• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
dogwheelchairlife_logo

Dog Wheelchair Life

Teaching people to care for a paralyzed dog

  • Home
  • Resource Page
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Resource Page
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • IVDD
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Other Spine Problems
  • Daily Care
  • Resources
  • Amazon Favorites
  • IVDD
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Other Spine Problems
  • Daily Care
  • Resources
  • Amazon Favorites

Daily Care

Support group chart

The Power of Support Groups for Pet Owners

January 25, 2023 by Sharon Seltzer

What causes dog paralysis? How do I take care of my dog when she can’t walk? Where do I find a dog wheelchair? What treatments are available? These are some of the questions that you can get answers to when you join a support group for pet owners of disabled dogs. Support groups are a …

Read moreThe Power of Support Groups for Pet Owners
Dog in pink washable dog diaper

How to Get Rid of Smelly Washable Dog Diaper Odors

January 16, 2023 by Sharon Seltzer

If you struggle with smelly washable dog diapers that have a foul odor, even after you’ve laundered them, I have game changing tips to fix the problem. The answers are based in science and the cure requires a few adjustments to the way you do the wash. Freshly laundered diapers that smell bad are a …

Read moreHow to Get Rid of Smelly Washable Dog Diaper Odors
Jasper the Miniature Schnauzer and his pet mom Jacqui

The Changing Station: Device to Help Paralyzed Dogs Stand

December 14, 2022 by Sharon Seltzer

When Jacqui Rosig posted a video about the “changing station” she designed for Jasper her disabled dog, I wanted to know more. It fascinated me how a pet mom developed a device to help paralyzed dogs stand. The unique changing station keeps Jasper standing upright on his own so Jacqui has both hands free for …

Read moreThe Changing Station: Device to Help Paralyzed Dogs Stand
German shepherd dog

How to Spot Signs That Your Dog is in Pain

December 2, 2022 by Sharon Seltzer

If you think you can spot the signs that your dog is in pain, you should know that I missed them, when one of my dogs was sick. Bear was my big, lovable, smart as a whip, 106lb. German shepherd. One evening after dinner, he sat down next to the sofa where I was sitting …

Read moreHow to Spot Signs That Your Dog is in Pain
Lily a paralyzed Chihuahua

Sudden Paralysis in Dogs: How A Pet Mom Navigated Life

September 21, 2022 by Sharon Seltzer

One of the strange things about writing a blog, is that I never know how my advice impacts a reader. That’s why I was grateful when a pet owner wrote to share her story, nearly six years after her dog Lily’s sudden paralysis.  Her goal was to let me know how she used my information …

Read moreSudden Paralysis in Dogs: How A Pet Mom Navigated Life
Dog lying on a blanket

Phantom Pain in Dogs: How to Manage Symptoms

September 9, 2022 by Sharon Seltzer

The first time I heard about phantom pain in dogs was in an online support group for pet owners. My dog Sophie was suspected of having Degenerative Myelopathy, and I had joined the group to learn how to manage her symptoms. During one of our meetings, a pet mom described how she came home and …

Read morePhantom Pain in Dogs: How to Manage Symptoms
Pet owners bandaging a small dog's arm

Healing A Dog Wound with Honey

August 25, 2022 by Sharon Seltzer

When a member of my Dog Wheelchair LIFE Facebook Group posted information about healing a dog wound with honey, interest in the topic went wild. Scrapes and cuts are a common problem for dogs with mobility problems and so are open wounds.   Dogs who have trouble walking, drag their legs on the floor and …

Read moreHealing A Dog Wound with Honey
Dr. Jenny Moe with a canine patient

From PT to Myofascial Release Specialist to Owner of Doggon’ Wheels

April 13, 2022 by Sharon Seltzer

To say that Dr. Jenny Moe has had an interesting career, is an understatement. She went from a 7-year career as a pediatric physical therapist (PT), to a myofascial release specialist to owner of Doggon’ Wheels, one of the most highly regarded dog wheelchair companies. I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Moe about her …

Read moreFrom PT to Myofascial Release Specialist to Owner of Doggon’ Wheels
Dog receiving laser therapy

