While you would like your dog to be perfect, this is not always the case. Dogs, like humans, can suffer from a range of medical and mental illnesses. It made no difference to one family that the dog they intended to adopt was mentally challenged.
They were resolved to include him in their family and provide him with a loving environment.
Everyone could see that the golden retriever named Stanley was unique. His peculiarities first frightened his parents. He was sociable and affectionate, as well as physically healthy, but they could sense there was something else going on with him.
The family’s decision to acquire Stanley from Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida was the first indication of something unusual. When they arrived at the foster home to fetch him up, they saw him asleep on the table.
Despite this strange behavior, they both fell in love with Stanley and decided to adopt him.
The nicest aspect was that Stanley got along with their children and the family’s other pets. When they tried to instruct him, they learned his difficulties were more severe than they had previously imagined.
First, he never responded to his name when called.
Stanley’s family was adamant about not giving up on him. They were concerned that he would injure himself by climbing onto the countertops and tables in the house. So they engaged experienced trainers to attempt to reach him. After two trainers resigned, one of whom labeled him mentally handicapped, they decided to have him examined by a veterinarian.
Various testing revealed that Stanley was, at the very least, recalcitrant and, at worst, suffering from inbreeding consequences. He was also quite obsessive-compulsive with particular behaviors, going through a pattern with most things and continuously accumulating items like a slipper, the remote, and certain stuffed animals.
Stanley’s family was determined to adore him despite his eccentricities. He was physically well and sociable, which was plenty for them.
“He may be a little sluggish,” his parents noted, “but his goofy idiosyncrasies, sweet temperament, and strange little personality make us adore him even more.”
Mental illnesses in animals can be caused by a variety of factors, including as disease, physical suffering, or degenerative concerns. If you suspect your pet has a mental illness, consult with your veterinarian.
If they do have a condition, you have various treatment choices, including exercise, mental stimulation, and medication. Most importantly, be patient with your pet and take them to the vet on a regular basis.
Fortunately, mental disorders in animals are uncommon, although they can exist. The video below goes into much depth about mentally impaired pets.
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