What would you do???

i saw this video in the paper yesterday.

i was wondering would you help your dog with the aid of wheels ,should the worst occur and you pet was unable to use it's legs.
I myself am not sure what i would do

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...alk-again.html

The short answer is no, I would not do that to my dog. I don't believe my dog would be happy or have good quality of life in a wheelcart and keeping her alive in those circumstances would be selfish on my part, and in my best interest, not hers. As her guardian I have to do what is best for her, not whats best for me.

Now I'd say yes, I give it a try.

Having seen a Border Colllie over sutton part with wheels run like mad after a ball with no back legs, it was awesome to see his tail wagging like mad, nosing the ball back to his owner and waiting for the ball to be thrown again, plus his bodily functions all in working order.

Reah has a stabiliser just like the bike ones you see on childrens bikes, her pelvis is connected to the top by bolts and both hips are bolted either side the one back leg hops and the other is freeier.
I realise hers is internal without wheels but she didn't loose her legs.

Funnily enough a similar thing was discussed with me by the specialist to what that dog has if she had to loose her front legs....luckily she didn't, but I was asked to consider it and give it a lot of thought before (if she did loose her front legs) PTS being an option

For me personally no. But I have owned 2 large breed dogs and I am not sure how such a big dog as Ollie would manage, I feel he would be unhappy and uncomfortable.

But if people wish to try it then I don't mind that as long as they know their dog well enough to know if it isn't the right thing for their dog to know that and do the right thing by them.

i'm with steph here. there is a staffy i see, who lost the use of his back legs and has been 'on wheels' for a few years now. he struts around the fields and has an amazing quality of life due to his wheels.

i just wish i'd been able to do the same for my dear lurcher when his back legs went. his age and size were against it sadly.

MY answer would be No without even giving it a second thought.

I think because we can do somethings in life, does not always mean we should, and on such as this, (for me) its one of those situations.

My question would be, "who are we doing it for" ? = ourselves!!

Im very suprised at people saying no, il always champion disabled dogs and no quite a few on wheels big and small. I wouldnt put a disabled child down, the same as i wouldnt put a disabled dog down unless it was suffering.
My connie is blind and the amount of people who have said they would have thought she would have been put down, yet she lives a full and happy life.

There is a big difference between a blind dog and a dog that cant walk, get up, move around. Think of the logistics of this. Yes, it works great out on a walk, but what about in the house. The dog cant' lay down and rest while strapped to that contraption. So either they stand and walk around the house all day, or they lay down comfortably and drag/craw around the house. I just can't see my dog being happy if she isn't mobile.

Only you can truly know your dog, but knowing a few dogs without the use of limbs or amputated i can tell you the cope very well and are very happy. Carts dont tend to be used in the house as they are not practical so dogs crawl etc and owners make adjustments to the home, just as you would do for a disabled child.

Thats a good question hun, I have to say, I would agree that there are some people out there like that,that would put a dog through anything for thier own selfish reasons,
But there are also people who have had proper specialist advice (OK Im talking about me ) and Reah went through 3 operations the back legs being 9 hours long, I have to say I didn't do that for me, I did it for her.

The BC I know had both back legs off 4 years back he's 5 years old, so a very young age to loose his legs, I see his owners frequently and if I didn't see with my own eyes how happy that dog is I'd never of thought it.

But I do agree that there are people who just don't know when to say ''enough is enough'' but I think you have to sit and take into consideration alot of things before deciding, age, health, etc., I know that as Reah gets older ie 16 this year, there would be more to think about if she lost her front legs now, like heart strain, age etc., and most likely Id say No....as awful as that seems, but a younger dog I think I'd have to consider.

If all that makes sence.