Why Use Service Dogs (Animals) for Invisible Disabilities, Such As Arthritis or Asthma?
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For more information...
- What is an invisible disability?
An invisible disability, also known as a hidden disability, is any disability (something that significantly affects your normal life activities) that isn't obvious to an onlooker.... - Service Dog Etiquette: What's Polite, What's Rude
How should you act around a service dog? A person's natural instinct is to pet and play with dogs. Unfortunately, we must all respect the vest or cape of the service dog and ignore the dog as much as possible rather than petting it, touching it, dis
Would you consider using a service dog if you had an invisible disability that could be helped by the dog?
See results without voting"Why use service dogs for invisible disabilities?" you ask.
Why not? A disability is a disability, and dogs are amazingly attuned to their humans' needs and moods. Is someone with epilepsy helped less than someone with hearing or vision loss? Not if that dog is trained to help them in the unique ways in which they need help.
Even the government is starting to promote the use of service animals for veterans returning with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) because the dog can provide a grounding or stabilizing force for the person with PTSD. Trained dogs can help compensate and care for the disabled person in ways that a routine doctor's visit or medication can't.
Besides, how many people who are blind actually LOOK blind without their white canes? How many people look deaf?
Service dogs, prescribed by a medical doctor, aren't just for certain disabilities, they can be trained to help with MANY disabilities in ways unique to each individual. Examples of invisible disabilities that may be helped by a service animal:
- Autism
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Mania
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Vertigo
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Chronic pain
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Brain damage/traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Environmentally triggered allergies
- and many more disabilities!
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Hi,
I am Michelle Lopez I have Asthma and my Doctor has agreed I need a Service Dog to help alert me on the onset of an attack. I have had asthma all my life and I am not getting any better. I need a dog to open doors, get the phone, my medication, turn on lights, help me walk when I have an attack. among other things.I would like to have a better quality of life. Like every body else, I would love to go for walk that would help if I had a dog I could exercise my lungs and body. I could go places knowing that I would have a dog that could alert me before I get to the point that I cant breath. I would also like to educate people that have asthma there is help for them with a service dog. I would feel calm knowing that I am not alone when I do have asthma attacks which is at least 5 times a day. I am not allergic to dogs and have grown up with them most of my life. the last 17 years I have not had one and I really miss the companion of a dog. I can't just have any dog because of my condition so I am asking for a service dog as my Doctor has agreed it would help me have a better quality of life and for emergencies.. Please feel free to contact me at michelle_lopez1962@yahoo.com Thank you,
Michelle Lopez
/Feb 4,2011 was the first day I noticed symptoms that would be diagnosed as psoriatic arhtitis. My life has changed sompletely, can't lift my grandson, can't ride my horse, chronic pain in fingers. wrists, knees, toes all swollen (inflammatory arthritis). In 8mos. my life has become unrecognizable. So far nothing helps pain. I'd had a flu the week before the onset. My constant companion thru this misery is my chihuahua, he sits on my hands to warm the joints and never judges steady love and licks. I want him to be able to be a service dog so he can help calm me (high blood pressure too) and distract from pain. Has anyone got a pain relief dog helping them in any way?
I have a service dog for pain and agitation caused by constant pain. ASlthough the pain does not go away my service dog refocuses my energy away from the negative feelings caused by pain. She also keeps me very active and much more social.
Go to freemypaws.com to get more information & register your service dog. I registered mine and it is the best thing I could do. My dog now gets 'carded' at places to eat, planes, etc.
Cheers Jim
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izettl Level 6 Commenter 22 months ago
LOVE the hubs I've read so far by you and I know you know what I go through. I have rheumatoid arthritis, just diagnosed last year so my life is upside down and yes the support lacks because people either don't know what RA is (or compare it to osteoarthritis- very different though) or they think you're faking it, like you said. I am thinking about the possibility of a service dog. I think it would help me since I also have a 3 yr old too. My husband is ex military and has suffered PTSD. I will be reading more of your hubs.