Losing strength in the front legs does not take away a dog's interest in going out. It takes away their ability to get there, and what usually follows is a shrinking world: shorter walks, then the garden, then the back door. A front-end cart takes the load off the forelimbs and hands the driving back to the rear end, which in these cases is generally the half still working properly.

The frame adjusts so it can be set to one particular dog rather than an average one, and that adjustment is the part that decides whether the cart helps or hurts. Padding sits where the frame meets the chest and shoulders, since those contact points carry the weight for the whole walk and are where rubbing shows up first. The wheels are sized for pavements, paths and short grass rather than rough ground, and the frame is kept light because the dog is the engine.

• Two-wheel cart designed to support the front end
• Adjustable frame, set to the individual dog
• Padded contact points at the chest and shoulders
• Wheels suited to pavements and everyday surfaces
• Three sizes: XS, S and M

Please fit this with your vet. Front-limb carts are considerably harder to get right than rear ones, and a badly fitted one loads the shoulders and neck in ways that make things worse. Get your vet or a physio to confirm the cart is appropriate before you buy, send us the measurements, and build up in short sessions on flat ground. The sizing stops at M, so large and giant breeds are not covered here.

What the options mean. Sizes run from XS to M — £176.99 for the smallest, £257.99 for the largest.

Who it's for: Owners of small and medium dogs with front-limb weakness, injury or degenerative change, working alongside veterinary advice rather than instead of it.