Caring For Your Visually Impaired Pet
Create a safe, predictable environment for your blind pet.
Living Blind Takes Trust
A blind pet is quite a challenge. It is important when dealing with a pet that has a visual impairment to keep in mind all the things you would think of when dealing with a person with a visual impairment.
If you have ever known a blind person, you know how much of their ability to navigate and function in the world is based on trust. They must trust people to give them the right directions. They must trust that their guide dogs will do their jobs properly. They must trust they will be given the right change and treated fairly in many other ways. Whenever I have worked with blind people, I have been astonished by the level of trust that goes into getting through every step of each and every day.
Of course, with your pet, this is even more true. Pets trust us completely to provide all their needs. This is why it is so important to be completely trustworthy to your visually impaired pet. Do everything in a habitual, methodical way that your pet can rely on.
Be sure to:
- Always have food and water available in the same place, all the time.
- Always have bed, litter box and toys in the same place.
- Have boundaries clearly and safely marked so your pet will not wander off. This is especially true if your pet is expecting a litter. You will want to have a fairly small area made secure so the babies will not wander out of reach of the mother when they become big enough.
- Rely on your pet’s sense of smell. Your pet will be reassured and comforted by a bed that smells like you. Give your pet an old, worn sweater or other garment of yours as part of its bedding. Catnip toys will increase your blind cat’s fun at play-time. Scented toys will be a welcome addition for a blind dog.
- Rely on your pet’s sense of hearing. Keep soothing music playing in your blind pet’s living area. This will keep your pet company when you are not around. It will help your pet feel comfortable and secure in it’s living area.
Consistency is the key when dealing with a blind pet. If your pet can trust you and knows what to expect, it will be able to live a happy and healthy life.
Copyright: SuzanneBennett: June 9, 2009
For more about pets with disabilities, you may be interested in:
- Training Your Deaf Dog - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
In this article, I present my experience with a deaf dog and give a few tips, pointers and resources to help you train your deaf dog.
