One of my main goals in starting this blog is to share that you don’t need to be a super hero to be a foster and even more importantly, you don’t need to be any sort of expert to foster special needs dogs. Truth be told, I have only been fostering for a few years and I only know what I know thanks to DRSF and getting a front row seat to watching President Pam and so many other amazing DRSF fosters over the years.
Sissie came to DRSF in March of 2017 after her owner could no longer care for her and then came to me in May 2018 after her first foster abruptly notified us that she had to move. I had limited experience caring for an IVDD dog, and zero experience caring for an incontinent one, but if I wasn’t willing to learn and change our daily operations to care for her, how could I expect anyone else in our community to open their home to an IVDD dog when they previously had no other experience?
Into the abyss I went, and I figured it out as I went along. Here are the supplies that worked best for us:
- Whelping Pads – I had a stack of these that rotated through the wash. I used them like area rugs and did what I could to encourage Sissie to stay on them when she was up and about.
- Cart – All the DRSF dogs roll on Eddie’s Wheels Carts. They are custom measured and built for each dog and Pam and I even had the chance to visit their factory!
- Purple Pebble Mat – These are super soft, super snuggly, moisture wicking mats/beds that I was introduced to by New England Pet Hospice. Sissie slept for one of these most of the day and they kept her dry. I had a stack of these and rotated them through use/wash and air dryed them on top of my washing machine.
- Canna Pet – DRSF is grateful to Canna Pet for their generous rescue program that allows us to use CBD and all of its benefits for many DRSF dogs. Sissie suffered from seizures and I used Canna Pet with her for additional support.
- Valium Suppositories – Sissie’s seizures were controlled 99% with Phenobarbitol. I was able to get compounded Valium Suppositories that I kept in the fridge as a backup plan if she had a seizure that she did not come out of on her own. Be sure to have rubber gloves on hand if you need to use these!!!
- Re-usable Dog Diapers – I didn’t use diapers with Sissie very often, but when I did, these are the ones I used. The colors are super bright and cute and they washed up with no problem!
- Nina Ottonson Puzzles – I owe this one to Dynamite Dog Training who had come to visit us to help with Bobbi and Merri, our ferral dogs, who suggested them to build confidence and reduce anxiety. Bobbi and Meri didn’t want anything to do with them, but Sissie took to them like a duck to water. I am not a huge fan of store bought dog treats (too expensive!) and so I filled them with cucumbers and Crispix cereal. Less expensive and less calories…two of my favorite things.
- Floor Care – With so many dogs in the house and not being able to come home for lunch made for lots and lots of mopping. For my floors, I alternate between Mrs. Myers Clean Day and DIY Borax and Vinegar (which I swear lightened the grout in my tiles too!). Also – Dyson Cordless Vac. Don’t have a dog without one!
- Pill Cutter – Doing pills is my least favorite chore of the week. This magical little device cut my pill prep time in half for prepping a week’s worth of meds and supplements for 6 dogs.
- Waterproof Mattress Cover – I am a huge fan of controlling the things I can control so that I can save my anxiety for the things I can’t control. This mattress cover has saved my mattress more times than I can count from sleeping with an incontinent dog who manages to get out of her bed in my bed on more than one occasion.
- Bed Gate – I learned from the school of hard knocks that a dog having a seizure could fall out of bed at night. This solved that problem.
So many people ask “how are you able to care for special needs dogs? It has to be so hard!” Like everything in life, where there is a will, there is a way. If I can figure it out, anybody can. Trial and error to find what works and then pass it along to help or inspire others…if you, or someone you love is caring for an IVDD dog, I hope that something above can make the process a bit easier for you! If you are a foster and considering fostering an IVDD dog – If I can do it, ANYONE can do it and there so are so many dogs out there that need you!
