Pet sitting for animals with special needs

All pets are special, we already know that! However, animals with special needs just need a little extra care when it comes to their daily routine. As a pet sitter, you want to make sure you can provide the best for every pet you look after. The best place to start is to understand what you’re taking on before you go ahead with your sit. This includes knowing how to care for special needs pets.

We’ll look at what counts as a special needs pet, some of the extra tasks you might need to think about, things to consider during the sit, and why pet sitting for special needs dogs, cats, rabbits, parrots, or fish is just as paw-some as any other pet sit.

What is a pet with special needs?

Animals with special needs are those pets who need a little extra assistance with their day-to-day routine than your average pet. This can be because of many different reasons, including:

• Physical disabilities (mobility issues, impaired sight, hearing impaired, etc.)
• Rescue pets with an unknown history
• Behavioral issues
• Animals with allergies
• Chronic illnesses (diabetes, hyperthyroidism, cancer, etc.)

This list definitely generalizes the wide range of special needs some pets will have. For their sitter providing pet care, it means they might have a few more things on their to-do list, as well as make sure you’re aware of what your pet pal’s limits are. Do they need help moving about? Are there particular places they can’t or shouldn’t go inside or outside? How strict are their feeding times and diets?

Before a sit, make sure you have everything you need from the pet parents, you feel confident with what you need to do, and you have the phone numbers of people who can help in an emergency. Don’t worry, it’s okay to ask lots of questions! The pet parents will appreciate you being over-prepared before they leave.

Pet care for special needs pets

Feeding special needs pets

For special needs pets with specific medical dietary requirements, it’s important you know exactly what they can and can’t eat at particular times of day, whether they need medicine added to their food or signs of a reaction to look out for. This sounds scarier than it is - talk it through with their pet parents beforehand, ask them to include it in their house-sitting instructions, and be sure to contact them if you’re unsure of anything.

Those pets who have mobility issues will often have a good food bowl set up to make eating comfortable. However, it’s definitely worth staying nearby to make sure they can access their food without any problems.

Helping special needs pets to use the bathroom

This one mostly applies to pets who struggle to walk. To help an elderly arthritic dog use the bathroom, you may need to offer some support for them to lean on. Cats with mobility problems might need to be taken to their litter tray at certain times of the day. Some will also need help cleaning up if they’re unable to wash themselves. Make sure you know what’s what before their first bathroom break with you.

Exercise and enrichment for special needs pet

All pets need daily exercise and mental stimulation, even those who find some normal tasks a bit more difficult than others. Have a clear idea of how you can provide this during your sit - do they have particular toys they can use, is there a specific park they’re safe to run around in and do certain activities like jumping need to be avoided? Chat with their parents, and create a plan together of how to keep them fit and fabulous each day.

Grooming pets with special needs

Grooming pets with special needs will only apply to a few of these animals - fish don’t need to be brushed, for example, or your sit may be just for a night or two - but still worth keeping in mind. Again, those with mobility issues might need some extra grooming every day. Those with behavioral problems might have an issue being touched in a particular area. For your safety and comfort, don’t attempt to groom a pet unless their parents talk you through how to do it.

The benefits of pet sitting animals with special needs

You already know there are a million and one reasons why pet sitting in general is just paw-some. It’s a magical experience where you have the chance to build a unique bond with a new pet pal. In return, they’re given round-the-clock pet care in the comfort of their home by an animal lover who can look after them until their parents are back home.

This can become an even more rewarding experience if you choose to sit with animals with special needs. Understandably, some sitters are deterred by the extra work and responsibility that can come with special needs pets. But all pets need TLC and pet parents sometimes need a break too. Offering your time to help out a family with a slightly different routine to a typical household means extra enrichment for the pet, some time off for their parents, and the opportunity to learn about a different lifestyle. It’s a new adventure, pet people! 

Have you cared for animals with special needs in the past? Or would you like the chance to do so? If you’re keen to share your wisdom, or ask for advice, head to our Community Forum to connect with other pet lovers who are there to share the love. You don’t even have to be a TrustedHousesitters member to join the chat! But, if you’re curious about becoming part of our global pet people community, check out our different membership options - see which one is purr-fect for you!