Walker with Sling and Stirrups

This build is a custom walker for a senior pug with no mobility in the hind legs. It has been a couple of years since he has been walking on his own, resulting in muscle atrophy of the fore limbs. In this case, I designed a quad-assisted walker with a long-line sling to fully support the body. This should make it easier for him to get around, and hopefully the client will be able to take him out on walks in due time. During fittings, he was already keen on trying to walk!

The frame is built in a cage-style walker to attach the straps of the sling in a way that allow the nylon straps to distribute weight evenly. Made out of PVC pipe, it is sturdy enough for a small dog while remaining low-cost. The neoprene sling was custom made to his measurements and needs. Neoprene is a great material to use as it is a durable, light-weight material that is comfortable on the skin. As he has no mobility in the hind legs, stirrups were created to keep them off the ground when using the wheelchair. The attachments were all created to be easily adjustable and removable. This way, the device as a whole will be easy to clean and maintain over time.

Modifications

Modifications can easily be made depending on the needs of the patient. Here, a variation of the same frame can be seen with the front wheels moved further out forwards as well as out to the sides. This is ideal for patients with a wider stance in the front, to ensure that their forelimbs do not collide with the wheels when in use.