Hi! Everyone! Our team is conducting a research project focused on designing pet products that cater specifically to the unique needs of senior and disabled cats and dogs. To better understand the specific challenges these pets face—beyond dietary requirements—I am seeking input from pet owners on issues such as mobility, pain management, grooming, comfort, and mental stimulation for their animals. 

Your input will help us better understand the specific needs of senior and disabled cats and dogs, so we can explore ways to improve their quality of life. I would really appreciate it if you could spare 10 minutes to fill out the questionnaire and share your thoughts with pet products. Thank you so much! Here’s the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDB1cVm_twFyt4M8hYOGN8OmEHQZ8sEn5UnU9Xehjb5hYORA/viewform?usp=pp_url

My disabled Pomeranian doesn’t really have the use of her back legs. She is a rescue who was abused and her back leg was broken and never set so it healed backwards towards her butt. It doesn’t really hurt her I don’t think, but the other leg atrophied from just leaving her lying for years probably. She is housebroken now, thank god, and kinda scoots to go potty. However when she pees she has pee running down her leg as she really can’t lift it. It also gets on her belly and her side if she lays down. With poop she is usually fine unless she loses her balance and falls in it I have been giving her butt baths, she’s only six lbs so it’s not hard but her skin is getting dry, and as it gets colder I don’t want her sitting here cold. Any suggestions for a spray I can just use to eliminate the smell from the fur that ends up with stuff on it I can’t see? I do wipe her down with baby wipes but it’s not enough. Thanks in advance and I’m sorry this is so long!

It absolutely kills me to say this, but I'm in desperate need of help in rehoming my dog, Joby. He has IVDD, has regained use of his legs but has trouble using the restroom and is prone to accidents.

I'm away at college and my mom is unable to give him the proper care he needs due to her current work schedule and household income. Are there any resources for rehoming disabled pets? Temporarily or permanently?

I love my stinky man but I don't think he would be well off with me in a cramped dorm room for the next year or two.

Hello! I apologize in advance if my English is bad or something is difficult to understand, I use a translator. I recently had a puppy who was hit by a car, and his back was completely paralysed. He can poop and pee on his own without help, but at random times because he can't feel it or control it. For this reason, and to keep his nuni from getting bruised and ulcerated, we use a diaper. And here comes the problem. At the bend of the leg, where the diaper goes around, it cuts her and it's chafing, almost a small "hole" on one side. I try to put cotton balls between his skin and the diaper, but unfortunately it slips. And if I fasten the diaper looser, it either falls off or the pee spills out. I try to take the nappy off him whenever I can, but unfortunately he is unpredictable in the way he pees. Unfortunately (or rather fortunately) I don't know anyone in this situation, so I thought I'd ask here in case anyone else has had this happen and found a solution. Thanks in advance for any shared experiences!

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Our rescue Pitt mix Jack is now paralyzed from a short fall with a slight twist into a hole. he doesn’t have control of urinating or his bowels, or ‘deep pain’ sensation.

He is on steroids with the hope he regains some feeling and control. He’s been on them for about 6 days now. The vet said if he doesn’t improve in a week and a half, it’s permanent. I saw some movement yesterday, but I think it was reflexes, not more feeling or control.

He’s fine mentally, and not in pain, but gets very upset when someone isn’t in the room with him. He is currently at his grandparents house where there aren’t stairs. That location can’t be long term, as it’s two hours from where we live, and since he weighs 65lbs, they can’t care for him. My bf and I have been taking turns staying there and caring for him.

He normally lives with my bf, whose living situation is basically entirely stairs. Bedrooms are upstairs, backyard is down a flight of stairs from the main level. That house has automatic food and water, and a doggie door, all that are now inaccessible for Jack. My bf works 12 hour shifts, but there are two other dogs there to keep him company. So he would be stuck on the main floor during the day, and we would carry him upstairs for bed at night. My house is worse as I’m in a split level, with roommates and 40 minutes from my BF.

I’m panicking about long term care. I’m worried his daily life will be boring and frustrating. The vet in the town he is currently in recommended euthanasia, but we are trying steroids at the recommendation of a friend who is a vet.

