In many households, pets are members of the family and, like human loved ones, they sometimes need some modifications around the house if they suffer from disabilities. If you own a pet that is paralyzed, has general mobility issues, is blind, or has some other special need, you might be wondering how you can alter your home to make life easier for your furry friend.
As you read this guide, you will discover some important information about modifying your North Carolina or South Carolina home to best suit your disabled pet’s needs. Before we dive into this topic, remember that no two pets are exactly the same, so there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to handling their disabilities. As with anything deeply personal, you need to consider your unique situation before making any changes to your residence.
Consider your pet’s basic needs.
Whenever a homeowner is thinking about doing even minor renovations for a disabled pet, there are five key factors that should be taken into consideration first. These are outlined below.
- Overall quality of life – First and foremost, you need to think about how any change you make to your house will impact your disabled pet’s quality of life on a day-to-day basis. Depending on the extent of his or her special needs, you may need to invest in equipment, physical therapy, or home renovation supplies.
- Time requirement – Disabled pets require more time to care for than healthy ones. It is important for you to evaluate what aspects of looking after your pet take the longest and try to make changes that will make your daily life more efficient.
- Consider finances – It is important to create a budget for both your pet’s added expenses, such as medications and vet bills, and for home renovations related to his or her disabilities. This way, you won’t overspend and add to your stress level.
- Keep a routine – Regular routine is crucial to any pet’s well-being, but especially for disabled animals. When you make changes to your house, try to ensure that your pet’s normal routine is not disrupted much. You may also want to try to add features that improve his or her routine each day; a low window seat for an animal that struggles to jump is a great idea, for example.
- Have fun – It is easy to get so hung-up on providing your disabled pet with everything he or she needs for a healthy lifestyle that you forget he or she is still an animal who simply wants love, cuddles, and acceptance!
Research common residential modifications.
Before you start making any major changes to your house, it’s a good idea to look into some of the most popular renovations people make to accommodate their disabled pets. A few good ideas are detailed below.
- Non-slip flooring installation – If your pet has mobility problems, non-slip flooring is a product you should definitely look into. This is a great way to prevent your pet from further injuring himself or herself, not to mention it will help keep small children and elderly family members safe too.
- Recessed beds and litter boxes – Having a contractor construct recessed beds and litter boxes for your mobility-challenged animals is a great way to help them avoid jumping or lifting their legs too high. This is a great, and relatively inexpensive, way to keep them more comfortable for the long haul.
- “Baby proof” – If you own a vision impaired pet, “baby proofing” your home is a great way to ensure safety. Adding padding to corners, using bright colors to denote dangerous areas, such as steep steps, and not moving furnishings frequently are all good ideas.
Hopefully you will find these tips helpful as you begin working toward creating a safe home for you and your disabled pet.