Dog Wheelchair Comparisons

Dog Wheelchair Center Carts - Another Cheap Cart made in China

2011-07-15T16:44:00.000-04:00

One has to wonder about a company that would use a photograph of another company's product on their masthead. For at least a year, Dog Wheelchairs Center, AKA Best Friends Mobility, was using a photo of a dog in an Eddie's Wheels cart on its masthead; now it has been replaced by a photo of a dog in a Doggon -style cart.

Sylvan Enterprises, which owns Best Friends Mobility, is a search engine optimization internet marketing company that sells derma-brasion kits, body armor, metal detectors and dog wheelchairs - all made in China. Their high rankings in the organic search for dog wheelchairs is based on the number of blogs they write to drive people to their dog wheelchairs site. Google has no way of knowing how legitimate any company is, but the position on the search engine lists is determined by how often Google's robots come across links to a particular site.

A recent customer of Eddie's Wheels found out the hard way that fast and cheap is not best. This is a photo of a cart she purchased from this company on E-bay. It is a knock-off of several different styles of cart - with a soft vinyl rear harness suspended over a bent steel tubing frame. Wheels are rollerblade wheels, mounted on non-stainless, rusty nuts and bolts, with a sharp edge that could easily tear up a paralyzed dog's legs. The top of the cart is held together with hose clamps, with sharp metal edges to keep the harnesses from sliding around. This cart weighs 2 lbs. 6 oz, for a dog that weighs that 6 lbs., while the Eddie's Wheels cart built for the same dog is a full pound lighter.

A rusty, sharp bolt holds a roller blade wheel to the steel frame.

Dog Wheelchairs Center (aka Best Friends Mobility) is on the left, Eddie's Wheels on the right. Eddie's Wheels cart is made of lightweight 1/4" diameter aluminum round stock with machined fittings, stainless steel set screws and closed cell foam padding.

It is disheartening, as a manufacturer of a high quality product made in the USA, that we have to compete with marketing companies whose only interest is in sales and profits. The consumer needs to take the time to do research and find out exactly what they will receive as product.

Call the customer service line and insist on speaking with a person knowledgable about the dog wheelchair.
Ask questions about weight, adjustability, manufacturing defects (the cart in this photo has a safety pin in the front harness, and crimp marks on the bent metal ).
Is there someone at Best Friends Mobility who can assist you if you need advice about how to adjust the cart for your dog?
What if your pet rejects the cart? What is your recourse? This company has already engendered a Facebook page called Refund Please. Don't be fooled by Google rankings !

Exploiting one dog's tragedy - How WalkinWheels tried to trash Eddie's Wheels reputation

2011-07-05T14:25:00.002-04:00

Lots of people have heard the story of Lucky Feeney, the disabled dog whose Eddie's Wheels dog wheelchair was stolen from in front of his house in Roxbury.
The news hit the media and immediately Mark Robinson, from Handicapped Pets saw an opportunity he could exploit to make himself a hero and donated a WalkinWheels cart to Lucky. Since these made-in-China, comes in a box, one size fits all, wheelchairs required no information, engineering or assembly, he was right there the next day with a cart for Lucky. His PR department made sure there was media there, but even then David Feeney and Lucky did not want the WalkinWheels.
Unfortunately for Mark Robinson and Lucky, the cart didn't work for Lucky, because Lucky is weak in the forelimbs and his disabilities were not addressed by the WalkinWheels. David Feeney tried to return the WalkinWheels, but they refused to take it back. A representative offered to put front wheels on the cart, but David, who teaches physics, told him that their design could not and would not work. He was unwilling to put Lucky through any suffering to help them figure out how to engineer a cart for him.

In the meantime, Eddie's Wheels was already building Lucky a new cart at no expense to David Feeney. Unfortunately the media got this one wrong. Lucky's custom counterbalanced Eddie's Wheel cart was sent to him and he's back to wheeling around the streets of Roxbury.

