Living with pets with special needs

Animals are the most precious companions we can choose to share our lives with. They bring so much to us, and sometimes it is hard for us to conceive that sometimes they might have or develop special needs too.

 

Any pet  or animal companion may develop a special need at any time in their life, some of those needs aren’t always visible. It can be a physical or emotional need. It can be from injury, illness, fear, or old age.

 

Aging is probably the most common special need as they age things don’t work as well, for example a loss of sight or hearing, and perhaps bladder control issues.

 

Just because your companion might develop or already have a special need doesn’t mean that you have to “let them go” or euthanize them because it might be uncomfortable for you to watch or it seems overwhelming to deal with. You need to know that your animal companion can still have a very happy and fulfilled life with a little help from us. Just because they perhaps can’t jump anymore, or see/hear as well, or they require daily medication needs like insulin, or joints don't work as well and they have a harder time getting up and around, they do adapt well and just require some assistance from us.

 

For example your pet may develop diabetes and require insulin injections daily. This is not insurmountable, taking the time to learn to manage it at home is well worth the investment and the pet does very well and can still give you many more years of companionship.

 

Should your companion develop physical limitations from injury, etc., there are some simple things we can do to help make things more comfortable or easier for them:

•             Situate their food and water close to their resting area or be consistent with it’s location.


•             Make steps or ramps for them to get onto the furniture more safely, if you allow them on the furniture.
  


•             Put down carpets on slippery floors.


•             For a cat, add more litter boxes, especially in a house that has more than one level so they can reach a box when needed.


•             For a dog, use people bed pads for "accidents".
  


•             If it is visual impairment, try not to move furniture or their habitual feeding and watering areas. Try to make as few changes as possible in their environment.

Remember they have feelings too. So be encouraging, loving, and patient. Help them live their lives to the fullest, pay back some of what they shared with you, joy, compassion, and love most of all.

A gripe on people's insensitivities and ignorant remarks...

First off: I am not a certified expert on everything I may post here. I am sharing my experiences, and learning, and insights, most times I have backing on what I post and will post links for that backing with my post. You have the right to disagree with me, but please if you must say something to disagree, be polite. And please do not accuse me of being a spammer, it is not my intention. My intention is to share information and insights with you.

On my post the other night about foods to not feed your pets, someone took issues with it that I was fully of hooey. I am sorry, but I don't think so, I don't post stuff like that unless I have a way to back what I say from a reputable group like the AVMA or ASPCA or such. I gathered they didn't really read my post, because they said I contradicted myself about bones, I said don't feed cooked bones because of the splintering factor, and from experience, Lil'Shit had to have surgery many years ago to save him because of a blockage of bone splinters in his intestine, they removed that part of the intestine. And yes, while raw food has bones, it's raw bones, and raw bones crush and break up differently and have all the nutrients in them that cooked bones don't. The eggs is more about salmonella than anything else, and this person blah blah'd about how she/he feeds all this stuff and mushrooms just fine to their pet. I almost wept for their pet. At least another backed me about the fact that it's better to be safe than sorry. My intention only was to perhaps make some pet owner a bit more aware of things that could harm their pet and perhaps save a loved animal companion.

I have had many a discussion with a dear friend whose cat is diabetic. When our kitties were diagnosed with diabetes, we went on the fast track to learning about everything for our pet that could affect their possibility to go into remission and how could we support them and give the best care for them. We know better on some things, like foods, and insulin, etc because we live(d) it. We saw first hand the effects of the wrong foods etc. My kitty Scooter developed heinz body anemia, during her short life with diabetes (she's passed on), and the first thing the vet wanted to know was if I fed onions or garlic to her and gave me a veterinary article on it. I hadn't fed her any of that, but had given a "natural" supplement, Alpha Lipoic Acid, which helps people with diabetes. The vet took the time to do the research on all of it and found the link to this "natural" supplement and heinz body anemia in cats.  And my friend and I (along with many others) have learned that vets in veterinary school, initially learn their nutritional stances from the pet food companies? We got wiser.
Since then I have learned so much about nutrition in general, and genetically modified foods, etc. even for people, as I go through my own issues with food intolerances and auto-immune disorders. And I worked to help educate my mother with her diabetes and food issues. We know that what might be ok for us isn't ok for our fur kids, I know that while we are all mammals we all aren't quite the same. For example, while we might have enzymes that allow us to digest and use garlic, our pets lack that enzyme. So, in my thinking it is better to NOT take the risk and don't feed it to them. And didn't the recalls on pet foods over 3 years ago teach anyone anything? Didn't the people really read the articles from veterinarians who perhaps did know nutrition because they took the time to learn it and the endocrine systems of animals?

