Guide Dogs

What are guide dogs?

Guide dogs are trained to lead the blind or vision impaired. The dog acts as a pilot to direct its owner in a straight line unless directed to turn, while avoiding obstacles in all directions.

How do I get a guide dog?

Blind Veterans are assessed and trained for orientation and mobility. If a guide dog is preferred, information on how to contact guide dog schools is provided. Partnership with the guide dog is provided through non-VA affiliated guide dog schools.

What benefits does VA provide?

Blind Veterans with working dogs are provided veterinary care and equipment through VA Prosthetics and Sensory Aids. VA does not pay for boarding, grooming, food, or any other routine expense associated with owning a dog.

Service Dogs

What are service dogs?

A service dog is a dog trained to do specific tasks for a person that he or she cannot do because of a disability. Service dogs can pick things up, guide a person with vision problems, or help someone who falls or loses balance easily. For example, a service dog can help a blind person walk down the street or get dangerous things out of the way when someone is having a seizure.

Protecting someone, giving emotional support, or being a companion do not qualify a dog to be a service animal. To be a service dog, a dog must go through training. Usually the dog is trained to:

• Do things that are different from natural dog behavior
• Do things that the handler (dog owner) cannot do because of a disability
• Learn to work with the new handler in ways that help manage the owner’s disability

Because the handler depends on the service dog’s help, service dogs are allowed to go to most public places the handler goes. This is the case even if it is somewhere pet dogs usually cannot go, like restaurants or on airplanes. But there are a few exceptions. For example, service dogs can be asked to leave if they are not behaving well.

How do I get a service dog?

Each Veteran’s case is reviewed and evaluated by a prescribing clinician for the following:

• Ability and means, including family or caregiver, to care for the dog currently and in the future
• Goals that are to accomplished through the use of the dog
• Goals that are to be accomplished through other assistive technology or therapy

The Veteran will be informed of an approval or disapproval of their service dog request. Veterans approved for service dogs are referred to Assistance Dogs International-accredited agencies. There is no charge for the dog or the associated training.

What benefits does VA provide?

Veterans with working service dogs are provided veterinary care and equipment through VA Prosthetics and Sensory Aids. VA does not pay for boarding, grooming, food, or any other routine expense associated with owning a dog.

Additional Resources

• Guide and Service Dogs Frequently Asked Questions
• Fact Sheet on Guide and Service Dogs

Non-VA Related Resources

• Assistance Dogs International* (Service Dogs)
• International Guide Dog Federation* (Guide Dogs)
• National Association of Guide Dog Users*

*The links above will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs Website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites. The link will open in a new window.

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs?

The following symptoms should be investigated as they could be indicators that your dog has diabetes:

Change in appetite
Excessive thirst/increase in water consumption
Weight loss
Increased urination
Unusually sweet-smelling or fruity breath
Lethargy
Dehydration
Urinary tract infections
Vomiting
Cataract formation, blindness
Chronic skin infections

This information is from : WebMD for pets

If you need pet sitting and are worried about leaving your pet because he/she has diabetes, no worries!

We will be glad to administer insulin.

Give us a call for your pet sitting and dog walking needs.

Four Paws Pet Sitting Services  919-388-PAWS (7297)

It doesn’t take much to make dogs happy–pets and treats, please! Check out the infographic below for more on how to get your pet to please you with positive reinforcement.

A friend of mine, a veteran of the military, shared this mantra with me, “Take care of your feet, because your feet take you everywhere.” I always remembered that fact and for us humans, it can often be associated with many types of medical issues, particularly those that are connected with a number of conditions like diabetes and circulation problems, since our lower extremities are the furthest from both our hearts and brains.

In another chapter from my personal adventures associated with my beloved canine companions, during the dog days of summer, in the quiet suburb neighborhood where I live, I always walk my dog with bare feet during the hotter months. Although my neighbors tease me about this relentlessly, my mind tells me that, if the sidewalk or asphalt is too hot for MY FEET, it must most certainly torture my dog’s sensitive little paws. Anyone who has ran quickly across a hot beach with no shoes can certainly relate to this circumstance. OUCH!