Fully Adjustable Walkin Wheels Fails where Eddie's Wheels succeeds

2011-07-02T18:07:00.000-04:00

19. Mar, 2011 4 Comments

Bailey, a 5 year cocker paralyzed from disc disease, never gave up

When Kim Pevey called us to make an appointment for an evaluation for Bailey, she had almost come to believe that Bailey would never be able to use a dog wheelchair. They had purchased a Walkin Wheels from Handicapped Pets and Bailey had been unable to move in it. They had even visited Handicapped Pets office in the hopes that they would be able to adjust the cart somehow to make it acceptable for Bailey. But nothing they did, including the addition of front wheels, worked for Bailey. He just kept falling down or rolling backwards.
But the Peveys did not give up on Bailey just because they gave up on the Walkin Wheels. Both their vet and the hydro-therapy practitioner told them to call Eddie’s Wheels. When they arrived Bailey was a squirmy energetic little cocker, full of life and energy, but not alot of strength. He had apparently had multiple disc compressions that had affected both his front and rear legs. We were able, however, to try him out in one of our used carts, and with me holding the yoke off his shoulders, he took right off wheeling around the showroom. We decided to build him a counterbalanced cart. That would compensate for his weakness in the front legs and allow him to rebuild his strength and muscle mass in his front legs and shoulders.
Two weeks later, Bailey and the Peveys came back for his custom cart fitting. In the meantime, Kim has been doing acupuncture and massage, putting his little body through passive range of motion exercises at home. He had actually gotten longer since the time we measured him – a phenomenon we see very often (which is why we build several inches of length and height adjustment into each cart). Bailey had gotten so much longer that we made frame extensions on the spot for him. See his fitting here:

The combination of Bailey’s spirit and his family’s faith in his ability to heal is very inspiring. We’re so glad that we were able to help him and look forward to hearing of his progress now that he’s mobile once again.

Dogs and their owners prefer Eddie's to Walkin Wheels

2011-07-02T17:53:00.000-04:00

Leslie,
I am very overdue at reporting in on Katie and her Eddie’s wheels…sorry! The quick answer is that she LOVES them!!! Katie’s whole face lights up and body starts wiggling “big time” when she sees her wheels as she knows she’s about to go for a spin. I guess the hospital even used Katie to encourage other dogs to use their wheels and soon she had them racing the halls with her! Yay Katie…nothing gets her down for long and she brings out the best in everyone… :-)
My husband and I (both architects) are very impressed at how incredibly well made/designed and light Katie’s Eddie’s wheels are compared to the Walking Wheels. I am thrilled because it is much easier to get Katie in and out. :-) At this point she can stay in them for about 2 hours at a stretch depending on what we are doing. Now Joseph (our son) and I want to invent a cushion so she can lay down while she’s in her wheels and then be able to stay in them for longer. We may need to invest in booties as well as the sidewalks/streets are getting hot with the season changes.
We had a gorgeous Spring day on Palm Sunday so we went for a family walk on a local walking/biking trail. I brought my camera and took a couple short videos which I’ve put together into one video and posted it on the Katie’s Flickr set. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheatenphotos/sets/72157625830695193/with/5408167161/ This time my handsome assistant is my husband, Gary as Joseph was happily flying ahead on his scooter. We met all sorts of people and their pups and I have to say I was very impressed as most dogs weren’t phased by Katie’s wheels. The owners were a bit more hesitant and even apologetic with their curiosity. We spoke with one couple at length as the woman said she had just seen something on TV about carts for animals and was fascinated to see one in person. She was amazed at how natural and happy Katie appeared. This past Saturday we took Katie to Petsmart were she continued to be a great ambassador for “paw challenged” dogs. We love spreading the word about Eddie’s Wheels!
The McKees

Dog wheelchair comparisons by a doxie owner

2011-06-28T18:31:00.000-04:00

edit
14. Jun, 2011 4 Comments

A testimonial from a client who has tried 3 different carts! She got it right the last time – with Eddie’s Wheels!

When my Dachshund became disabled from ruptured disks and 2 surgeries that were not successful, I was lost and devastated. I had never been faced with a situation like this. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a wheelchair for a dog… So I went on a search to find him one.

I was very unsuccessful and lost a lot of money.. I first tried one I discovered online from doxicart, and that wheelchair was also made specifically for my dog’s measurements. When I got it, it was just awful. He really couldn’t even use it.

