Skip to content

The Disabled Pets Project

Disabled Pets
- Disabilities in Pets FAQ
- The Disabilities in Pets Directory
For Vets
For Pet Parents
For Rescuers
Instructional Videos
Support
Supplies
Events
About
- About the Disabled Pets Project
- About Melissa Shapiro, DVM
Contact
Join The Disabled Pets Community Facebook Group
Make a Donation
Join Our Email List
SUBMIT YOUR PET!
Search for:

Join The Disabled Pets Community Facebook Group Donate Join Email List Submit Your Pet!

<< For Rescuers

Fostering Disabled Pets

Posted on August 22, 2024August 22, 2024 by admin

Posted in For Rescuers

Post navigation

← Success in Placing Disabled Pets

Rescuing Disabled Pets →

© [y] Piglet International Inc., Melissa Shapiro, DVM<br>The Disabled Pets Project and website, disabledpets.org, is supported by Piglet International Inc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

WordPress Gutenberg

disabledpetsproject

Meet today's Disabled Pets Project Featured pet! B

Meet today's Disabled Pets Project Featured pet!
Blue is a 5 year old rescued blind Poodle/chihuahua/pit mix adopted from the Saving Huey Foundation
@ Vixens.ventures

From Blue's mom:
Blue is a smart and incredibly sweet mix of poodle, chihuahua and pit bull (and a few more things) who was rescued from the streets in Tijuana. When he was rescued he was eating whatever he could find, but he was struggling as he is completely blind. The rescue believes he may have had distemper as a puppy which led to the loss of his vision, as well as a slight twitch down one side of his body. I saw his photo on the Saving Huey Foundation page and I fell in love. I’d adopted another disabled dog from them the year prior, and Blue made the perfect addition to our family. He doesn’t let anything stop him, and he gets around without a problem. He is able to map out a location when he’s been there for a short amount of time, and he can sniff out a treat across the room.
Blue is a constant reminder to me that even when we feel like we’re falling behind, we can always persevere. I truly think that he has no idea he has a disability. He plays and loves and protects just as much as my other pets, but his love is unparalleled.

How do you take care of him?
Blue is so smart! He has my house mapped out, and can make his way around a without a problem. I make sure that things don’t get moved into the paths where he walks, but even if something is in his way, he tests the world with his nose, and will boop things, and walk around them. I take him to a nearby fairground with a huge, wide open parking lot. He loves it, and he will run and run.
Basically I take care of him by allowing him the freedom to live his life to the fullest, and live he does.

Cont in comments:

Today's Disabled Pets Project featured pet is Fluf

Today's Disabled Pets Project featured pet is Fluffy, a blind 5-1/2 yr old Domestic long hair cat.
Disability: she had one eye removed and the other is covered with a white film over about 85% of the remaining eye
A Good Samaritan found her in the street@and brought her to safety.

From Fluffy's mom:
A good Samaritan lady brought her to me in February in 10* F temperature. She was on the road and wouldn't stay off, and my house was close. This was right after Covid was announced in 2020. I took her in and vetted her a few days later. I used the medication and topical for her eyes. When I took her to get spayed right away, fortunately she wasn't pregnant, I was informed her eye was infected still and it needed to be removed, so I gave permission. She wore a cone for 2 weeks, and after the stitches were removed, she was good. I had a room for her to recover in upstairs. I let her out, but blocked the stairs a few days, then watched her carefully a few times. She was great. I think she was dumped. She was not matted or dirty, so I don't think she was out long. Very dangerous in my area for seeing felines,.let alone a mostly blind one. My vet didn't know why she was blind.

How do you take care of her?
I do nothing different in her care from my other 10 indoor rescue cats. Her other eye doesn't cause pain, and I think she can see a little at the very top of her eye. I try to keep things in the same place. Occasionally she might run into a wall, but very seldom.

What's a funny or cute thing she does?
She's a very quiet cat, doesn't care for being held, but will come up and touch my arm with her paw, as I'm working at the kitchen table. I pet her, and when she's done, she moves on. Her tail is sooo fluffy, hence her name.

What do you want people to know about caring for a disabled pet?
It isn't really any harder to care for a blind cat than seeing ones. Keep things in the same place if possible.

disabledpets.org is a comprehensive resource for vets, pet parents, and rescuers who care for disabled pets. Check it out and share with others!

Submit your awesome disabled pet for feature on disabledpets.org!

#disabledpets #disabledpetsproject

Please come and share with all your pet loving fri

Please come and share with all your pet loving friends. If you have a senior or disabled pet, this free webinar is for you. If your pet isn't disabled or senior, you'll still find this webinar interesting.

