Special Needs Pets
About the programme
Ethel, a fluffy white rabbit, has back leg problems. Whilst out playing she was struck down by a mystery illness and now can't walk. Despite her condition, owner Zoey is doing all she can to prevent her being put down. She believes one day Ethel may recover, and is searching for a cure. She's currently pinning her hopes on rabbit chiropractic care, but in the meantime Ethel has the rabbit wheelchair Zoey bought off the internet to help her get around.
Ethel also has to wear a specially adapted nappy which was supplied by Karen, who runs her pet nappy business from home. She says most of her clients are well-to-do, like James, the city banker. His cat Henry was involved in a terrible accident, from which he barely survived, leaving him needing to be 'expressed' during the day, but incontinent at night. Apart from reducing the dry cleaning bills James believes the cat nappies have given Henry his dignity back.
It would seem if your pet has a problem there is usually someone somewhere who can help.
Ten-year-old Jack Russell Katy uses a stairlift, and lives with owners Sue and her disabled mum Doris. A brain disorder has left Katy with no sense of balance, leaving her unable to walk more than two or three steps without falling or flipping over. Now Sue is travelling to North Yorkshire to get her a dog wheel chair, but will it give her the stability she needs to go on long walks with her owners like she used to?
But it's not just physical disabilities that can blight the life of pets – African Grey parrot Fred is in mourning. Problems began when Fred's owner George passed away and now George's wife Helen has to give him 'parrot Prozac' in the hope it will cure his acute depression and prevent his continued feather plucking.
But what happens when your pet isn't a cat or dog or parrot but something more unusual? Grenville and Barbara own three pot bellied pigs. One of them, Brillo, is seriously ill. But because they are rarely kept as pets not much is known about his condition apart from it being terminal. But Grenville and Barbara are determined to do what they can to keep him alive for as long as possible, while at the same time coming to terms with the fact that their beloved pig may not always be around.