Lucas was almost 2 months old when he walked into our lives. This furball had so much love to give and we, as first-time cat parents, were in awe of every little thing he did. He was slowly gelling with his elder sister, Lucy, when it happened for the first time. Lucas had his first epilepsy attack.
It was almost 12 at night and we were preparing for bed when he started shaking vigorously in his cat bed and foaming at the mouth. His whole body was stiff and he was clawing onto the blanket. We were clueless — what was happening to our little baby? Did we feed him something wrong? Did he eat something poisonous? So many questions came to our mind and we finally decided to take him to the nearest vet because we didn’t want to take a chance. He was administered Diazepam — an anticonvulsant and we thought this was a one-time thing. But it was not.
He had another seizure in a week’s time and then another one too. We were lost — didn’t know what was happening with him. We started blaming ourselves for not being able to take care of him properly. Finally, after multiple tests and many more sleepless nights, we were told that what Lucas has is called idiopathic epilepsy — epilepsy that doesn’t have any known triggers and is believed to have a strong underlying genetic basis.The vet said that his epilepsy could only be managed with multiple medications and not completely cured.
What would it mean for Lucas?
We were heartbroken. But then with the medicines and after reading a lot about this ailment on the internet and interacting with many vets and cat parents on social media, we realised that we can do this! Our initial fear and hesitation gave way to resolve and determination. We knew we would do anything for Lucas.
Lucas currently is on 9 different kinds of medicines — tablets, syrups and supplements. He needs them timely. He is also on a special diet of gastrointestinal feline food that is easily digestible. But otherwise he is a fun catto who loves playing with his sister, chilling on the balcony or doing crazy things after sniffing catnip. He is living a full life while we try to administer the medicine in as stress-free manner as possible.
You too can bring home a special needs pet
Lucas has filled our lives and hearts with so much love and has taught us patience, courage and so much more. Today, I can’t imagine my life without him and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
All this back story, to tell all of you that pets with special needs might seem a handful at first but with patience and a little self-learning, you can take care of these babies too. Here’s a short list of things that you can do to ensure your special needs pet has a comfortable life:
- Talk to a specialist and follow your vet’s advice
- Formulate a routine and stick to it
- Do your own research as well
- Be a part of support groups
- Ensure that you have a backup plan to take care of your pet in case of an emergency
- Look out for organisations that can help you cover the financial cost as it can soar high at times
- And finally, to take proper care of your pet, you first need to take proper care of yourself!
At Donatekart too, we have worked closely with animal lovers who have taken in blind, paralysed and old strays because they can’t live on the streets anymore.
“People tell me why is it that only I can see these injured, malnourished animals. But I just do! And once I have spotted them, it is difficult for me to not look after them. They’re so innocent and without us helping them, they’re left to die on the streets. My heart breaks seeing them in such pain,” — Aman Walia, Founder, Aman’s Animal Rehabilitation Foundation (AARF).
25 YO Archie Sen of Street Dogs Of Ranchi, has a similar story to share — “There are so many elderly, paralysed dogs who don’t have the chance of being adopted, so I bring them home and look after them in my 2BHK apartment. They deserve love and affection too. And with their spinal cords damaged, they can hardly survive on their own.”
So the next time you visit a shelter, don’t shy away from adopting special needs animals and giving them a FURever home. You can also support their causes here.
At Donatekart, we’re constantly striving to curate the most relevant and engaging content just for you. If you loved reading this, then they’re voiceless but in pain will grab your attention too.