This is the one of the Doxicart. I had to completely tear this whole harness apart and re-sew it to keep it up.. My husband had to take the wheels off and grind wheel frame down so I could lower the back to fit him right... Only way to adjust. What a disaster... The seat is attached with plastic tie wraps.

So I looked into Handicappedpets.com and read and read and read. I thought that since this cart was so adjustable in every way, this was the one for me. So I finally purchased one from them. When it came it took me days to just put it together. It came with a video so I watched it several times. I finally got it put together to fit Barney. The first thing I noticed is how heavy it was. The box it came in says it is only 3 pounds. Well, that right there is the first “non-truth”… Barney’s Walkin Wheels cart weighs over 4 pounds (I weighed it). The next thing is it comes with a harness that you have to put on the dog first and then put your dog into the cart and then connect the harness onto the frame. And if you are not really careful, you can pinch him which I did and really felt bad. That made him not want to even get into it anymore.

When I first put him in it, he just stood and looked at me like he was froze in it and he looked scared. I couldn’t even get him to go for a little walk with me at all. All and all, he just hated his cart. It was so heavy for him to pull. He looked like he was trying to pull a wagon, a heavy wagon. When he would start to walk in it he would have to use both his front legs together to literally hop to get started and he would be so out of breath by the time he made just a few steps.

Dragging this cart earned it the nickname of "The Anchor". The harness would not stay up without being tied on with a shoelace.

The most aggravating thing was the harness that went around his chest. He could only make a few steps and the strap would fall down around his legs and he couldn’t move. I tried so many adjustments like changing the belly strap and making it higher upon his chest until it was almost around his throat and it still wouldn’t stay up. I called Handicapped Pets and she told me there was another Dachshund that had one of their carts and he had the same trouble. I was told to tie a SHOE LACE from the front strap to the back strap that went across his shoulders. That also did not work.. She told me that they had their designers redesigning that harness so it would not fall down and I was put on a waiting list. (which I am sure I will never get a call).

Their carts are the same prices of Eddie’s Wheels carts, and Walkin Wheels are made in CHINA. So I started looking again on the internet and I found Eddie’s Wheels. Right off I I really loved the look of them, the way they were built and especially how they went around the shoulders.. I called Eddie’s Wheels and even asked if they had any problems with the strap falling down around the legs. She said “oh no, our carts cannot do that”.

I talked to my husband about purchasing yet another cart for our little Barney. Since this was going to be my THIRD cart I had already spent almost $500.00 at that point on carts, so I was reluctant to purchase another one. So my wonderful husband told me to go ahead and get it for him and when the cart came I was soooooooo impressed. I only had to make very minor adjustments to it, I put Barney in it and he just really took off. From taking it out of the box to putting Barney in it was only a very few minutes. Now when he walks he don’t have to hope on his front legs to get the cart moving and he is just so much more comfortable in Eddie’s Wheels. We walked twice as far today and he didn’t give out like he did in Walkin Wheels.

Lightweight, easy to use, dog approved - Barney's finally on a ROLL!

I would very, very highly recommend if you are looking for a wonderful wheelchair for your pet, purchase an Eddie’s Wheels wheelchair. It will save you a whole lot of aggravation for you and your pet if you purchase yours from Eddie’s Wheels. You will LOVE it. I call Barney’s cart now his “Cadillac… ” Thank you so very much Eddie’s Wheels.

Regards

Gerry DePalma

Mark's Dog Blog: Eddie's Wheels Fundraiser

2011-04-11T10:51:00.000-04:00

Mark's Dog Blog: Eddie's Wheels Fundraiser

Walkin' Wheels™ vs. Eddie's Wheels™ Dog Wheelchair Comparison and Review

2010-04-23T16:19:00.010-04:00

Comparing Eddie’s Wheels™ Custom Mobility Cart to Walkin’ Wheels™

This comparison is being made by Ed Grinnell, founder of Eddie’s Wheels™, and is based on his lifetime of experience in mechanical engineering. Eddie’s Wheels carts have earned the praise of mechanical engineers and the respect of physical therapists and vets who understand the bio-mechanics of canine anatomy.

