There are three main dog wheelchair brands we see compared all the time - Walkin’ Wheels vs K9 Carts vs Eddie’s Wheels. You’ve probably already visited all three websites, wondering which one to order if your dog is losing mobility from IVDD, degenerative myelopathy, hip dysplasia, or just age. 

Here are the fast facts on Eddie’s Wheels vs Walkin’ Wheels vs K9 Carts:

• Walkin’ Wheels is adjustable and ships ready-made - just take one measurement, and the chair is at your door in days. 
• K9 Carts hand builds each wheelchair in Florida custom to your dog's dimensions with a production turnaround time closer to a week. 
• Eddie’s Wheels are hand-built in Massachusetts to exact measurements, but you're looking at 2-3 weeks and roughly double the price. 

There are just two main things you need to consider to pick the right wheelchair for your furry friend - how fast you want it and how much you’re willing to pay. But, there are quite a few other nuances like build quality, adjustability, brand support, etc. We’ll cover all this in-depth for you below.

Walkin' Wheels vs K9 Carts vs Eddie's Wheels (Quick Comparison)

Pros and Cons of Walkin' Wheels

Walkin' Wheels was born in 2008 out of our community at HandicappedPets.com, where pet parents had been sharing experiences since 2001. The design came directly from conversations with owners of dogs with IVDD, degenerative myelopathy, and hip dysplasia.

Fast forward to today, Walkin’ Pets is the #1 choice for a rear support dog wheelchair, quad wheelchair for dogs, or dog wheelchair for front legs (with the attachment).

Pros

• Fully adjustable in height, length, and width - no tools needed
• One measurement to order (rear leg height). SureFit Calculator confirms fit before checkout
• Ships with 1 business day, arrives in 1-6 business days
• Guaranteed to fit with 30-day returns
• Rear chair converts to quad with a front-wheel attachment (no second chair needed)
• Puncture-proof foam wheels - all-terrain, no flats
• Rear support from $219 (Mini) to $529 (Large). Quad from $539 to $834
• Full United States based customer service team for pre and post-purchase support

Cons

• 5-year frame warranty (Eddie's Wheels offers lifetime)
• Not a precision-tailored custom build (adjustable covers most dogs, not all)
• No true front-leg wheelchair - the front attachment requires the rear cart as a base

Pros and Cons of K9 Carts

K9 Carts has been making wheelchairs for pets since 1961. The brand was founded by a veterinary orthopedic surgeon who designed carts based on the conditions he treated firsthand.

Pros

• Custom-built to your dog's specific dimensions
• Still adjustable after delivery - unlike Eddie's Wheels, you can tweak the fit yourself
• 2-4 day build turnaround on rear wheelchairs, far faster than other custom makers
• Aircraft-grade aluminum frame - lightest wheelchair on the market 
• Made in the USA
• True standalone front-leg wheelchair available - no rear cart required
• Lifetime frame warranty plus 1-year full cart coverage

Cons

• 4 measurements needed to order (Walkin' Wheels only needs one)
• Rear models start at $375, higher than Walkin' Wheels' $219 entry point
• Custom build adds 2-4 days before the chair ships - Walkin' Wheels processes same-day
• 15-day return window with 70% refund, compared to Walkin' Wheels' 30-day full-credit returns

Pros and Cons of Eddie's Wheels

Eddie's Wheels was founded by Eddie and Leslie Grinnell out of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Eddie is a mechanical engineer who built the first chair for his own disabled dog, and the company has been hand-making custom carts in their own workshop for over 25 years.

Pros

• Custom-built to your dog's exact measurements
• Lifetime frame warranty
• Hand-welded in the USA by a team with decades of experience
• Welded, padded saddles to prevent chafing
• Variable Axle carts for degenerative conditions - wheel positioning adjusts as balance changes
• In-person consultations at their Massachusetts workshop ($50)

Cons

• All sales final - no refunds/buy-backs
• 50% non-refundable deposit upfront
• 2+ week build time before the cart ships, plus FedEx Ground after that
• Rear carts start at $500, quads at $1,200
• No rear-to-quad conversion - separate chair needed if the condition progresses

Eddie's Wheels vs Walkin' Wheels vs K9 Carts: Which Dog Wheelchair is Right For Your Pet?

You might already be leaning towards one brand based on the pros and cons of Eddie’s Wheels vs Walkin’ Wheels vs K9 Carts. It’s pretty simple, after all - Walkin’ Wheels is the ideal pick if you want something affordable, well-made, and ready to ship now. This is the case for most pets.

In some cases, though, your dog needs something more tailored. That’s when it becomes a matter of choosing between Eddie’s Wheels vs K9 Carts. Even then, we think it’s an easy choice. K9 Carts are a better middle ground in that they’re still adjustable, more affordable than Eddie’s Wheels, and faster to ship.

Here’s a closer look at K9 Carts vs Walkin’ Wheels vs Eddie’s Wheels side-by-side. 

How Quickly Do You Want a Wheelchair?

Every day without support counts when your dog is struggling to stand. 

• Walkin' Wheels ships same-day. Orders go out within 24-48 hours and arrive in 1-5 business days. 
• K9 Carts builds each unit custom, but faster than you’d think. Expect 2-4 days of build time, then standard shipping after that. 
• Eddie's Wheels carts are hand-built in Massachusetts, with a 2-3 week lead time before the chair even ships. 