You can register for this webinar on the events page of disabledpets.org! Sign up for our email list while you're there.

Meet today's Disabled Pets Project's Featured Pet.

Meet today's Disabled Pets Project's Featured Pet. Shaggy, was a very special blind, deaf and diabetic cairn terrier mix. He had a very long life of 17 years with his devoted loving family.

From Shaggy's mom:
We got Shaggy when he was just two years old from a house of college students who rescued him from a kill shelter. He was a good boy! Always snuggly and right where his humans were! He was always a little frightened and never played, which is sad. We always wondered what could have happened to make a puppy not know how to play:(

How do you take care of him?
At around 10 years he suffered incontinence and began styling diapers every day! 4 yrs later he was diagnosed with diabetes and needed shots of insulin 2x a day! The last 2 years he was blind and deaf but always remained loving and cuddly! Letting him go was the hardest day of our lives, but we know he can hear and see and found his puppy spirit waiting for him just over the rainbow bridge! We miss him daily and he will always be our sweet shaggy boy!

What's a funny or cute thing he does?
He always laid sprawled out! I called it his splat!

What do you want people to know about caring for a disabled pet?
It wasnt easy and it was expensive but we are everything to our pets and it is our duty and responsibility to give them the best life! For several years our lives were planned around his insulin schedule! We planned dinner dates, movie dates, even day trips all around his shots at 6am and 6pm everyday! It wasnt always easy and we missed out on things! We didn't travel much for those 3 years, but it was the least we could do to give him quality of life and all the love he always gave us! Our final act of love was making rhe decision his body couldnt make for him! He started having seizures mutiple times daily and it was the saddest and scariest thing ever! Some nights I would sleep in the recliner with him so he felt safe! It was heartbreaking and we knew it was time to say goodbye! Our little buddy flies high now and no more pain or suffering!🩷

Visit disabledpets.org to submit your pet. Follow @disabledpetsproject on IG and join our Disabled Pets Community on Facebook!

#disabledpets

Meet Robbie, a 14 year old Papillon with IVDD, mob

Meet Robbie, a 14 year old Papillon with IVDD, mobility problems, deafness. He was adopted from Dogs Trust (UK)
Facebook Handle: https://www.facebook.com/dawn.francis.589?locale=en_GB

From Robbie's mom:
Robbie and I met in the first UK lockdown of 2020. I had recently had my previous dog, Titch, put to sleep under very traumatic circumstances. Robbie was in a rescue centre, having been bereaved of his owner. So we rescued each other.

He didn't really bond with me at first, preferring to keep his distance, though he was always very well behaved. Then 11 months after we met disaster struck. Robbie suddenly suffered a prolapsed disc, and was rushed into emergency surgery. Unfortunately a rare complication occured. Robbie made an involuntary reflex movement even though he was anesthetized, causing the vet's drill to slip right into his spinal cord.

On regaining consciousness Robbie was paralyzed in his hind legs, and the prognosis was extremely guarded. The vets were unsure if he would ever walk again. Months and months of rehab and physio ensued. Through it all, Robbie was totally uncomplaining and accepting, and grew attached to me in a way he never had been before.

almost 4 years down the line, Robbie can walk again, though he will always be disabled. He has a limp, can't go far and relies on a buggy for longer journeys. But he adores his life, he finds joy in such simple things like seeing a neighbour he knows, eating his favourite biscuits, and he doesn't know his own limitations. I don't think he would care even if he did. He is my reason for getting up in the mornings and carrying on the fight with my own longstanding mental health struggles, which at times feel insurmountable. I am truly blessed to have him in my life.

How do you take care of him?
Rob needs daily physio at home, which involves massaging his spine and hind legs before he goes out for a walk. He has age-related deafness, so I am teaching him sign language (which he largely ignores!!!) Every 3 to 4 weeks he goes to a specialist veterinary centre for hydrotherapy, which he absolutely loves because of all the attention he gets, even though it costs me a fortune!

Continued in comments!

