I was very surprised by the reaction my earlier question elicited, some people seem very passionate about the subject about not trying to work with disabled dogs vs working with them. I was told that I should have put my highly functional disabled dog down by a poster here and not have rehabilitated her because she was paralyzed as a puppy. I wanted to open this question up to what are the general pet owners feelings regarding rehabilitation of these dogs. Photos and video of my gimp are posted on my previous question.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvBWhKnAX19dizdjiexIP3fsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100305191646AAyZ2pE
Do you feel people should try to rehabilitate paralyzed puppies or adult dogs? What about what they did on UDWD? [ http://animal.discovery.com/videos/underdog-to-wonderdog-faith.html ]
Do you believe carts/ wheel chairs for dogs are good or just dragging on a miserable empty life?
What are your feelings of leg amputations, knee and hip surgeries?
What do you believe is a good quality of life vs poor?
I’ll answer the question too. 🙂
Do you feel people should try to rehabilitate paralyzed puppies or adult dogs? What about what they did on UDWD? [ http://animal.discovery.com/videos/under… ]
My answer to the first part of this question is obvious. lol and I think it was wonderful what they did with Faith and donating that cart to her, if the rescue has the resources go for it. My girl came to me as a shelter transfer to rescue and was going to be along the lines of Faith but I fell in love with Presley and the rescue gave her to me.
Do you believe carts/ wheel chairs for dogs are good or just dragging on a miserable empty life?
I think carts are great and can provided the quality of life that a disabled dog would not get to experience otherwise.
What are your feelings of leg amputations, knee and hip surgeries?
I have rescued or assisted in the rescue of many ortho dogs and placed them in great loving homes.
What do you believe is a good quality of life vs poor?
For a good quality of life I feel dog should be able to live a fairly pain free life whether with or without medications and be able to be an active part of the owners life. My girl lives for other people, if she was stuck at home, she would have a horrible quality of life. I think carts and accessories help give that quality of life to dogs would would not have it previously. I think behavior can hinder the dogs quality of life just as much as any physical limitation. Often those dogs, like the hunting dog, their activities can be modified to accommodate that loss of activity for instance swimming with a life jacket at an indoor pool, running in a cart after the ducks at the park, the list goes on just gotta find the match.
Dogmabit: LOL, I didn’t even think of THAT Faith, I think that Faith, she’s a whole different impressive story than the under dog to wonder dog Faith I link to. 🙂
First Reply:
Answer by Dawn
If there is technology out there for them, then I say yes try to rehabilitate them. They are like people and you wouldn’t get rid of a friend, neighbor, family member or any member of society if he/she were disabled. Why not rehabilitate paralyzed puppies and adult dogs. Their life isn’t miserable if they have a good owner and love. These dogs can have a very enriching life with the right owner; one who cares for them adequately and are devoted to them. Remember animals (especially dogs) are rewarding to have too.