dogs

1. Measure and cut. Measure the height of your dog's legs. Measure the length needed. Using the handsaw, cut the four PVC pieces to the specified height. Then cut the other four pieces to the correct length. Cut two crosspieces at the front and rear of the wheelchair for width.

2. Sew the fabric pieces. Measure enough material to fold over all four sides. Sew each side together. Make a hole for the pipe to go through.

3. Put the pieces together. Take the side bars and crosspieces and slide them into the material openings. Glue them together and use the Ts for the crosspieces and the elbows for the frame. Attach the wheels to the bottom legs and tighten. Place your dog in it. Adjust accordingly.

For Large Dogs

4. Strip the manual wheelchair. Remove unnecessary items such as the back and foot rests. Cut off the cross brace and replace with heavy walled conduit or bars to hold the chair together. Bolt these onto the chair.

5. Make the chair secure. At the top of the handles, bolt a brace. This holds the chair steady.

6. Allow for adjustment. Unscrew one side of where the seat is attached. Drill out holes and replace two screws with eye bolts. These bars raise up and down, so this will allow you to raise and lower the seat for adjustment. Drill holes at one- or two-inch intervals. This is the height from the floor to the dog's belly. Place the carabineers through the matching hole in seat to the eye bolt. Adjust the seat to the desired height.

7. Position the chair correctly. Drop the seat out of the way and have your dog step into position. Fasten the carabiners to the eye bolts. Attach the harness to the sides of the chair. It is now ready to use.

References

• Make & Build Dog Stuff: Dog Wheelchairs
• Harlequin Haven Great Dane Rescue: Building A Wheelchair
• Dogasaur: How to Make Your Own Dog Wheelchair