Cosmo is a Special Needs French Bulldog
Cosmo is a handsome and fun loving little guy who would love to roll right into your life for unlimited chest rubs. Nobody is quite sure how this little dog from Memphis, Tennessee came to lose the use of his hind legs. A traumatic injury is suspected. One neighbor reported seeing somebody kick the little dog when he approached her and her own dog. The owner himself suspected that Cosmo had tumbled into a drainage ditch near his home and had injured himself in the fall. Whatever his past we know his future is bright because this is one happy little boy! Cosmo doesn’t let his handicap get him down or keep him from having fun!
Cosmo is a rescue placement!
Date posted: 1/10/2011
Date last updated: 1/12/2011
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Email: Cosmo
Age: 5 years
Gender: Neutered Male
Color: Brindle Pied
Weight: 32 lbs
Temperament: Friendly and Outgoing
Activity Level:Active in Play only
Dogs: Likes all Dogs
Cats: Unfamiliar with Cats
Kids: Fine with dog smart kids
Object Aggression: Not at all
Handicaps: Yes
Medical Issues: Cosmo is paralyzed in the rear end, and has some food and skin allergies.
He also requires eye drops to treat his dry eye condition.
Crate Trained: Yes
Housebroken: N/A
Shipping: No
Cost to Acquire: 250.00
Our rescue dogs are placed without registration papers.
Cosmo’s Gallery
What you read here is based on Cosmo’s observed behavior while in his current foster home.
Cosmo is paralyzed in the rear end. Though he is blissfully unaware of his condition, this means that from about the middle of his back down about the middle of the back down he has no feeling and no ability to move his rear legs or control his bladder and has very little control over his bowels. He uses a cart when he is outside, but inside the house, he is able to move around very easily on his front legs, sliding his back legs behind him, which he much prefers. Cosmo loves going on walks in his wheelchair, but he also enjoys getting unstrapped to give his front legs and shoulders a rest and so he can scoot around the house without having to take his wheeled cart with him.
The part of his care that will require the most attention and planning is his potty use. He goes regularly around the time he eats (within an hour), so that is easy to plan. Also, he wears a “belly band” with a man’s incontinence pad in it, which controls the urine well. He cannot wear a belly band all the time because the urine up against his skin would cause irritation and infections over time, so the belly band comes off at night. He does leak in his bed, so he needs fresh bedding every morning, and he needs to be freshened up himself with a wash cloth before he is ready to face the day. Washable waterproof crib pads or washable underpads are a great choice to tuck over crate bedding to keep his bed clean and comfortable without having to wash all his blankets every morning.
Cosmo also has “dry eye,” which means he needs ophthalmic drops once a day at the cost of about $60 for a three month supply. He cannot have steroids to help control his allergies because, combined with his lack of bladder control, they could cause a bladder infection (which he has not had problems with in the past). His foster mom is a veterinarian and has been controlling his allergies with diet, feeding him Natural Balance Venison and Potato, and by using a Thorne herbal product that can be purchased directly from Thorne, which helps a lot.
Cosmo needs a permanent home willing to give him the attention and love he needs and deserves. Cosmo is a VERY happy and VERY sweet French Bulldog, and he does enjoy being out and about where he can be sociable and meet and greet new people. An ideal home would be one that has either no dogs or gentle, calm dogs that won’t overwhelm him. Right now, Cosmo lives with four other dogs, and they all do fine BUT they are all crated separately when his foster mom is gone, and that should be continued when his owners are gone in the future.
What his new parents will need most is patience and understanding and time, the time to give him the physical care that he needs. His new family will need to accept that there will be urinary and fecal messes to clean up, and that these are not his fault. His new owners also need to know that his incontinence can be managed, but not “fixed”. His allergies and dry eye will require chronic care as well. A single level home, with minimal stairs, and no carpet would provide the optimal setting for Cosmo, as it will make life easier both for Cosmo and for the new family.
Please do not underestimate the time and energy required to keep him well and happy. This is not to scare potential adopters away, but to make certain that when people apply, they understand fully what is required. We realize it will take a very special person to open their heart and take on the commitment of caring for Cosmo. We are convinced, however, that for that special owner, the rewards will be well worth it, and Cosmo will prove to be a wonderful, devoted companion!
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