I love my animals in my care with all of my heart, those beautiful souls who have chosen to share their life with me. They look to me to care for them to the best I possibly can, to have a healthy, happy, and loving life. Why should I be ignorant and selfish by feeding them stuff blindly that shortens that life, just so I can have a "pet" in my life?

A little clue here people, I don't make statements here or anywhere, unless I have something to back it with and I have learned as much as possible on it. I work with people who know anatomy and physiology, microbiology, animal sciences, nursing, pharmacology, etc. inside and out because they have been studying and teaching it for a very, very long time. And I can tell you that some things I have learned throughout my years, have taught them new things also. And I am NOT the only person like this out there, I can point you in the direction of a whole group of people.

So think a bit before you make an uninformed or hurtful remark to me. I grant you have the right to disagree, but don't call me a liar or a spammer because you CHOOSE to be uninformed on a topic.  And I will state, I don't know it all, but I do CHOOSE to take the time to learn and be informed as much as possible not only on my own health and foods, but those for my animal companions also.

First Aid for your furkids

I notice all the time in various postings people asking for first aid tips or how to deal with a spider bite, etc. So.... I thought perhaps I would list some tips and guidelines here. I also want to list resources for monies for life saving veterinary care should you find yourself in a situation and unable to pay for the care.

The first thing that you can do though to assist your pet is to stay calm, speak in soothing quiet tones, and handle them in a gentle manner.  Call your veterinarian, they will assist you in stabilizing your pet for transport to the vet's clinic. DON'T give your pet human pain relievers! They are toxic to your pet and most are deadly to them. Your veterinarian will advise you what is best to do for your pet.

There are numerous sites out there for Pet First Aid, probably the best I have found is from the American Veterinary Medical Association 

This is just the list of supplies listed for a pet first aid kit:

Phone numbers and your pet's medical record (including medications and vaccination history)Veterinarian: Emergency veterinary clinic: Animal Poison Control Center: 888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435) (there may be a fee for this call)	You need to know these numbers before you need them. If you do not know the number of the emergency clinic in your area, ask your veterinarian or go to the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society Web site for a searchable list of emergency clinics by state.
Gauze	For wrapping wounds or muzzling the injured animal
Nonstick bandages, towels, or strips of clean cloth	To control bleeding or protect wounds
Adhesive tape for bandages*do NOT use human adhesive bandages (eg, Band-Aids®) on pets	For securing the gauze wrap or bandage
Milk of magnesia Activated charcoal	To absorb poison Always contact your veterinarian or local poison control center before inducing vomiting or treating an animal for poison
Hydrogen peroxide (3%)	To induce vomiting Always contact your veterinarian or local poison control center before inducing vomiting or treating an animal for poison
Digital Thermometer —you will need a "fever" thermometer because the temperature scale of regular thermometers doesn't go high enough for pets	To check your pet's temperature. Do not insert a thermometer in your pet's mouth—the temperature must be taken rectally.
Eye dropper (or large syringe without needle)	To give oral treatments or flush wounds
Muzzle (in an emergency a rope, necktie, soft cloth, nylon stocking, small towel may be used)	To cover your pet's head. If your pet is vomiting, do not muzzle it!
Leash	To transport your pet (if your pet is capable of walking without further injury)
Stretcher (in an emergency a door, board, blanket or floor mat may be used)	To stabilize the injured animal and prevent further injury during transport

They also list many excellent procedures for giving first aid to your pet until you can get him or her to the vet. Take the time to read what they have to say and print it for reference.

Spider bites, if you can identify the spider all the better or trap it, without getting bitten yourself, in a jar. Take your pet to the veterinarian immediately. Black Widow bites are almost always fatal in cats, so the sooner you get them to the veterinarian the better chance of survival. Snake bites, also get your pet to the vet as soon as possible. Snake bites are not always visible, the venom is a neurotoxin, and if they are bitten in the face area it will swell and they will have a hard time breathing, and as the venom works its way, it can lead to paralysis and cardiac collapse. If you live in the southwest or desert you also have to contend with scorpions and centipedes. Again, staying calm, identify the bug, get the pet to the vet as soon as possible.

Additional pet first aid links

• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)/Healthy Pet: Pet First Aid


• The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine: Basic First Aid for Your Pet


• American Red Cross: First Aid for Pets


• VeterinaryPartner.com: First Aid and Emergency Care


• ASPCA and the Humane Society

Now, for financial help, United Animal Nations has a Lifeline grant to help animals and pets in need of lifesaving veterinary care. Many of your shelters who are associated with the ASPCA and Humane Society have low cost clinics and can help, and they have resources to other grants to assist with veterinary care.