Before humans domesticated dogs they would not survive long in the wild if they had a disability. This would fall under the survival of the fittest philosophy. In modern times dogs living indoors under proper care can live happy and healthy lives uninhibited by their disabilities. While some dogs are born with disabilities they can often pop up when you least expect them through accident or illness. Other disabilities in dogs come about similarly as they do in humans, with age. The most common disabilities among canines are loss of a limb, blindness, deafness and arthritis. Try the following tips to make your dog’s life as full and pain free as possible:

1. Loss of limb: Dogs can adapt fairly easily to life with only three legs. While it might take some time, they will eventually be able to walk and even run on their remaining legs. If your dog looses two legs then you might consider a rolling harness or doggie wheel chair to help him get along independently. A dog missing two front or rear legs can get along just fine with the appropriate gear. There are also slings that cradle your dog by the shoulders with handles that allow you to help him in areas where his wheel chair will not travel.

2. Blindness: Blindness in dogs can result from a head trauma, eye infection or underlying medical condition and can come on suddenly or progress over time. If your dog develops sudden blindness the best thing you can do is give him time to adjust to his new condition. Always announce your presence when you walk in the room and make sure to gently say his name before you pet him. Avoid picking up your pet as he may feel insecure about losing his footing in the beginning stages. Avoid making any changes in furniture arrangements to avoid confusing your dog. Also be careful when bringing him around new dogs during this time because this may cause him to bite out of fear. Be patient, he will likely bark a lot during this time. Some experts suggest that this works similarly to the sonar that bats use in that sound waves bounce off objects helping your dog find his way around. Your dog will adjust and after some time you will hardly be able to tell that he is blind.

3. Deafness: While deafness is a genetic characteristic predominant in some breeds, other dogs can develop deafness through infection or injury. Deafness is surprisingly difficult to assess in dogs. Some dogs just don’t come when called or pay much attention to things while others are alert and attentive. Deaf dogs may frustrate their owners because the owners get tired of the dog not listening to them. Be patient and try to step up their training through non-verbal cues. Try hand signals that correspond with commands such as sit, stay or lie down. You will also need to be vigilant in supervising your deaf dog. While he is relatively safe from danger indoors he is more susceptible to outdoor injuries because he can not hear the sound of traffic, beeping horns or other warning signs.

4. Arthritis: While arthritis can be genetic, dogs generally develop arthritis with age. Arthritis makes it more difficult for your mature dog to get around and causes him pain in the process. There are several things you can do to make your arthritic dog more comfortable including healthy doses of glucosamine and chondroitin, pain and anti-inflammatory medications and special products designed for their comfort. Arthritic dogs benefit from orthopedic foam mattresses to sleep on and while they are more expensive than a standard dog bed, they work miracles for some arthritic dogs. 

You will find that with patience and care on the front end that your dog will bounce back quickly from disability. In fact, dogs don’t have the pride and ego that most people do and will often bounce back more quickly than their human counter parts. Be careful to provide special care for your dog, but to avoid over caring for him. Dog’s need a certain level of independence and will learn from a few falls here and there.

Article submitted by the authors from pet super store a site featuring dog training collars, dog ramp, and dog beds.