Ed Grinnell built his first dog wheelchair for his own dog, Buddha, in 1989. He spent the next 10 years developing his dogcart design, in collaboration with his veterinarian, with the aim of addressing the most common problems associated with dog wheelchairs – how to support a paralyzed dog in a cart without causing wounds and decubital ulcers in a cart that was strong and stable enough to allow a dog to walk in the woods, wade in a stream and run after a ball. Since it's inception in 1999, Eddie's Wheels has a set a new standard for mobility aids for animals, high quality engineering, durability and a lifetime of your animal warranty. Ed Grinnell and his wife live with four disabled dogs, two in rear wheel carts and two in front wheel carts. All Eddie's Wheels carts are built from scratch in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts by hand. We employ 16 Americans and actually export our American made products all over the world.

This is a response to the wheelchair reviews made by Mark Robinson, founder of HandicappedPets.com and owner of Walkin’ Wheels™. Mr. Robinson purports to have solved all the problems associated with canine wheelchairs, when in fact, the only problems solved are the ones he encountered in marketing custombuilt carts. No need to measure or worry about fit - the cart is kit and the customer gets to build it. All this for the convenience of shipping it out in the same box it came in - from China!

Click here to view a complete video comparison between Eddie's Wheels and Walkin' Wheels.

Support system:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™: Consists of strapping covered in closed cell foam that slips and sags under your dog’s weight. It is joined in the middle by a neoprene and Velcro band. In female dogs, the neoprene can trap urine and cause urine scald. The soft 2-loop design, joined in the middle, supports by pulling up on the groin on either side of the pelvic floor and can cause the legs to chafe from the friction of the legs against the foam. The dog is suspended instead of being supported on a consistent surface. The heavier the dog, the more likely that chafing and decubital ulcers will occur. This is similar to walking in a climbing harness - how far would you walk with two straps tight against your thighs?

EDDIE’S WHEELS™: The welded, padded saddle built to your dog’s dimensions is ergonomically shaped to support the dog under its pelvic floor, on the still point between the legs, and allows full range of motion; it feels like a bicycle seat and will not cause chafing or decubital ulcers because the saddle does not move with the dog’s movements. Once the dog’s legs are placed in the saddle, the cart is holding the dog up in a standing position. The actual contact point, in the center of the saddle, has a removable, washable denim cover.

Front of cart:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™: The front harness, in combination with the dog’s body, attaches to the sides of the Walkin’ Wheel™ with sheet metal clips. These can bend and break, causing the cart to collapse under the dog. The red strap is tight in the armpit and could easily cause chafing there. In the event of a tip-over or entrapment, the dog cannot free itself from the cart without breaking the clips that hold the cart to the dog.

EDDIE’S WHEELS™:    The opening yoke, secured with 2 pull pins, adds structural stability to the front of the cart, keeps the side rails parallel, and is part of the unique balancing system offered only by Eddie’s Wheels. A simple chest strap keeps the dog from walking out of the cart.
In the event of a tip-over or entrapment, the dog can wiggle itself out of this cart easily.

Wheel Alignment:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™:   Wheels are mounted on a galvanized bolt, which runs through holes in hollow tubing, with a nut to tighten. Because of this questionable practice, you are required to over tighten the axle bolt to minimize wheel wobble. This causes side-loading of the bearings and with minimal use, the hollow tube will start to collapse, loosening the wheel, causing you to over tighten the bolt again. That’s why you can buy new struts! The 7 ¾” gray centered wheels used on lighter dogs has a 7 mm hole with a ¼” galvanized bolt for an axle, giving an immediate .020 inches of play and misalignment before there is any wear. The poly-centered wheel will very quickly wear against the galvanized bolt causing excessive play and requiring replacement.
·    Eddie's Wheels carts use the same gray-centered wheels but only on dogs under 30 lbs., and even then we re-machine the wheel, and press in permanently lubricated bushings to prevent such wear problems. Eddie's Wheels guarantees the wheels for the life of the dog.
·    Walkin’ Wheels™ sells spare parts and wheels.

