It doesn’t matter whether your dog suffers from obesity or not. Canine exercise still has a long list of benefits to offer. It can aid hip joints, decrease digestive problems, and maintain your dog’s weight.
Treadmills are a practical way to get all of these benefits and more. However, it isn’t easy to find dog treadmill parts. That’s why we’re here: today, we’ll talk all about common parts that break, and where to get them.
Alright, let’s jump in!
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Table of Contents
Dog Treadmill Parts That Break Down – And Where to Get Them!
It doesn’t matter how durable your dog treadmill is. Eventually, all treadmills start to break down after heavy use and wear.
However, that doesn’t mean you should go ahead and buy a new one. There are many ways to find substitutes for broken parts. Here are some of them!
Wait! What About Warranty?
Hold up. Before starting your search, do you know whether your treadmill is covered by warranty or not? Most treadmills—especially upper-priced units—are covered by a warranty. These warranties offer replacements for the walking belt, frame, motor, and other parts.
Check the part of your treadmill that has broken down. Is it still under warranty? If your answer is “yes”, then you’re in good luck. All you need to do now is get in contact with your manufacturer and buy a replacement part.
If the answer is “no,” then no worries. Your search has just expanded a little. Luckily, the internet is here for you: you should begin by gathering information on the broken part. Check its price at various dealers and sellers, then compare. And most importantly, you should make sure that the part you’re buying is %100 compatible with your unit.
Walking Belt
This is one of the most common parts to break. It’s a part that will need an extensive search before it can be replaced. Most sellers and companies offer customer service that can be helpful in these cases. They could help you figure out whether this belt is compatible with your treadmill.
Look for walking belts at dog treadmill manufacturers. Chances are if they’re selling treadmills, they’re probably selling standalone walking belts as well.
Remember, dog treadmills are different from human treadmills. Size is the biggest contrast, for example. Dogs tend to have a much wider stride than humans, something which is due to their natural body build. Because of this, walking belts for canine treadmills must be longer than those of human treadmills.
As a side note, your dog’s treadmill should be longer than his stride’s length. If you have a German Shepherd that has a stride length of 6.5”, you should buy a belt that’s 7” or longer.
Another thing to look out for is the material of walking belts. A good walking belt must be durable. You should look for thicker, heavy-duty materials. A PVC top coat and a polyester-blended backing are considered the norm for mid-tier walking belts.
Motor
Dog treadmills are divided into two types: motorized and automatic. A motorized treadmill is powered by a motor, while an automatic treadmill is powered by the dog’s activity. In other words, an automatic treadmill is the one that doesn’t require electricity.
Motor replacements will often be on the expensive side. That’s why you need to be super sure that this is the culprit before you proceed with purchasing.
Here’s something you should know: treadmills that are usually powered at full speed will be prone to failures involving circuits. These problems are a cause for concern, as they can lead to safety issues. In these cases, the motor (or even the circuit!) needs to be completely replaced.
Before you go and search for replacements, you should make sure that your motor is %100 broken.
Electronics
Several problems in your treadmill could be attributed to malfunctioning electronics. Is your control board not working? Is your treadmill suddenly powering off? A simple electrical issue is probably the culprit.
One answer to your problem could be batteries. Swapping treadmill batteries is as easy as it gets: all you need to do is check what kind of existing batteries you have, and then look them up on the internet. Websites dedicated to treadmill replacements parts, like eReplacementParts, could have some on hand.
If the batteries are OK, take a look at the control board. There is a variety of control boards available online. And obviously, you’ll need to find the exact model that your treadmill previously had. Otherwise, you may lose some functionalities.
Of course, the solution could get more complicated than that. Your treadmill may need corrections in wiring. In these cases, it’s better to call a professional.
Safety Key
Most, if not all, treadmill models have some kind of emergency switch in case you need to make a quick stop. If your safety key was ruined, never follow the temptation and ignore it. It’s a crucial gadget that ensures the safety of your precious pooch.
Without a doubt, safety keys are the easiest replacements to find. For starters, you can buy one from your treadmill manufacturers. And if you can’t, then you’re still pretty lucky. You can still find hundreds of universal safety keys available online.
The availability of safety keys isn’t a problem (they’re everywhere!), but their compatibility might be a bit tricky. Not all safety keys are universal. It might take some comparing and some searching to find one that works with your treadmill, but it’s doable.
You could also look on TreadmillDoctor. This site features a list of certified providers from both the US and Canada. You can either directly communicate with the providers or buy services to connect with a provider.
Conclusion
Ensuring a good exercising experience for your dog doesn’t have to come at a great cost, nor should buying replacement parts for your dog’s treadmill!
To a certain degree, broken parts are avoidable. One way to avoid them is through regular maintenance of your treadmill. Make sure to lubricate the belt and center it, and don’t forget to clean under your motor cover.
Good luck!
My name is Ken and I’m one of the staff writers at Petloverguy.com. I’ve cared for pets most of my life starting with hamsters, turtles, and snakes. Then moving up to parakeets, guinea pigs, and even ducks.
I currently live with two yorkies and a chihuahua mix.
