As with most dogs, Pugs can be susceptible to a variety of health issues. Something that can be fairly common in older pugs is a gradual loss of mobility in their back legs. This is often caused by spinal conditions, where a contraction can affect the ability for the proper signals to get through.
Spinal surgery can sometimes help to improve this, although a good outcome is never guaranteed. The reality often tends to be that once a pug reaches a certain age, the stress and strain of putting them through such an invasive and risky operation is considered to be more than your pug might be able to cope with.
There’s no doubt that losing the ability to walk can be quite stressful and depressing for a pug, especially one that has been very active up to this point. Most love to be roaming about outdoors, exploring and sniffing everything is sight, so no longer being able to do this can have a big effect on them.
Being confronted with this new reality can be quite stressful for owners too. We all ultimately want the best for our pugs and seeing them become confused and immobile can be very hard to deal with. Thankfully, there is a solution that can work very well with most pugs – their very own wheels!
Pugs are generally very adaptable creatures, and although they might find it a little strange at first, most will quickly embrace the new-found freedom that being placed into wheels will give them. In no time at all they are usually whizzing around all over the place and enjoying a relatively normal life.
When you buy a set of wheels for your pug, they will usually consist of an adjustable frame so that you can select the right height and width, and a harness that your pug wears, which clips onto the frame to provide stability and support. These wheels can be relatively expensive, but they will enrich, and in most cases prolong, your pug’s life.
Places where you can find a variety of styles and colour combinations include Zoomadog and Wheels4dogs. There is also a company called Training Lines where you can often find second-hand wheels, which will be a cheaper option. Likewise, Ebay usually has a variety of options, although it’s important to be careful that you are buying the right size for your pug. For PDWRA supporters who are members of the Happy Pugs in Happy Homes Facebook group, you will often find people offering wheels that they no longer need, free to a good home.
For those dealing with financial hardship, we’re happy to say that there is a brilliant solution. There is a wonderful charity called Broken Biscuits, who can provide loaned wheels for those who can’t afford the expense of buying them. They say that their mission is to keep families together by providing the practical support, expert guidance and the compassionate community that disabled dogs and their owners need—from the point of crisis through rehabilitation and for every adventure that follows.
To find out more about how the Broken Biscuits works and the support that they can provide, just click here to visit their website.
If you’d like to find out more about spinal conditions in pugs, you can click here to read former PDWRA Vet Advisor Malcolm McKee’s insightful and informative article that’s on our website.
