Caring for a Disabled Puppy OR Dog

Should You Take Care of a Disabled Dog or Put It Down Instead?

When dogs become disabled, some dog owners face the difficult decision of whether to continue caring for the disabled dog or to put the pet down instead. This is not a very difficult decision to make, though, if your dog is not in pain. If the dog is just not able to do something due to a physical disability, but is not really suffering from pain, and can perform basic functions such as eating, sleeping, and relieving itself without any problems, there’s no need to put it down. Most dog owners faced with the decision choose to care for their disabled dogs, and if you are in the same situation, you can care for your disabled puppy or dog. There are several ways to do so.

How to Care for a Disabled Puppy or Dog

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Caring for a disabled puppy or dog depends on the type of disability it is suffering from. Most dog disabilities are often related to the inability to walk or for the rear legs to function properly. This can be caused by diseases such as arthritis or canine hip dysplasia, and even by accidents, in some cases. There are cases, however, that disability naturally develops as the dog ages. If you decide to care for a disabled dog, the first thing you need to do is get a dog cart, which is like a dog wheelchair for your pet. The dog-cart is very easy to use for your dog. The dog-cart is attached to your dog’s rear legs in such a way that when the dog walks using its front legs, the wheels of the dog-cart will allow it to move along, serving as its rear legs. The use of a dog-cart will not be uncomfortable for your dog, and surely your dog would prefer it to not being able to roam around at all. However, you would have to also train your dog to work with the dog-cart because it can take some getting used to, but most dogs warm up to it easily. Once you get your disabled pet attached to the dog-cart, let your dog practise walking with it. This part of the caring process may take up a lot of time, but if you decide to care for a disabled dog, you should be willing to invest time. It would also be good to praise your dog and provide treats if it walks on its own using the dog cart. This way, your dog will feel motivated, and won’t focus too much on the strangeness of walking while attached to a dog cart.

What You Should Be Ready For

There are several things you should be ready for, though, when you do decide to take on the responsibility to care for a disabled dog. To care for a disabled dog is no simple thing, even with the help of a cart. Your dog will now have special needs, and the costs that come with these needs may not be similar to the costs that you normally would be willing to shell out for a dog. A dog-cart, for example, can already cost you some. To care for a disabled dog can also be time-consuming. Your disabled pet might take up more of your time than before. However, for some dog owners, their disabled pets are worth the effort and expenditures. After all, your dog is your pet and companion. It would be unfair to put it down even when it is not in pain. A dog disability without any pain is hardly a reason to say goodbye to your pet.