Laurie's Blogs.

Guest Blog - By Sharon Seltzer

A couple of weeks ago, Sharon contacted me for an interview for her blog - http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com - she wanted to know what advice I could give to her readers, people wanting to help their paralyzed dogs.  She asked if I could let FourLeg members know about her blog as a resource for our clients.  I asked if she could write a blog for me that give us a sense of what owners of paralyzed dogs would like from their rehabilitation healthcare professional.  So here it is!

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One of the scariest days in my life was when my veterinarian told me that my 10 year-old dog Sophie was going to be paralyzed in her hind legs for the rest of her life.  With a degree in medical social work and years of experience in animal rescue I had a good idea of what that diagnosis meant for both Sophie and me.  It left me feeling inadequate and alone.

Sophie is the reason I started Lessons From A Paralyzed Dog.  It’s a website and a community for pet owners who are facing paralysis, partial immobility and neurological problems with their pets.  The goal is to provide information and support because in the average city or town, there isn’t a lot of help readily available.

The city where I live has a population of 2 million people and there is only one physical therapy clinic for animals plus a specialty clinic that primarily sees patients that are recovering from orthopedic surgery.  Both clinics need a referral from a veterinarian and if your vet hasn’t chosen to work with them, you are out of luck.

It would be wonderful if we could clone animal physical therapists and send them everywhere they are needed because the skills provided are essential for those of us taking care of a special needs dog or cat. Most of us have to rely on our busy veterinarians for quick snippets of information. 

I recently asked my readers what they would want from a physical therapist, if there was a clinic near their home.  Here are some of their answers:

·       Be honest about a pet’s prognosis.  We appreciate being educated and prepared.

·       Encourage pet owners that they can learn the skills to take care of their dog at home.  It’s frightening to be the sole caregiver of a disabled dog.

·       Be patient in teaching those skills because expressing a dog’s bladder or learning how to transfer a dog from the car to the house doesn’t come naturally.

·       Be a partner and sounding board for a pet owner who is struggling with the fact that their dog will never be the same or might be dealing with a family member who thinks it’s best to euthanize the animal.  You never know what is going on in our personal life.

·       Be a resource or referral for respite care options because pet owners need a break from the round-the-clock care and they don’t know where to find that type of help.  One reader and her husband felt they had to euthanize their dog after each used up their vacation and sick time at work so their dog with Degenerative Myelopathy was never left alone.

·       Keep the different modalities of care like chiropractic, acupuncture and massage under one roof.  Running around town with a dog in a wheelchair is hard work.

·       Provide resources of products for handicapped pets that make daily living easier. Pet owners aren’t aware of the many products available or where to start looking for them.

·       Be a resource for the latest veterinary clinical trials. Pet owners are looking for a miracle that might save their dog or a dog in the future with the same condition. 

Sophie was paralyzed for five years before she died of an undiagnosed condition in 2013. My husband and I worked out a good routine for her care, but every day was a new challenge.  Physical therapists can play a huge role in relieving a pet owner’s stress and enabling us to take the best care we can of our cherished disabled pet.

-Sharon is an animal writer, contributor to the AAHA newsletter, pet mom to one dog and three semi-feral cats and the founder of Lessons From A Paralyzed Dog. 

http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com