Our clients include many special needs pets. If you have a pet that has a significant medical condition and/or requires unique care we can help. As you will read below, we are experienced with providing care for special-needs pets.
Diabetic Pets We care for many diabetic cats and dogs. Your pet will be scheduled for time-sensitive visits every 12 hours for insulin. Your cat will need to be social enough with strangers to allow us to administer the injection. If your cat hides when company comes over we won't be able to provide service due to the possibility that we may not be able to find him or her during the visit. You may want to consider boarding with a veterinarian.
Pictured is Mr. Bean, known affectionately as Beanie. He is a good boy when it comes to getting his injections.
Pictured is Mr. Bean, known affectionately as Beanie. He is a good boy when it comes to getting his injections.
Cancer. Bailey was a beautiful Bengal cat who, sadly, had intestinal cancer. When the owners received the diagnosis their lives changed dramatically as their schedules revolved around giving him his medication and making sure he ate. Traveling was out of the question... until they called us to see if we were willing to take on the challenge.
Bailey received oral chemotherapy and oral steroids on an alternating schedule and at specific times throughout the day. The liquid oral medication was administered via syringe which Bailey did not enjoy (cat owners - you can imagine!)
The biggest concern was getting him to eat. The owners found that he would eat fresh canned food (sometimes), baby food (sometimes) and tuna (sometimes)! He had lost considerable weight since I had seen him as a healthy kitty nearly a year before.
Sadly, Bailey's cancer was terminal and he passed away a few months after this picture was taken.
Megaesophagus is a disorder that requires pets to eat in an upright position and remain upright for 20 to 30 minutes after each meal to allow the food to progress to the stomach. This is a life-long condition. Dogs can lead happy lives when proper care is provided to reduce the risk of aspiration which can lead to pneumonia and death.
Verbena is a very lucky girl to have dedicated owners who continue to build her "chairs" as she grows and manage 80 minutes a day for her meal times. When their busy professional lives keep them away from home we are there to step in and provide that same care. She is a sweetheart as she sits quietly in her chair with pillows as cushions waiting for the microwave timer to go off, which is what she is doing in this picture. Doesn't she look bored?!
We've also provided care for an Alpaca ranch with 30+ Alpacas and up to 14 dogs. That, in itself, was special care but there are a few stories to come from it. One of the Alpacas required medication that was ground up and mixed in water to be given orally via a large syringe which looked more like a water bottle for hamsters. Well... let me tell you it is no easy feat to catch said Alpaca after having mastered the art of putting the syringe together. She knew what was coming no matter how innocently approached. It came down to determination. As you know, they have very long necks which also makes reaching the mouth and getting the syringe inside the final challenge after capturing her. There were quite a few Funny Video opportunities that were missed!
Did you know baby Alpacas need to have jackets put on them at night in the winter? Just when you think the older one is hard to catch you then discover the babies are very fast and nimble! So after finally catching one and putting the sweater on her you're at the Safety Pin moment. There was a reason someone invented Velcro!
A-typical Addison's disease Callie was a German Shepherd with A-typical Addison's disease. She didn't handle stress very well and had terrible diarrhea episodes. Her owners, through trial and error, found the balance of care and medication that helped her. With the proper steroid dosage and routine care she is a happy dog. Part of caring for her requires overnight visits.
Eventually, Callie's care required daily steroid injections in the hip which we administered with love and cookies as a treat for being such a good girl. Callie's parents were transferred to Ft. Hood, TX, and Callie passed away shortly afterward from bone cancer.
Thyroid Mister is a 12 year old kitty with an overactive thyroid. He needs a precisely measured amount of medicated salve put in alternating ears twice daily. When applying it is necessary to use a finger cot to prevent absorbing the medication. He is such a good boy even though he really dislikes this treatment. He gets a few "Greenies" for a treat.
From complicated medication routines to behavioral quirks, we are ready to be your partner in pet care. Call us today to discuss your pet's medical condition and treatment. Our experienced sitters are able to provide the care needed so you can travel with peace of mind.