The same is true for our pets, especially dogs, whose paws propel them everywhere in life. Taking care of these delicate extremities is vitally important for their mobility, health and overall welfare. When they have issues with these tissues, sometimes they can chew, lick and irritate these sensitive areas, which only makes the matter worse. Here’s some ways to watch and protect the paws of our beloved four-legged pets:

Paws Don’t Come With A Preventative Care Manual

Although there’s no such thing as “perfect” when it comes to preventative care, there are some steps that we can take to help our pets with better paw protection:

Trimming their nails is a daunting task at best, but taking some preventative measures when you’re a DYI kind of pet owner is essential. Consider taking some of these steps to prevent excessive bleeding from cutting too close to the quick.

Check your dog’s footsies regularly for signs of irregular abuse, cracking, peeling, redness, swollen areas and other areas of possible irritation and infection. Consult your veterinarian if these problems look serious or you see limping and excessive licking, chewing or favoritism, which can complicate matters.

Some dogs that have anxiety problems, or they are particularly stressed for some
reason, others are aging with arthritis and other muscular conditions can be more prone to issues with their legs and paws. Again, see your veterinarian for solutions and relief that go beyond the “cone of shame.”

In extreme climate conditions, both hot and cold, pet owners should resort to protective devices such as booties, to protect their pets from unnecessary harm from the elements.

Younger dogs that are more fast moving and are therefore particularly vulnerable to paw injury and abuse, especially on rough surfaces. They should be monitored more closely and watched for signs of increased wear-and-tear that can occur with higher incidences with these more active individuals.

There’s another idiom for the care of feet and delicate paws that that goes along with our human endeavors that goes, “Take care of your feet because they’ll carry you for life.” Extend the years you spend with your pet by ensuring their paws, legs, heart and soul, will be with you for life. Both yours and theirs.

Written by Amber Kingsley

Hoping to get a new family-friendly dog breed? Jordan Walker, content curator of Coops and Cages, will help you narrow down your options and select the perfect dog breed that would be right for your kids.
There are a lot of things that need to be considered prior to getting a new pet. . The price of a pet is not just the main concern for families with kids; the dog’s appearance and temperament must also be considered. If you’re looking for kid-friendly breeds, you should focus on calmer, playful, and active breeds.
Since there are plenty of dog breeds to choose from, selecting a child-friendly breed can be quite tricky. To help you make up your mind, here are the top 5 child-friendly dog breeds to choose from.

This is the largest among the  dog breeds list, which has a life span of 10 to13 years. If you’re looking for a dog breed that’s reliable, friendly, and smart, then you can always count on the Golden Retriever as it possesses such qualities. They are also patient, so rest assured they can get along well with the kids. And because it enjoys playing, it can match your child’s level of activeness.

The Labrador Retriever or Lab is one of the medium-sized dog breeds, which are considered as kid-friendly. They are known to be naturally good-tempered and can keep up with children’s liveliness. It is protective, playful, and loving – all the qualities you’re searching for in a child-friendly breed. You can ensure that your child will always feel safe, and look forward to his playtime with your Lab. It is not only sweet, but is intelligent as well.

Younger children sometimes have the tendency to fear larger dog breeds that is why some families opt to get gentle smaller breeds. Among these breeds would be the Beagle, which is known to be the ideal pet breed for families with kids. They are bursting with energy for play, and are very friendly, so they easily get along with children. They are basically childproof and energetic. You may even expect them to show signs of exhaustion after the kids tire out.

German Shepherd dogs are among the large dog breeds that are intelligent and agile. They are obviously outgoing, kind, and gentle, which are among the qualities that make a dog child-friendly. These qualities also make them ideal companions, guardians, and watchdogs.

The Newfoundland or Newfie is among the large breeds that don’t intimidate the kids because they are usually very sweet. They are even dubbed as “Nature’s Nannies” because of their inherent love or children. They are also smart, and are always enthusiastic about bonding and enjoying with humans.

When it comes to choosing a pet for the kids, the children’s safety should always be a priority. Therefore, you need to choose dog breeds that are trainable and gentle – the kind of breed that would make you feel comfortable and at ease, even when your pet is out of its portable dog playpen, playing comfortably with younger children.

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Author: Jordan Walker

Jordan likes to write many pet-related blogs, and is also the lead content curator for Coops and Cages. His passion for animals is only matched by his love for ‘attempting’ to play the guitar. Catch him on Google+ or Twitter: @CoopsAndCages.