The Introductory Office Visit If the vet and clinic pass the above steps, it’s time to take the “patient” in for an introductory visit. Be sure to bring a copy of your pet’s health records to this exam. This is the critical final step in the process of assessing the […]
Advocating for your pet
Advocating is when you speak on behalf of someone else. You say for them what they can’t say for themselves. Since you know your pet better than anyone else, you hold the sole responsibility of expressing what you feel is in your pet’s best interest. Below are a few tips […]
Holistic Health Care
Natural health care for your special needs pets With a focus on wellness, on minimally invasive treatment methods, and on treating the whole animal rather than just a set of symptoms, holistic veterinary medicine provides an alternative approach to traditional “allopathic” health care for all pets, including special-needs pets. Like […]
Animals with disabilities
Animals with Disabilities Handicapped Pets: Pet Disability Resources As an animal caregiver, it’s challenging to immediately know that animals have disabilities. Many times, the impairment, whether it be cognitive or developmental, is not immediately visible. And, once it has developed, it is a challenge to determine how to best embrace […]
Just for cats with disabilities
The Cat Health and Behavior List American Association of Feline Practitioners – the association of veterinarians who specialize in cats. Includes a member directory. Disease Links and Lists Anemia The Feline Anemia List Asthma Feline Asthma The Feline Asthma List Cancer The Feline Cancer List The Feline Lymphoma List Feline […]
Caring for dogs with disabilities
The Dog Owner’s Guide – click on “Topics” to find a summary of articles available on the site. The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights has an online Guide to Congenital and Heritable Disorders in Dogs (click on “Publications” from their home page). Disease Links and Lists Diabetes Pets with […]
Other pets
Exotic Pet Health Information – birds, ferrets, rabbits, iguanas, snakes, rodents. Exotic Pets Mailing List Small Animal Care Guides – from Petsmart.com Birds The Association of Avian Veterinarians The International Aviculturalists Society The Pet Bird Page Special-Needs Birds Rabbits The House Rabbit Society – a comprehensive site that includes a […]
Commercial diets for your special needs pet
Like we humans, our pets are what they eat. Sadly, the vast majority of commercial pet foods available on the market today are appallingly substandard in quality. Most are full of chemical additives, artificial flavorings, and “4D” (dead, dying, diseased and disabled) meat and meat by-products. Fortunately, there are other […]
Flower Essences – Bach Flower Remedies
I have been a believer in flower essences since 1995, when I saw the amazing effect that they had on my cat Mehitabel. Mehitabel was prescribed a mixture of several Bach Flower Remedies by a holistic vet for an inexplicable and uncharacteristic bout of compulsive overgrooming. My attempts to get […]
Caregiver’s syndrome for special needs pets
Pet caregivers need care too Whether they are dealing with chronic but not life-threatening health issues, or with the intense challenges of providing end-of-life care to a terminally ill animal, it’s just as important for caregivers to take care of themselves, and to let others take care of them, as […]