Who Can Get a Service Dog?
People with the following diagnoses can benefit greatly from the ownership of a service dog:
• Cerebral Palsy
• Arthritis
• Ataxia
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Chronic Seizures
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Hearing Disorders
• Cardio/Pulmonary Disease
• Psychiatric Disorders
Service dogs can assist people with various other diagnoses as well, so you should speak with your healthcare professional to see if getting a canine can be of use to you.
What Is to Be Gained?
People with the previously mentioned disorders may find certain tasks to be difficult to perform. Service dogs can be trained to handle a wide array of tasks, so they can make life so much easier for those people. Service dogs have also been found to be highly useful for improving a person’s overall well-being. A friendly companion has been linked to better self-esteem and community integration.
What You Should Know Before Getting a Service Dog
The choice to get a service dog, or any dog for that matter, is a big one and should not be taken lightly. If you have a certain health diagnosis, getting a dog may not be able to provide you all the services you need, so you need to do your research to learn about what would be best for you to get the help you need. Talk to your doctor to review your options and to find out what kind of treatment is best for you.
If you do decide that a service dog is right for you, then there is a lot to learn about its proper care and all that it can do for you. Service dogs can completely change a person’s life, so go over your options today.
