Hi — I’m Andrea. I started Disabled Dog Care after spending 3+ years caring for my dachshund Heidi through IVDD with very little outside guidance. The site at disableddogcare.com became the resource I wished I’d had. This community is the next step: a place where caregivers can actually talk to each other.
If you’re here, you’re probably going through something hard. Maybe a recent diagnosis. Maybe weeks of crate rest with no end in sight. Maybe wondering if you’re doing this right. You’re not alone.
What this community is for
- Asking questions about the day-to-day of caring for a disabled dog
- Sharing what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what you’ve learned
- Connecting with other caregivers who actually understand
- Talking through the hard parts — burnout, grief, end-of-life decisions
What this community isn’t
- A replacement for veterinary care. Always work with your vet on medical decisions.
- A place for selling, advertising, or promoting commercial products outside the dog care space
- A debate forum. Disagreement is fine; cruelty is not.
How to get the most out of it
Start by introducing yourself and your dog in the Tell us about your dog thread. That’s the easiest way to break the ice. Then post in whatever category fits your situation — IVDD, Mobility & Paralysis, Daily Care, Quality of Life, or General Discussion if you’re not sure.
A few things worth knowing:
- New users have some posting restrictions for the first few days (no external links, limits on attachments). Once you’ve engaged a bit, those lift.
- Image uploads are disabled across the forum to keep things focused.
- If you see something that doesn’t belong, flag it — every post has a flag option.
Welcome. I’m glad you’re here!
-– Andrea