The Disabled Pets Project

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The Disabled Pets Project was created to raise awareness, educate, advocate, and normalize disabilities in pets. 

Specifically, the website disabledpets.org is an informative resource and support network for veterinarians, pet parents, and rescuers who are caring for and about disabled dogs, cats, and other pets.

 

Veterinarians will find information about the specific medical needs of their disabled patients, as well as a Pet Parents section they can reliably refer their clients to. 

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Pet parents will find informative, instructional documents and videos detailing specific care for their disabled pets and helpful listings of products and support groups for a wide range of disabled and senior pet needs.

 

Rescuers will find resources to help in the care of their rescued adoptable and sanctuary animals, as well as detailed checklists that will help them achieve successful foster and adoption placement.

 

The Disabled Pets Directory is a comprehensive list of support groups, supplies, and social media accounts that focus on pets with disabilities. 

The Disabled Pets Rescue Network is a group of animal rescue organizations that focus on disabled dogs, cats, and other pets. 

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Monthly Zoom discussions about various aspects of rescuing and caring for pets who are disabled is meant to foster networking within the disabled and broader pet community. 

The resource list will continue to expand so check back often.

Please e-mail disabledpetsproject@gmail.com if you are or know of a helpful resource or support group you'd like to add.  

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Pets with Disabilities

Just like people, dogs, cats, and other pets can be born with or develop disabilities and medical conditions later in life. Young animals may have congenital defects that result in deafness, blindness, heart failure, hydrochephalus, spina bifida, cerebellar hypoplasia, limb deformities, and metabolic diseases. Other disabilities occur later in life as a result of injury, systemic illness, hereditary diseases, and aging.

Relatively common disabilities include deafness, blindness, mobility issues secondary to arthritis or loss of a limb due to injury or neoplasia, and chronic illnesses (diabetes, heart failure, cancer). More complicated and labor intensive issues such as hind limb paralysis where pets need mobility assistance and bladder and bowels expressed, multiple missing limbs, hydrocephalus, and other neuroligic conditions are also relatively common in pets.

There is a wide range of reactions, recommendations, and support for these extra needs pets and the people who choose to care for them. Senior pets who become arthritic, deaf, and/or blind are normalized in the pet and veterinary community. Many of these issues are slowly progressive in aging animals that are otherwise healthy. Pet parents find guidance and answers to their questions from their veterinarians, pharmaceutical companies, and reliable online sources. But those who choose to care for pets with more profound disabilities that are not seen as frequently, are often left with minimal support and many unanswered questions about quality of life and how to ensure optimal care and accommodations.

The Disabled Pets Project and disabledpets.org are here to help by providing resources and support for those who care for disabled pets!

 

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

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This website is sponsored by Piglet International Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

organization. 

Visit PigletMindsets.org to learn more about Piglet International Inc.

Sponsorships are welcome!

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