Meet today's Disabled Pets Project's feature, Chic

Meet today's Disabled Pets Project's feature, ChichillinaWobbles🩷
Age: 3.5
Breed: Guinea Pig, Abyssinian
Disability: Vestibular disease
Rescue? Yes
Rescue Organization: Dutchess County animal shelter

From ChinchillinaWobbles' mom:
When I adopted ChichillinaWobbles and her mom, Frankie, from a foster, I met them for the first time as a box was being inserted into my car. When we arrived home, it was love at first oink and we carefully introduced them to our lone gp QuiQui, also rescued. Within a few days, they were a happy little gaggle but I noticed ChichillinaWobbles darted very quickly and crashed into things. Soon, I noticed a smell coming from her left ear. After 2 xrays, many rounds of antibiotics and ear drops, nothing helped. In fact, her crab walk and head tilt was worsening. I decided to stop medications and noticed she had plateaud to where she is now. She was part of the gal gang and never misses a meal. Today, the sole survivor of her crew, she is my best friend and enjoys unsolicited hugs from Otis cat.

How do you take care of her?
Since she is so wobbly and has difficulty balancing, I give her Epsom salt baths a couple times a week to help keep her feet clean and comfortable.

What's a funny or cute thing she does?
She rolls over due to her condition. It's a little unnerving because it is not normal but it is something unique to her and she is adapting to her condition.

What do you want people to know about caring for a disabled pet?
They still have, need, and give huge amounts of love.#

Visit our new website disabledpets.org to learn more about disabilities in pets. And submit your pet for feature here on @disabledpetsproject

Join our Facebook group Disabled Pets Community!

#adoptadisabledpet #disabledpetsproject #normalizingdisabilitiesinpets #takethedisoutofdisability

Today's Disabled Pets Project Feature is Latke Lov

Today's Disabled Pets Project Feature is Latke Love🩷
a 4 year old blind French Bulldog with Hydrocephalus.

Rescue Organization: Present Moment Rescue & Sanctuary, @presentmomentrescue

From Latke's mom:
Latke was born with hydrocephalus and fully blind with congenitally malformed eyes which are more like cysts or globes of tissue than functioning eyeballs. He also has seizures. Latke was pulled from an LA shelter at 8 weeks old into another rescue that relies on boarding versus in home fostering which is not ideal for a hydro puppy to thrive. We were sent his info from a fellow special needs foster family and brought him in to Present Moment Rescue as a permanent sanctuary resident when he was 3 months old.

How do you take care of him?
Latke takes daily medications and supplements to manage his hydrocephalus, seizures, mobility and promote cognitive function. Because he is blind we do a lot of scent and texture related enrichment activities for him by way of toys, foods, treats and environments. We do annual neurology exams and twice a year bloodwork to ensure his body and vital organs are handling his medications safely.

What's a funny or cute thing he does?
When Latke snorts or barks he does it with his whole body. He hops up and down like a bunny when he is vocalizing to communicate and play with his pack mates. He also has a very deep voice that sounds like Batman talking. He also loves being cuddled in a heart to heart connection position and sunbathing outside.

What do you want people to know about caring for a disabled pet?
Latke may have a slightly different life than a neuro typical dog but it is filled with love, amazing experiences, opportunities and joy for both him and everyone in our home. Caring for a uniquely abled pup is no more difficult than caring for any pet. It sometimes requires a little extra creativity in navigating life, which as an artist I welcome with an open and excited heart and mind.

Taking the dis out of disability and normalizing disabled pets.

Visit our new website disabledpets.org, submit your disabled pet to be featured, and follow @disabledpetsproject

Join our Facebook group, The Disabled Pets Community.

Today's Disabled Pet's Project Featured Pet is Rub

Today's Disabled Pet's Project Featured Pet is Ruby!

Meet Ruby, a 9ish year old Chihuahua with Erosive PolyArthritis. Ruby was rescued from Dogs Without Borders.

From Ruby's dad:
We fostered her after someone dropped her at a high kill shelter at around age 4. She has a progressive autoimmune disease that slowly degrades her bones and joints, likely from breeders trying to breed smaller and smaller dogs (she is only 3.5 lbs, normal chihuahua weight is 8-12). My wife and I quickly foster failed!

How do you take care of him/her?
She cannot walk on hard surfaces, so we put blankets down all throughout the house wherever it isn’t carpeted! She gets 3 “walks” per day, but her mobility is severely impaired so really she mostly rides in our arms enjoying the smells with the occasional put down to potty. We were put in touch with a canine orthopedist who made a custom brace for her to use as a walking boot. She loves the boot, but hates us putting it on her! This is for her worst off leg, which has only a dangling paw and no connective tissue so she has no movement of the limb. All 4 of her legs are impaired in some way, and sadly it gets worse with age, so we are doing our best to manage it!