The lack of 3 point stability, due to the absence of axles and a rear crossbar, and the excessive play between the inner and outer sleeves of the struts causes considerable misalignment of the wheels no matter what position the struts are mounted.

EDDIE’S WHEELS™: All wheels have bushings or bearings that prevent wheel wobble and unnecessary wear. Our wheels run on stainless steel axles threaded into machined axle blocks and are locked in place with padded set screws. This minimizes side-loading and excessive wear on the wheel bearings. This keeps our wheels perfectly aligned, preventing skipping, wobbling, and uneven wear on the bearings and tires. This combined with the 3 point stability design of the frame (yoke, welded saddle, rear crossbar) make the cart an extremely stable structure.

House friendliness:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™: The width of the cart at the wheel base is approximately 20% wider than any Eddie’s Wheels, of comparable size, due to the extreme angle of the struts. A 9” wide cart, 13 inches from pelvic floor is 28” wide at the wheelbase. The nuts on the end of the axle bolt on all carts with 12” or larger wheels have been found to cause damage.

EDDIE’S WHEELS™:   All our carts, no matter how large the dog, will fit through standard 28 ½” doorways. The width of the cart is a function of the width of the dog. For instance, the wheelbase on a cart 9” wide and 13” from pelvic floor to ground is 20”.
We also trim the heads of the axles so that they do not stick out far enough to damage your walls, doorways and furniture.

Adjustability:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™:   Minimum width is 8” wide and the frame is always rectangular, as wide at the rear as the widest dimension of your dog. (Most dogs taper to the rear, and most Eddie’s Wheels™ carts taper accordingly) Adjustment for height and width are set in one inch increments at pre-set holes. Fine tuning for height would presumably be done at the saddle, however, the saddle webbing slips through the buckles under the dog’s weight and movement, making adjustments a constant practice.

EDDIE’S WHEELS™:   Width and saddle dimensions are not adjustable and are based on your dog’s measurements. However, a perfectly fitted cart does allow for some weight gain or loss, as dogs always tend to center themselves in this solid frame structure. Since the frame is custom built, the shape of the frame will mirror the shape of your dog for a perfect fit, e.g. tapering to the rear for a bulldog, or wider at the rear for a greyhound.
The height and length are adjustable approximately 30% higher or longer. For instance, if you measured your dog’s floor to groin measurement at 14” and it actually is 16 ½”, you can raise the cart whatever increment necessary to put your dog in a healthy normal weight bearing stance. The position of the yoke is adjustable by several inches as well, by simply loosening set screws and sliding the frame through the blocks to the perfect position.
Multiple dogs? Frame extensions are available.

Weight of cart:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™:   Top heavy frame always pitches forward and back on top of the dog. Actual weight of equivalent cart for 40 lb. pit bull – 13.6 lbs.

EDDIE’S WHEELS™:   We always build the lightest cart we can without compromising strength and durability. The weight of the cart is determined by the dog’s size and weight. The weight can range from 1 ½” lbs to around 18 lbs for an extra large heavy duty cart.
The distribution of the cart’s weight is evenly balanced between the top and the axles, so that it actually feels lighter to the dog. Sample: cart for 40 pit bull weighs 11 lbs.

Measurements needed to order:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™:   One measurement, the most difficult to accurately measure – the height to the pelvic floor.

EDDIE’S WHEELS™:   8 standard, straight line measurements. Width and size of leg hole are not adjustable. After 10 years and literally thousands of carts, we will help you take measurements that reflect the standard proportions for most dogs. Our customer service team is always available by phone 8-5PM daily.

Measurements needed to put your dog in the cart the first time:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™:   You build the cart on your dog once the kit arrives, at which point you measure your dog’s height and length and adjust the harness to fit your dog. It takes at least an hour to assemble, adjust and fit the dog in the cart the first time

EDDIE’S WHEELS™:   None – cart arrives fully assembled. Once the wheels are bolted on, all you need to do is put your dog in the cart in cart. If fine-tuning adjustments need to be made, instructions and tools come with the cart.
.

Time to receive cart:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™:    Ships next day after order.   Pre-fabricated, "off the shelf" item.