At-Home Light Therapy for Dogs

March 21, 2022 by Sharon Seltzer

Have you heard about at-home light therapy for dogs? It’s a treatment that uses LED (light-emitting diodes) and LLLT (low level light therapy) to relieve pain and inflammation naturally, while helping a dog heal. The treatment is painless, non-invasive and it’s done in your own home. I first learned about light therapy at a pet …

Read moreAt-Home Light Therapy for Dogs
Young and old dog standing together

When Dogs Grieve the Loss of a Pet: Bailey’s Story

January 19, 2022 by Sharon Seltzer

I’ve come to believe that just like humans, dogs grieve the loss of a pet. A few years ago, I would’ve described the reaction my dogs had to the passing of a housemate as, confusion. They would search for the deceased dog and be clingy the first couple of days, but I wouldn’t say they …

Read moreWhen Dogs Grieve the Loss of a Pet: Bailey’s Story
Dog born with Cerebellar Hypoplasia

Falling In Love With A Dog You Saw Online

December 29, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

Have you ever started to fall in love with a dog you saw online, only to find out the pup lives hundreds of miles away, in another country?  That’s what happened to Christina Powell when she saw the photo of Timber, a female German shepherd mix who was born with a birth defect called Cerebellar …

Read moreFalling In Love With A Dog You Saw Online
Shih Tzu dog in a pet stroller

Pet Strollers vs. Dog Wheelchairs: How to Decide Which Is Best

November 18, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

This is an important story. It’s about pet strollers vs. dog wheelchairs and which is the best choice for a paralyzed animal. Most of us have learned that when a dog has a mobility problem, the answer is to get them into a cart as soon as possible. We’ve been taught that’s how life should …

Read morePet Strollers vs. Dog Wheelchairs: How to Decide Which Is Best
Barkertime logo

How Escape-Proof Overalls Keep A Dog Diaper in Place

November 3, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

How do I keep a dog diaper in place? This is one of two questions I get asked most often by pet owners with an incontinent animal. The second question is, “How do I prevent poop from leaking out of a diaper?” If these are concerns that have added hours of frustration to your life, …

Read moreHow Escape-Proof Overalls Keep A Dog Diaper in Place
Dog euthanasia

Dog Euthanasia: Making the Decision to Let Your Pet Go

September 15, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

Dog euthanasia is an uncomfortable subject for pet owners. As our dog’s parent and guardian, it reminds us that we are tasked with making the decision to let them go when old age or an illness prevents them from having a quality life. Most pets don’t pass away gently while they’re asleep. It’s up to …

Read moreDog Euthanasia: Making the Decision to Let Your Pet Go
Puppy chewing on dog enrichment toy

Dog Enrichment Toys: How They Improve Life for Pets

July 14, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

This will sound strange, but a quote popped into my head when a pet owner asked me about dog enrichment toys. The quote by Teddy Roosevelt says, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” In layman terms, it means we should work with the circumstances given to us, rather than wish …

Read moreDog Enrichment Toys: How They Improve Life for Pets
Products that make a disabled dog's life better

What Products Make A Disabled Dog’s Life Better?

June 25, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

Recently members of the Dog Wheelchair LIFE Group on Facebook were asked this question, “What products make a disabled dog’s life better?” They shared a long list of items they use every day to keep their pet safe and healthy and to simplify life. Most pet owners understand the role a big-ticket item, like a …

Read moreWhat Products Make A Disabled Dog’s Life Better?
Finding the right veterinary care for Sandy.

