The Pet Connection's Pet Talk: Where People and Pet's Connect Living with a Pet with Special Needs
Over the last several years I've had the opportunity to care for some many wonderful and deserving pets that by no fault of their own were abandoned by their people. As our pets grow older, comes similar health issues as when we age, Diabetes, Arthritis, Cancer, Heart problems, Kidney and Liver failure, hearing (deafness) and eyesight (blindness). Along with those types of health issues usually comes with it a substantial medical bill. As a pet owner, especially ones who's had the pet for many years, it's diffcult to watch them struggle to adjust, they slow down as age takes it's toll on them. Now is the time they need you the most and learning how to manage and live with their special needs will make a difference in their lives.
If you're living with a pet now who's age is beginning to show, you're noticing that their eye sight is beginning to fade. Your pet will adjust easier to loosing their sight and being able to navigate around the house if things like furniture aren 't moved. Like us, they have learned where the couch and coffee table are, moving those after they have lost their sight is confusing and dangerous. Keeping doors closed, like spare bedrooms or bathrooms so tllat they don't wonder in, get confused or lost helps. A pet that has been in the same household and then slowly looses it's sight usually does vely well in a home with little to no issues. You can also purchase a Blind Dog Halo that is like a bumper for your pet. It protects your pet from running into things like furniture and walls and injuring themselves.
If you have a pet with mobility issues such as walking, there are products such as slings that will help you lift their backend up as well as slings that help with the front. These are called, Dog Lift Hamess Walk Aid Sling or Lift Harnesses and can be purchased on line. I've got these on hand and they are a life saver, especially for my larger breed dogs with walking issues. If you are looking at something to help them move around you can purchase a Dog Wheelchair, this allows them the freedom to come and go, to be independent. If stairs are also an issue, you can purchase a Pet Ramp for your home and car which helps them get in and out of the house or car, eliminating going up and down stairs. If you have a pet that shouldn't be jumping off the couch or has problems getting into bed, at my house we have Pet Stairs. These come in different sizes and work for large and small pets and are wonderful. There are so many wonderful and useful products on the market today that helps a pet with special needs.
When I'm taking in a new rescue even before we head to the house our first visit is with my Vet. Knowing ahead of time on health issues gives me an idea on preparation for the house. Over 2 years ago I adopted what was to be a 9 yr old Chihuahua from Midland Animal shelter, he was blind and so very frail with walking issues and -was in line to be euthanized. After a complete examination he was older than 9, more like 12 yrs and he just needed a place to live out his days. Going over 2 years plus, he's still with me and holding his own. In November I was contacted about another blind dog . This poor intact male is a very large dog and I've taken a bit of a different approach with him. Again, having a routine for any pet is a must.
I've got a 20 foot cable set out in the yard so that he can get his daily Vitamin D and exercise. It's set out so that he can not get tangled up or run into anything due to his blindness. When setting out his water bowl, I'll tap the concrete sidewalk with the metal bowl and he hears that and comes to waterWhen coming in and out of the house where he has a comfy bed in avery large pet crate, we have 2 small stairs. He's learned that when I say STEP, STEP he'll high step his feet as not to stumble up the stairs. It's really something to watch, he picked this up in such a very short time. I call him Rusty and he's such a wonderful dog and being blind hasn't stopped him from living out a fill life.
Over my lifetime, I've lived with a diabetes cat and dog and it's just like living with a family member who has the disease. You set up a routine, making sure that they are fed at the same time, that the portions of food are regulated and that they get their insulin at a set time. Little Bit has been gone now for a little over 2 years and to this day my alarms are still set for 7 am and 7 pm to give her injections. Giving them their insulin can be taught by your local veterinarian that has diagnosed your pet with the disease. At first 11<10w it's scary giving the shots, but with time you'll be doing it like a pro. Little Bit was so good that I could give them without anyone holding her and she never moved. Practice will always make perfect!
