PROJECT OVERVIEW

My dog, Candy, is a little over 17 years old. She began to show neurological issues ~two years ago.

Luckily, she's a tank. When she couldn't run anymore, she'd walk. When she couldn't walk, she'd wobble. When she couldn't wobble, she'd crawl. I knew our options were limited, since some days her front legs wouldn't work and other days they would alternate- so I began looking for solutions following the design thinking method. The key to this project was observation and the ability to iterate rapidly.

PROBLEM

Dog wheelchairs rely on the dog using their front legs or their hind legs. Candy could no longer consistently support herself with either. Some days she was able to stand up using her front legs, other days she could only use her back legs
She's 10 pounds, so any solution would have to be lightweight
She's very active and independent. She needed something that could be used both inside and outdoors
As she aged her anatomy began to change. She needed something that would conform to her body

RESEARCH

UNDERSTANDING CANDY'S ANATOMY

The first thing I wanted to do was learn more about my dogs body to ensure I wasn't inflicting damage to her spine or legs. Most importantly, I needed to know that whatever I set out to make wouldn't cause pain or discomfort.

What Helps?

Candy was able to walk much better on a padded surface or outside instead of our tile floors
She was able to walk if she was supported by a harness, but not for long periods of time
Her head tilted to the left, so she needed to be reoriented to the right

COMPETITVE ANALYSIS

I did extensive research on what mobility tools were currently available

Carts

Pros

Provides support similar to a harness and independence.
Could be used indoors and outdoors

Cons

Does not provide support in the event that the her back legs aren't stable that day
Possibility of tilting over if back legs give out
Difficult to navigate with such large wheels

Braces

Pros

Focuses on stabilizing the weakest limbs
Allows dog to use the stronger legs, which means it'll reduce unnecessary muscle atrophy
Easy to put on

Cons

Mostly used as a replacement to surgery
Might not be stable enough when Candy can't hold her body weight up

Harnesses

Pros

Takes stress off of her legs

Cons

Does not allow her to be independent
Might decrease use of her weight bearing legs, leading to muscle atrophy
If she is being supported by a person, her body will have to conform to the way she's being held
Can cause damage if not held correctly

OBSERVATION, OBSERVATION, OBSERVATION

Observation was the most important part of this project. I spent hours watching Candy walk around until I was able to predict when a trip, or a stumble was going to happen. I asked friends and family to walk her while I filmed and watched her legs.

Controlled Environment

Once she began to fall over, I bought a play pen and gym mats, hoping that would give her a surface with enough traction to lean on. I knew this couldn't be her long term solution, but it did help me gather more information on what she needed

She wasn't the biggest fan

Doggy Empathy Map

I also created an empathy map that highlighted her needs and restrictions. I wanted my solution to alleviate any discomfort she had but also allow her to express herself and complete her doggy goals

BRAINSTORMING

WORD ASSOCIATION

I had a lot of images and information in my head. I decided to do a word a short brainstorming session where I wrote Candy's name on my small whiteboard and gave myself 5 minutes to write down whatever came to mind

Idea 1- Cable Cars

I knew Candy was able to walk if she was held up by her harness. I thought I might be able to create a track in my house and attach her harness to it, similar to a cable car.

Pros

A set path would prevent her from walking into walls
Utilizes her harness, which she's already comfortable with
Cost effective- wall divider tracks are pretty cheap and easy to install

Cons

Can't be used outdoors
I would have to install tracks all over the house
Can't really seamlessly walk into different rooms

Idea 2- Swimming

My idea was to add long waddle pools all throughout the house, so she could walk around the perimeter of the house while inside the pool (while wearing her life vest, of course)

Pros

Being in water would be great physical therapy, and could build muscle
Candy likes being in water

Cons

Can't be used outdoors
Would be very expensive
A lot of upkeep
Slightly dangerous

Okay, I'll admit: maybe this idea was a little out there

Idea 3- Bumper Cars

A cart that supports all of her weight, while allowing whichever set of paws do the moving

Pros

If her full weight is supported, she could use it while her front legs aren't working or vice versa
Ability to freely roam the house
Can be used indoors and outdoors
Cost effective

Cons

Anything on wheels could increase the chances of bumping into things
Building materials could be heavy

Prototype

MATERIALS

I decided to build my first cart out of PVC pipe because it was lightweight, easy to cut, and I knew I could attach wheels to it. I created the sling that would carry her out of fabric from a Kuranda bed, since I knew it was a dog friendly material. The sling was attached to the frame by heavy duty velcro, so it could be adjusted

Issues

Candy was very excited to use her walker, but the back wheels spun in an unnatural way which caused her to bump into things. This walker was also a bit heavy, and didn't allow her to move past sidewalk bumps.

ITERATION

I created a new cart out of thinner PVC pipe, and attached a halo out of bouncy aluminum wire, covered in baby proof foam

Issues

This cart was too light weight, and sometimes came apart if Candy walked fast enough. The walker was also too wide, which didn't let her walk in a natural way. Lastly, the back wheels swung around a lot, so any step she took in one direction was over exaggerated

ITERATION 2

I created a third cart, made out of 1 inch PVC pipe. The body was thinner, and I welded the back castor wheels so they couldn't move freely, only back and forth. Lastly, I added an extended pole in the front of the walker, to help with her habit of leaning towards the left

At the moment, Candy uses all three carts. The first cart built is used for outdoors, since it's the sturdiest. The second iteration is used when she's tired, since she's more prone to bump into corners and it's easier to walk in. Her red cart is used daily, when she has the most energy

IMPACT

Zelda

After seeing Candy on social media, a dog mom reached out to me about Zelda, a two year old dog with neurological and spine issues. Zelda had a regular dog wheelchair but it didn't help her. After a lot of iterations and doggy kisses, Zelda received a cart that was tailored to her small body.

If you have a handicapped pet and need a wheelchair, or the directions and links to the materials I used, feel free to reach out!