EDDIE’S WHEELS™:   2 weeks to custom build, 3-5 days for shipping depending on distance. We have used carts in stock and if we have one to fit your dog, we will be happy to sell you a used cart at a reduced price with faster delivery.

Stirrups:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™:   A bungee cord with closed cell foam with a tie down for dogs who resist having their feet taken off the ground. This can cause a callus or abrasion. The position of the stirrups – 5 inches from the back of leg loops, holds the legs in a hyper-extension.

EDDIE’S WHEELS™: Optional – consist of mounting hardware, straps and cloth covered pads for larger dogs. For smaller dogs, rolling stirrups provide a gliding surface for short legged breeds that still have movement and reflex but no proprioception (awareness of the position of one’s body). Position of the stirrup allows for a relaxed normal stance, slightly bent at the hock, to prevent feet from dragging.

Upgrades and Custom-balancing:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™: Changing the wheel position on this cart never removes weight on the forelimbs. The rear position puts more weight on the front legs, and the neutral (straight up and down) position accentuates wheel wobble and misalignment. There is no provision for upgrades to 4 wheel cart. There are no carts for dogs with front leg disabilities.

An Eddie's Wheels counterbalanced cart with detachable training wheels.

EDDIE’S WHEELS™: We will balance the cart, based on your dog’s abilities and disabilities, to add or remove weight carried on the forelimbs. A standard cart adds 3%-5% to the load on the forelimbs (desirable for young, active dogs for whom cart stability is of highest priority), neutral balance, and counterbalance for pets with weak forelimbs. (A counterbalanced cart can remove up to 40% of the dogs own body weight from the front legs.) All Eddie’s Wheels™ standard carts can be counterbalanced to match degenerative conditions, such advanced DM. Detachable front wheels can be added to all carts. Full quad carts, with tow handles and headrests, for quadriplegic dogs. We also have the only fully engineered two–wheel cart for front leg disabilities that allows dogs to sniff, sit and run. Because our carts are custom-built, we are able to design carts to accommodate scoliosis, fatty lumps, tumors and other abnormalities.

Refunds:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™:   At best, 80% refund within 14 days of delivery, excluding the value of the harnesses – which comes out, by our calculation to be around 64%

EDDIE’S WHEELS™:   No refunds as all carts are custom. If order is canceled before cart is shipped, only a 30% deposit is charged. However, we will work with you to make the cart work for you and your dog. We have an unparalleled acceptance rate by animals because we are committed to building the cart that matches your pet’s abilities and disabilities. If your dog absolutely refuses to use the cart and we cannot get it to work, we will list and aid your in re-selling your cart. Our carts hold their value and some have in use by multiple dogs for many years.

Customer Service:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™:   Phone operators, emails, and the Handicapped Pets forum answer your questions.

The Eddie's Wheels cart showroom

EDDIE’S WHEELS™: Our phones are answered 8-5 Monday through Friday and Saturday mornings 9-12. Your questions will be answered by knowledgeable people, including an animal massage therapist, who have hands-on experience in caring for dogs in wheelchairs, since Eddie’s Wheels has 4 resident disabled dogs – Sweet Pea, Daisy, Willa and Webster – who come to work every day in the office, and are cared for by the service team. The customer service team personally meets, measures and fits dozens of dogs in person every month. We also offer a completely free measuring, evaluation and fitting service at our location.
Email, accompanied by photos and/or video allow us to diagnose problems and provide solutions.

Warranty:

WALKIN’ WHEELS™: It is our intention that every Walkin’ Wheels user be happy with their wheelchair. If you experience problems, please call us. Often we can help with a simple adjustment. If you feel the cart is not for you, please see your reseller.
Note that once used the rear harness cannot be returned for reasons or hygiene. This rear harness is useful without the cart, as a lifting harness to help your dog walk. Our optional handles are useful for this.

EDDIE’S WHEELS™: We warranty our carts against any manufacturing defects and breakage that could not occur due to normal wear and tear by the pet, for the life of the pet. We do not warranty damage due to disregard of manufacturer's instructions, damage due to salt water, and exposure to the elements when the pet is not using the cart.

Please feel free to click here and visit YouTube to see pets using carts.