Special Needs is nothing to fear

When people hear the term “special needs” they immediately think it will require a lot of work. While more time may be needed for some animals, not all Special Needs rescues require a lot of extra work. Some conditions can be managed with medications while others will require frequent veterinary visits and other accommodations.

Some animals may be labeled as special needs because they require medication. This can be animals with heart conditions, diabetes, or kidney disease, to name a few conditions. They can live normal lives, but require medication a few times a day. That’s not much work at all. Most animals can take their medications in their food while others may need injections given at home. Giving an injection seems scarier than it actually is. With a little positive reinforcement and training for your pet, they will never notice the injection. The biggest hurdle is building your confidence and your ability to give the injection. Check out this YouTube video on giving subcutaneous (under the skin) injections. The most common type of subcutaneous injection is an insulin injection if your rescue is diabetic. Trust me, injections are very easy to give if you have confidence in yourself.

Some animals, like Tucker pictured at the top of this post, need assistance getting around. Over the past several years, many companies have developed specialties in animal carts, like K9Carts. These are little carts designed to help an animal get around. Dogs and cats who are paralyzed from an injury or born with an abnormality may need the assistance of a cart for mobility. With a cart, they can get around more easily and cause less strain on other body parts due to improper posture. I was around when Tucker was first fitted for his cart, it took him a few tries, but in no time, she was zooming around like a normal puppy. The carts are custom fitted, so if you adopt a growing puppy like Tucker, they may need a cart that grows with them.

If your rescue requires a cart for their back legs due to a spinal injury, they may also need extra help with their bathroom needs. You can help them at home, so make sure you fully understand the care they will need when you are looking to rescue them. Your veterinarian is the best person to help answer your questions based on the specific condition.

Due to the nature of the medical condition of your special needs rescue, you will likely need to have routine visits with your veterinarian. This can become costly, but many veterinarians will work with your budget depending on the progress your pet is making in their treatments. Initially there will be some costs associated with your veterinary visits, but as time goes by and your rescue improves, those costs can be spread out over time. There is always pet insurance and, sometimes, charities that will help lower the costs. I recommend checking with your insurance provider to see if they have special rates for rescues adopted with special needs.

While some special needs rescues will take some extra effort, just imagine the difference you will make in that animal’s life. Not only will they have access to the care they need, but they get to become a spoiled rescue in your home. There’s nothing better than that.