What's a funny or cute thing she does?
Everything! She thinks the heated blanket is hers, so if you try to move it she will run up and jump on it with all her weight as if to say “that’s mine!” She does this with anything cozy but especially the heated blanket

What do you want people to know about caring for a disabled pet?
Once you find a routine, it isn’t as hard as it seems. Ruby needs 5x oral injections of medicine given 2x daily, and every day we put the boot on in the morning and take it off at night. But this is our schedule now and it really doesn’t seem like that much work to us!

Visit our new website disabledpets.org to learn more about disabilities in pets. And submit your pet for feature here on @disabledpetsproject

Join our Facebook group Disabled Pets Community!

#adoptadisabledpet #disabledpetsproject #normalizingdisabilitiesinpets #takethedisoutofdisability

Meet Today's Disabled Pets Project's Featured Pet!

Meet Today's Disabled Pets Project's Featured Pet!

Name: Little Bit
Age: 3
Breed: potcake/italian greyhound
Disability: Hind limb paralysis and incontinence
Rescue? Yes
Rescue Organization: Pima Animal Care Center
Instagram Handle: @far_fetched_adventures. @thefarfetchedvet

From Little Bit's mom:
In the beginning of 2023, Little Bit was brought to the county shelter where I volunteered and she was unfortunately slated for euthanasia. I agreed to foster her but I’m happy to say that she’s now a permanent part of our family.

How do you take care of her?
My partner works from home so Little and the rest of our furry family constantly have a parent at home to heed to their every whim. Little needs her bladder expressed several times per day and in addition, she wears reusable, cloth diapers for those instances when she has “accidents”. Keeping her clean throughout the day is top priority so, she gets pampered quite a bit.

She gets lots of exercise time in her wheels throughout the day but when she gets tired, she lounges and takes naps on the sofa or her gigantic bean bag chair.

What's a funny or cute thing she does?
Little is VERY expressive. When she’s excited, she makes a cooing sound like a dove and does “tippity taps” with her feet until she gets what she wants.

What do you want people to know about caring for a disabled pet?
Disabled pets require a lot of parenting with hands on effort, patience and an unwavering commitment to their special needs. It’s also one of the most incredible experiences you might ever have. Their resilience and joy in spite of challenges is a lesson we all could learn a lot from.

Normalizing disabilities in pets!
Adopt a disabled pet!

Submit your disabled pet for feature at disabledpets.org and visit the website for support and resources for vets, pet parents, and rescuers who care for disabled pets.

#disabledpetsproject #disabledpets

Meet Zoé, today's Disabled Pets Project Featured

Meet Zoé, today's Disabled Pets Project Featured Pet!
Age: 4
Breed: Poochon
Disability: Paralyzed
Rescue? Yes
Rescue Organization: Eleventh Hour & Angels for Animals Foundation
Facebook Handle: M1ckeysworld
Instagram Handle: @m1ckeysworld

From Zoe's mom:

Zoé was hit by a car in China, her owners didn’t want her so they left her in the street with some water (which she couldn’t get to). She was rescued by a kind lady who took her to a local shelter, she was covered in urine burn and had bedsores down to the bone. Zoé’s spine was broken and due to this she is double incontinent.
Eleventh Hour had been trying to find her a home without success. Angels for Animals offered to help, we offered to foster her as she had a much better chance of being adopted once in the UK. As soon as we picked her out of her flight crate she stole our hearts, she’s been with us ever since.

How do you take care of her?
We express Zoé’s bladder 4 times a day, and her bowels twice a day.
She has a wheelchair to get around outside, inside the house she can get around really well. She has a stroller for longer outings, but she much prefers her wheels.
We make sure she has a nutritionally balanced, healthy diet, we also supplement her with turmeric, bladder support capsules, pre/pro biotics and apple cider vinegar.
She is bathed frequently to prevent urine burn, and we check daily for pressure sores.

What's a funny or cute thing she does?
She does a little dance when her dad gets home, spinning in circles in her own little way.

What do you want people to know about caring for a disabled pet?
Caring for a disabled pet isn’t as difficult as you might imagine. There is a huge community of other disabled pet owners out there who are always willing to support or give advice.
They have so much love to give and often get overlooked, with a little bit of adaption they live just like any other pet.

Normalizing disabilities in pets.

Submit your pet for feature at disabledpets.org. And check out our website to learn more about the resources available for vets, pet parents, and rescuers who care for disabled pets.

@m1ckeysworld

Load More Follow on Instagram

Visit us on Instagram @disabledpetsproject to get your inspirational daily dose of disabled pets

This website is sponsored by Piglet International Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Visit PigletMindset.org to learn more about Piglet International Inc.

Sponsorships are welcome!

© Piglet International Inc. All rights reserved.