The gap between Walkin’ Wheels and Eddie’s Wheels, or even K9 Carts vs Eddie’s Wheels, matters for a dog with a condition like degenerative myelopathy that's getting worse by the week.

Custom Fit vs Adjustable

Walkin' Wheels is fully adjustable in height, length, and width right out of the box. Tweak the wheelchair at home without tools if your dog's condition shifts or the settings aren't perfect on day one. 

On the other hand, K9 Carts gives you a custom frame built to your dog's exact dimensions. But it's also adjustable after delivery. You get the precision of custom with the flexibility to fine-tune later. It’s the best of both worlds between Walkin’ Wheels and Eddie's Wheels.

Speaking of which, Eddie's Wheels is fully custom - not adjustable at all. The fit is built to your measurements. That means the cart goes back to Massachusetts for corrections if something is off. Your dog has to suffer with mobility challenges during the back and forth, and you may incur expenses from shipments and adjustments. 

What You Need to Measure

Walkin' Wheels needs one number: rear leg height from hip to toe pad. The SureFit Calculator confirms fit before checkout. You can choose between a small dog wheelchair and medium dog wheelchair for dogs under 50 lbs, or a large dog wheelchair and XL dog wheelchair for bigger breeds. 

K9 Carts needs 4 measurements to start the custom build. More involved on your end, but the result is a frame matched to your dog's body. Eddie's Wheels requires a full set of measurements, pictures, and calls. There could be extra costs if your numbers are off.

Cost Comparison

Walkin' Wheels rear wheelchairs range from $219 for the Mini to $529 for the Large. Quad support runs $539-$834. K9 Carts rear models start at $375, front-leg chairs at $675, and quads from $675 and up. 

In contrast, Eddie's Wheels rear carts start around $500, quads at $1,200 - that’s double what you’d pay for Walkin' Wheels. Eddie's also requires a 50% non-refundable deposit upfront. That deposit is a loss if your dog's needs change before the cart ships.

Rear, Front, and Quad Wheelchair Designs

Most mobility conditions start in the hind legs - IVDD, degenerative myelopathy, hip dysplasia, etc. All three brands in our Walkin’ Wheels vs K9 Carts vs Eddie’s Wheels comparison make rear-support wheelchairs. 

What about when the condition progresses to all four legs? Walkin' Wheels converts from rear to quad with a front-wheel attachment. You don't need to buy a second chair. K9 Carts and Eddie's Wheels both require a separate quad purchase if the condition advances.

K9 Carts and Eddie's Wheels both build dedicated, standalone front wheelchairs. Walkin' Wheels does not. You can use the quad wheelchair for front-legged mobility challenges, or add the front attachment to an existing rear cart.

But what if your dog only needs front-leg support? K9 Carts delivers that with a 2-4 day turnaround, while Eddie's Wheels can build you one if you’re willing to wait 2-3 weeks.

Brand Support and Warranties

Walkin' Wheels dog wheelchairs are backed by a 5-year frame warranty, 30-day returns with full credit, and a guaranteed-fit promise backed by the SureFit Calculator. Meanwhile, K9 Carts backs the frame for life and covers the full cart for one year, with a 15-day return window at 70% refund. 

The biggest difference here is seen in Eddie's Wheels. Yes, your purchase is protected by a lifetime frame warranty - but all sales are final. No refunds or buy-backs. The 50% deposit is non-refundable, and you're shipping the cart back if the fit needs correcting.

What About Amazon Dog Wheelchairs?

You’ve probably pondered Amazon wheelchairs alongside K9 Carts vs Walkin' Wheels vs Eddie's Wheels. We get it - the prices look appealing. But generic Amazon brands don't offer quad configurations, front-leg support, rear-to-quad conversion, or a guaranteed fit. 

There's no fitting support and no breed-specific sizing, contributing to imbalances and other issues. You may think that you are helping your pet (and in the short-term that may be true), but an improper fitting cart can cause more harm for your pet in the long run. The savings disappear when the chair doesn't fit and you end up ordering from one of the three brands above anyway. You’re better off starting in the right place, a legit brand with its own website. 

When you order from Walkin’ Pets, you can also take comfort in knowing that you are dealing with a US-based company that has been in business for over 25 years with a dedicated customer service team to help you and your pet on this mobility journey. Amazon brands come and go. If something happens to your wheelchair and you need a replacement part, you may be out of luck. Walkin’ Pets offers a 5 year warranty and a full catalogue of replacement parts should you ever need to update something in the future.

Wrapping Up Our Comparison of K9 Carts vs Walkin' Wheels vs Eddie's Wheels

We hope our Eddie's Wheels vs Walkin' Wheels vs K9 Carts comparison has left you feeling clear about which is the right brand for you. 

Walkin' Wheels ships the fastest and costs the least. K9 Carts delivers custom precision without the weeks-long wait you'd face with other custom builders. Eddie's Wheels is the hand-built route for owners who want full customization and have the timeline (and budget) for it.

Whether you’re looking for a Chihuahua wheelchair or Pug wheelchair or something larger like a Golden Retriever wheelchair or German Shepard wheelchair, we're here to help your pet move like their old self again. Take the next step today!