I could go on and on about the pets that have shared my life, Lucky was diagnosed with Addison and had a monthly visit at the vet's for her life saving injection. Buckshot was diagnosed with a rare form of Cancer in his Pelvis. At that time I had my grooming and boarding business open and shut the doors to take him to CSU, Colorado State University for Cancer treatment. He was in Ft. Collins, Colorado for a month while he did radiation treatments 5 days a week. While in Colorado with him, I sought out a Homeopathic Veterinarian and we did Molecular Injections along with deionized water and sea salt to help him through his cancer. At the time of the deionized water and sea salt, I was treating a diabetic cat also. Every- pet that I had was drinking the water and the cat with the diabetes, his insulin requirements decreased. I can't swear as to why his levels dropped, but I can say that the deionized water and sea salt played a role in it. So, I'm sure that there are some of you that say there's no way you'd shut your business down and move to another state so your pet could have Cancer treatment, but I know a lot of people who would go to the end of the earth and do whatever they could for their pets. Buckshot got 18 months of remission before I made that long trip back to Colorado to say goodbye. Because it was such a rare Cancer in his Pelvis, medical articles were written to further Cancer research and a necropsy was done to possibly save someone else's pet.
Kidney failure is probably a more common thing that is seen as our pets age. With a proper diet prescribed by your vet and regular lab work will keep them with you much longer than just ignoring the fact that they are illscience Diet Prescription KD had made a difference in lengthening the life of a very sweet and wonderful dog named Cry Baby. When I adopted out Cry Baby he was a healthy, happy, beautiful 60+ 1b Aussie and on a unannounced home visit was found to be 30 lbs underweight, skin and bones. Watch your babies, when you notice that they aren't eating and rapidly loosing weight, or consuming large amounts of water, something is terribly wrong, get them to the vet, don't just ignore all the warning signs. With a lot of hard work, hand feedings, numerous trips to the vet for injections, medications, special KD diets I was able to bring this precious boy back from the doorstep of death. However, had this been caught much earlier Cry Baby would still be with me today.
I'm living with a young German Shepherd that has been diagnosed with IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome which I'm hoping she'll grow out of. Willow was a rescue off the streets that was covered in ticks and of course we dealt with Tick Fever (Erlichea) then find out about her IBS. But as any good pet parent knows, you take the good with the bad and learn from all the love that these pets have to give.
I also live with a handicapped cat, Kit Kat who has nerve damage to a front leg. When I got the call about this kitty, the call was to rescue a kitten with a broken leg. Upon immediately receiving the kitten, off to the vet we went to find out that it wasn't broken but nerve damage. To this day, Kit Kat lives a normal life with his deformed leg and it doesn't seem to slow him down. I have to keep the nails trimmed on this bad foot, this keeps him from catching them on the Carpet and keep them from growing into his foot. Kit Kat is a strictly indoor cat because he'd never survive outdoors with his leg. I keep a constant watch to make sure that he isn't rubbing any ulcers or has any open sores as he uses the bent part of his foot for a crutch to walk.
Then there is my Salem girl, my precious Doberman. She has a degenerate back disease which requires trips to the vet for pain injections, pain medications and x-rays to keep up with the progression of the disease. Making her comfortable is my main objective, so soft comfy beds are throughout the house for her to rest on. If you are dealing with a dog with arthritis, hip and joint issues, having trouble getting up and down please do not let them rest on the hard floor. You can purchase orthopedic dog beds locally or online that'll help them rest more comfortably. If you have a house with hardwood floors or ceramic tiles tiy putting down nonslip rugs to give your dogs better traction. This will prevent them from slipping and falling on the slick floors and preventing any further injury. There are many over the counter products like, Glucosamine, Cosequin chewables, CBD oils and chews, many different supplements to help with arthritis or joint issues. Always check with your vet and see what might work best for your pet. also use a sling that helps me get them up and down while saving my back and theirs too. For those dogs having trouble getting up and down the stairs, they make pet ramps or by using a piece of plywood you can design your own.
For some living with a special needs pet, it may be the end of the world, but it doesn't have to be. No doubt there will be an adjustment period, but once you get into the routine of it all, it'll just be like any other walk in the park. I hope that some of the information and ideas I've provided will help make the transition easier for you and your fur baby. Imagine me doing it with all that I have, me one person with many special need pets and then you, with just one, you'll be great at it and your pet will love you even more because of the deep bond you're creating. When you brought this pet, dog or cat into your home it was for life, not until things got a little ruff or their eyes began to become cloudy or they're body became frail, if was until the final end. As a Rescuer, Pet Owner, but especially as a Pet Lover I owe them that, for all that they have given me over the many years, I hope you'll feel the same way.
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