Finding the Right Veterinary Care For A Dog Named Sandy

June 17, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

When Betty Grosvenor wrote to me about her roller coaster experience finding the right veterinary care for her dog Sandy, I knew it was a story I wanted to share. Sandy went from being a healthy 13-year-Shiba Inu one week, to a dog who couldn’t stand on her own, a few weeks later. Their story …

Read moreFinding the Right Veterinary Care For A Dog Named Sandy
German shepherd dog and Dachshund

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Dogs with Spine Disease

June 3, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

If you like to think “outside the box” when it comes to solving a problem, you’ve come to the right place. Traditional Chinese medicine for dogs looks at health and disease in a vastly different way than conventional veterinary medicine. Spine problems like Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) and Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) are diagnosed by how …

Read moreTraditional Chinese Medicine for Dogs with Spine Disease
Toe'sUP Walkaboot

Toe’sUP Walkaboot: For Dogs Who Knuckle Their Paws

May 24, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

Toe’sUP Walkaboot is the latest mobility device from one of my favorite companies, Walkabout Harnesses. It assists dogs who knuckle their paws by placing the foot in a natural position so pets can move without injuring themselves. When dogs have a problem with knuckling, they curl their toes under and walk on the top part …

Read moreToe’sUP Walkaboot: For Dogs Who Knuckle Their Paws
physical therapy improves spinal walking

Spinal Walking in Dogs with Paralysis: What You Need to Know

May 15, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

Spinal walking in dogs with paralysis is a crazy phenomenon that sounds more like the plot of a science-fiction movie than real science. If you’re not familiar with the term, spinal walking is the ability for a dog to walk when there is a permanent spinal cord injury. These pets use their reflexes to move, …

Read moreSpinal Walking in Dogs with Paralysis: What You Need to Know
Puppy's bottom

Techniques to Manage Bowel Incontinent Dogs

May 2, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

Taking care of a handicapped dog is wildly rewarding and incredibly messy. It requires pet parents to handle every kind of body fluid imaginable. One of the least glamorous, but essential duties, is managing bowel incontinence in dogs. Bowel or fecal incontinence happens when a dog loses part or all of the control over emptying …

Read moreTechniques to Manage Bowel Incontinent Dogs
Incontinent dog

Learning How to Express Your Dog’s Bladder

April 23, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

Urinary incontinence in dogs is a scary diagnosis. It means your pet has lost control over their bladder and, as their guardian, you have to manage the condition with diapers or learning how to express your dog’s bladder. Most pet parents have no problem diapering a dog, but they can’t imagine manually emptying the bladder. …

Read moreLearning How to Express Your Dog’s Bladder
Dog in wheelchair

Mobility Products for Disabled Dogs You Probably Don’t Know

April 9, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

As the voice behind Dog Wheelchair LIFE, I’m lucky to learn about the latest groundbreaking mobility products for disabled dogs almost as soon as they’re launched. And believe me when I say, there are wonderful individuals who are creating unique devices to improve the lives of pets with limb weakness, amputation and paralysis. The products …

Read moreMobility Products for Disabled Dogs You Probably Don’t Know
Dog wearing compression sleeve

Dog Compression Sleeve Protects Cuts, Scrapes and Wounds

March 16, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer

One of the best reasons for writing about disabled dogs is when I get to share a new idea that will help you in the daily care of your pup. That’s what happened when I heard about the pretty pink legging pictured above. It’s called a dog compression sleeve and it’s making life safer for …

Read moreDog Compression Sleeve Protects Cuts, Scrapes and Wounds
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Next

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

DogWheelchairLife.com is a blog that teaches pet families how to care for their paralyzed dog. As the owner, I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Amazon Influencer Program. These are affiliate programs designed for sites to earn advertising fees (commissions) by linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate and Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, visit the Affiliate Disclosure page

We Are A Resource for Pet Owners

Dog Wheelchair LIFE teaches pet families how to care for their paralyzed dog. This is not a medical site and I am not a veterinarian. I am a blogger and pet mom who was the caretaker for Sophie, a paraplegic dog. I’m also a co-founder of the Heaven Can Wait Animal Society in Las Vegas, NV and an animal writer who has contributed to websites and magazines.

The information shared on this site is based on my personal experience and the research I do for each story. Please do not use the content from this blog in place of professional veterinary care.

Articles from this site may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from me, Sharon Seltzer.

Join Our List

  • Legal/Privacy
  • About
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023 · Dog Wheelchair Life · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Solution

Close Popup

Join our newsletter and get my free e-book

Essential Guide of Products For Handicapped Dogs!