Thursday, May 3 is the 12th annual National Specially-Abled Pets Day, which celebrates disabled pets and educates the public about caring for them. As part of our everyday mission, Core Paws encourages you to consider opening your heart and home to an animal with special needs such as amputation, paralysis, blindness or deafness. While it’s true that these specially-abled cats and dogs may require a bit of extra care, they also make the most wonderful companions because they have extra love and devotion to give to you!
Animals with special needs are sometimes the hardest-to-place cases — their owners must be understanding, patient and 100% committed to helping our furry companions live their best lives. It can be a challenge, but the rewards far outweigh the work! In honor of National Specially-Abled Pets Day, here are some questions and tips to consider:
Choosing a Special Needs Animal
Without a doubt, adopting an animal with special needs requires dedication — often times, disabled pets have been between homes and shelters for long periods of time. Commit yourself to caring for them for the rest of their lives, and embrace the chance to give back all the unconditional love and loyalty they have for you in return. When choosing to adopt a special needs animal, consider the following:
- Do you have other pets or children in the home? How will this affect your special needs animal? Is it more helpful or harmful for them to have additional companionship?
- Do you have the means to provide for their medical care? Depending on your pet’s disability, they may require more than just routine veterinary care. Their special needs might call for special medications, harnesses and equipment, medical tests, or training. Consider researching pet insurance policies beforehand to help understand what options might be available to you.
- Does your lifestyle allow for owning a special needs animal? Many disabled animals require more help and supervision to ensure their safety, wellbeing and happiness.
Caring for a Special Needs Animal
Different disabilities will require different approaches to care.
Paralyzed Dogs or Cats
- Cleanliness: Some paralyzed animals experience incontinence and unable to groom themselves, which means you’ll need to help them with hygiene and grooming for their health and comfort.
- Bladder care: In some cases, paralysis means that animals cannot urinate on their own, which can lead to discomfort and kidney complications. These pets need their owners to express their bladders for them up to three or four times a day.
- Skin care: Without full mobility, paralyzed animals cannot change positions or move around themselves, which can lead to chafing or sores. Some animals may need special bandaging, padding or bedding.
- Wheelchairs and harnesses: Wheelchairs can be an option for partially paralyzed animals with a strong upper body, allowing them greater freedom and mobility. Harnesses are another alternative, which wrap under the cat or dog, with handles on top that allow you to lift their front or back quarters and help them walk. When considering either a wheelchair or harness, consult a veterinarian or physical therapist for safe and proper usage.
- Physical therapy: Just like humans, disabled animals may still require exercise for their health and comfort. Flexibility and muscle tone can be achieved with physical therapy, range of motion exercises, and even acupuncture or massage.
Blind Dogs or Cats
- Senses and stimuli: In the absence of sight, blind animals’ other senses may become more heightened. Scent, sound and touch become your pet’s main senses, and can be cultivated with carpeted safe areas and toys that make noises or hide treats. Carpets and rugs can help signal to your animal to where doorways or other obstacles are located.
- Safety: If you are adopting a blind dog or cat, they will need to learn the layout of your house. Be sure to check your home for hazards such as furniture, low-hanging decor, sharp edges or slippery surfaces. Teach them which areas are safe or out of bonds with treats and verbal commands. Consider safety or baby gates to block stairways and other dangers. Don’t let your blind pet outdoors unsupervised, and consider using a harness and/or leash for both cats and dogs when taken outdoors.
- Routine: Minimize major changes by leaving your furniture where it is, as your blind pet will primarily orient themselves through memory and other senses. Keep their food and water (and cats’ litter boxes) in the same place they have always been kept; drinking water fountains work very well to help them locate their water source.
Deaf Dogs or Cats
- Training and correcting behavior: Getting a deaf animal’s attention is more visual than verbal, and they may need to learn hand signals rather than words to teach commands. Correcting behavior is done very similarly, through visual cues or physically rather than verbally.
- Safety: Allowing a deaf animal to wander outside alone can be dangerous. They cannot hear you call to them if they go to far out of range, and they cannot hear potentially oncoming traffic. You will need to provide them a safe, enclosed or supervised environment.
- Senses and stimuli: In the absence of hearing, deaf animals’ other senses may become more heightened. Touch and vibration are important to them. Be careful not to sneak up or startle them when you want to get their attention, which can lead to a nervous temperament.
- Routine: Deaf pets will not come running to their food bowls if they cannot hear that it’s dinner time. Instead, they will benefit greatly from a scheduled routine, including feeding times and locations.
To learn more about living with a deaf dog, read our article here.
To change the life of a hard-to-place pet with special needs, view adoptable animals here.
Written by Joanna Wong, Communications Manager of Core Paws