Innovative products designed to better the life of a disabled pet continue to advance and improve. Combining these tools with veterinary care increases the opportunities available for a disabled animal to enjoy the rest of its life surrounded by family and within its own home.

Products for Disabled Pets

The following information offers descriptions of products developed to provide assistance to pets with issues relating to movement disabilities:

Harness

A harness allows an animal freedom of movement, but enables the owner to provide assistance.

• With a fit similar to an article of clothing, the legs are placed in leg holes and then the rest of the harness is wrapped around the back of the animal and is fastened securely
• Straps are used by the owner to support the animal as it moves
• Harnesses are available for animals that require either rear or front support.

Support Sling

When an animal has the ability to walk and move around, but still needs a little extra support, a sling can be used. Designed to fit under the belly, a sling has handles or straps that allows the animal’s caregiver to comfortably lift and support the animal as it moves around.

Carts

A dog cart, also referred to as a wheelchair, is used to increase the mobility of a disabled animal that has lost the use of its hind end.

By providing protected support to the animal’s back end, the wheeled cart enables the animal to use its front legs for movement. Carts require a custom fit to the animal, and can be made to assist animals requiring rear, front, and/or quad support.

Splints

When a limb is involved, splints can be used to increase an animal’s mobility while keeping it comfortable.

Formed similarly to those developed for humans, splints are designed to help with issues involving an animal’s:

• Lower leg
• Ankle
• Foot

Splints have a rigid brace that supports the area of injury, but are lined for comfort, and held in place by adjustable straps.

Pet Boots

Many dogs wear pet boots when outdoors to protect their pads from road chemicals, hot pavement, and abrasions.

When used with a disabled animal, these same pet boots:

• Provide extra traction to prevent the animal from sliding on slippery floors
• Add support to the foot
• Protect foot wounds or other injuries

Double-sided pet boots offer an orthopedic design that help to further protect the feet of animals that have experienced an illness or injury that causes them to drag their paws.

Pet Diapers

Incontinence occurs in many older or injured animals. Often seen in animals that have had spinal cord injuries, chronic infections, and tumors, incontinence is often the reason why an indoor pet is permanently placed outdoors or is kept confined when left alone.

Whether it relates to an inability to voluntarily hold their urine or to issues of dribbling or leakage, a pet diaper can help to solve many of the problems caused by incontinence. Similar to people diapers, they are available for purchase in both washable and disposable forms.

When a pet is faced with a physical and/or health issue that restricts its mobility, owners depend on you to provide them with the information and products they need and the care their pet requires. Covetrus can provide you with the advice and products to help you better serve your clients and their animals. For further information, contact your Covetrus representative at: 855.724.3461.

Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook, 4^th ed., D.M. Eldredge, L.D. Carlson, D.G. Carlson, J.M. Giffin 

https://topdogtips.com/how-to-improve-quality-of-life-for-disabled-dogs/