How to Make a Dog Wheelchair From a Human Wheelchair

Handicapped dogs often use wheelchairs to get daily exercise. Wheelchairs manufactured for dogs tend to be expensive, especially for large dogs, and selections are limited. Making your own dog wheelchair from a human wheelchair can be a less expensive way to provide your dog with the adaptive equipment it needs. Human wheelchairs can often be found at thrift stores for a modest price.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 eye bolts, 1/4-inch-wide
  • 4 bolts, 1/4-inch-wide
  • 4 nuts, 1/4-inch-wide
  • 2 carabiners
  • 2 pins, 1/4-inch-wide
  • 2 bars of heavy-walled conduit with length equal to width of wheelchair
  • Epoxy
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the foot rests and back of the wheelchair. The foot rests can be discarded, but save the back canvas to use as a spare seat should the original become too warn after several months or years of use.

    • 2

      Cut and remove the cross brace from the wheelchair. Replace the cross brace with one bar of heavy-walled conduit. Heavy-walled conduit is a thick, sturdy metal tubing that can be purchased at hardware stores.

    • 3

      Bolt the heavy-walled conduit onto the chair. Screw nuts onto the ends of the bolts to ensure that the conduit is held firmly in place. If the conduit is not held firmly in place, use epoxy reinforce the bolts.

    • 4

      Bolt a heavy-walled conduit bat at the top of the handles to provide stability to the handles. Screw nuts onto the ends of the bolts to ensure that the conduit is held firmly in place. Supplement the bolts with epoxy if the conduit is not held firmly in place.

    • 5

      Unscrew one side of the wheelchair where the seat is attached to the frame. Drill out the holes. Replace two of the screws with eye bolts.

    • 6

      Drill holes on the side bars that adjust the height of the wheelchair. Drill holes at 1- to 2-inch intervals to allow plenty of adjustment to fit the height of your dog.

    • 7

      Attach the carabiners to the eye bolts. A carabiner is an oblong metal ring with a spring clip. Carabiners can commonly be purchased at hardware stores and outdoor adventure supply stores because they are frequently used by mountain climbers to secure ropes.

    • 8

      Adjust the seat of the wheelchair to match the height of your dog. Insert the pins to make for easy adjustment.

    • 9

      Remove the the seat from the wheelchair to allow your dog to be positioned in the wheelchair. Then replace the seat underneath your dog. When the dog is in position, fasten the carabiners to the eye bolts.