Are there people who dog sit for dogs like this? How do yall deal with a situation like this? I know we’ll get him a wheelchair for exercise and exploration, I’m just worried about the work-week, and if we need to leave for any length of time, no one can take care of him. He isn’t in pain, and he’s still himself mentally, so euthanasia feels really wrong.

I have a blind chihuahua/dachshund mix, aka a chiweenie, and I'm wondering if anyone has some tips on how to teach them tricks or any cool toys/gadgets/games you like to use with their blind dogs?

so far, he can "sit" and "come here". He learned sit by me touching the top of his butt. And come here was through a treat reward after he would walk over to me. I tried to get lay down, but he goes as far as a sit and a bow, haha. I tried to place a treat at his front paws after he sits, but he's not really laying down.

Anyway, just wondering what other unique ways you play with / enrich your blind dogs!

this is my stinky baby ube. she's a total sweetheart even if she's a bit dumb. i say all with affection.

well, she's deaf. we were not made aware of this at the shelter when we first got her, so we didn't think she'd come with anything extra like that. when we found out, we figured it was okay - she still fit perfectly into our house and i had fallen absolutely in love with her.

unfortunately, her being deaf makes discipline very, very hard. she's still a puppy, around a year old, which means still does puppy things like take from the table and trash. she does this weird thing where she likes to suck on fingers but that isnt exactly a problem.

i have absolutely no idea how to discipline her without risking her being afraid of me. we suspect she might have been abused before she was placed at the shelter, but we have no way of knowing. i just want some advice so bad on how to take care of her bad behavior in a constructive way, since she cant hear me scold her.

New to Reddit, and VERY excited to see this subreddit! We have an 8month old foxhound, April, who was born with one eye and it doesn’t work. She’s FULL of energy so I’ve been trying out different toys to keep her entertained, especially on rainy days. Boxing with the cat is great, but a little disruptive 🙃 anyway, these are a few toys that April rates 5 stars. Hope this helps someone else out there!

Hi there. Looking for a support group or somewhere with good resources to help me with my newly paralyzed dog. He was hit by a car Sept 6th and is now paralyzed in his hind legs and tail. Would love to hear from others who have been through something similar or have any tips. He is a 3 year old very active mixed breed. We used to go on runs and hikes together all the time. Thank you ☺️

My 14 year old chow chow mix has been slowing going blind for a while. The vet has been monitoring it for 3 years now. Yesterday I noticed her vision is almost complete gone and she is running into things outside mostly.

We will see the vet tomorrow to check her eyes but I will definitely need a new harness and leash to help "steer" her better while outside for backyard time and walks.

With her current leash and harness, she still walks into things despite my best efforts to keep her walking straight.

Any suggestions?

What were some not so obvious signs that your dog was in pain due to his eyes? My chihuahua is 3/4 blind and I'm so worried I'll oversee some pain signs. He's followed by an Ophtamologist and we are going back at the end of the month. I just don't want him to be in pain at all, ever ☹️

Does anyone have experience with getting a kitten as a companion for their blind dog? My 8 year old lab has gone completely blind and I worry about her getting bored, especially when I am gone. She has transitioned to non-sighted surprisingly well (we can still play fetch by sound and smell) but I worry she does not get enough stimulation. She is happiest when I am verbal with her and I think she enjoys music when I’m at work. I want to get a kitten so they can bond and maybe cuddle and interact? I fear she doesn’t get enough enrichment and it could affect her mental clarity.

Does anyone have experience with this? Am I just using this as an excuse to get a kitten? Do you have any other enrichment ideas for when I am gone?

I just want to make sure she is happy.

He was recently diagnosed with diabetes and I read online that dogs with diabetes tend to get cataracts I have noticed his eyes getting whiter he has an appointment for the vet tomorrow but I was wondering any tips or anything as I've never been in this position before

Hello friends!

I have a little disabled dog who is non-ambulatory (can’t walk). What can I do to keep life interesting for him? We do things like go outside in the grass, watch dog TV, he gets to play with toys to the best of his ability, and I have done treats in a rolled up towel for him to nose out. I’m kind of out of ideas though and want him to have good quality of life for the time he is with us.