Challenging the Misconceptions
When most people think of service dogs, they often picture a guide dog assisting someone with a visual impairment or a dog aiding an individual with mobility challenges. However, service dogs play an equally vital role for individuals with non-visible disabilities, providing critical support that often goes unnoticed by the public.
Conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other psychiatric or medical disorders can be life-altering, and service dogs serve as reliable, highly trained members of a team in managing these challenges. Many people are unaware that service dogs can detect medical emergencies before they occur. They are trained to recognize subtle changes in their recipient’s body language, scent, or physiological responses. These remarkable abilities allow individuals with non-visible disabilities to navigate their daily lives independently, knowing they have reliable assistance from their service dog.
Despite their essential role, these teams often face misunderstandings and skepticism from the public, highlighting the need for greater awareness and education.
What Are Non-Visible Disabilities?
Non-visible disabilities are medical conditions that are not immediately apparent to others but significantly impact a person’s daily life. These conditions include but are not limited to:
- Diabetes – Sudden fluctuations in blood sugar levels can be dangerous, requiring timely intervention. Individuals with diabetes often rely on continuous glucose monitors, but diabetic alert dogs can provide an additional layer of protection by detecting these changes through scent and behavior. Find out more about diabetic alert dogs.
- Epilepsy – Seizures can be unpredictable and require a trained response to ensure safety. Custom trained service dogs are able to detect seizures before they happen, allowing the individual time to get to a safe place or take preventative measures.
- PTSD & Anxiety Disorders – Individuals with PTSD may experience panic attacks, flashbacks, or dissociative episodes that service dogs help mitigate. Service dogs can provide deep pressure therapy, emotional grounding, and intervention techniques that help reduce the severity of symptoms. Learn more about how service dogs help people with these issues.
- Heart Conditions & Other Medical Alerts – Some individuals experience sudden changes in heart rate, blood pressure, or respiratory function, which service dogs can detect in advance. This allows recipients to take appropriate action before a medical crisis occurs.
Beyond these examples, non-visible disabilities encompass a wide range of conditions that can impact a person’s ability to function independently. Service dogs are uniquely trained to meet the specific needs of their recipients, helping them maintain a higher quality of life.
How Service Dogs Help Individuals with Non-Visible Disabilities
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs trains highly specialized dogs to provide lifesaving support in numerous ways:
- Diabetic Alert Dogs: These dogs can detect shifts in blood sugar levels before a person feels symptoms or before a medical device registers the change. By alerting their recipient, they enable timely intervention, preventing medical emergencies. They may also be trained to retrieve emergency medication or alert others if their recipient becomes unresponsive. Read more about diabetic alert dogs.
- Seizure Response Dogs: Service dogs can be trained to predict seizures and to respond by seeking help, positioning themselves to prevent the recipient from harming themselves, or fetching necessary medical supplies. These dogs help provide a level of independence for individuals with epilepsy, allowing them to feel safer in public and private spaces.
- PTSD and High Anxiety Service Dogs: These dogs perform tasks like interrupting panic attacks, providing deep pressure therapy, and creating a sense of confidence in overwhelming environments. They can also wake their recipient from night terrors, guide them to a safe location during an episode, or provide a physical barrier in crowded spaces. Discover how service dogs support individuals with PTSD and high anxiety.
- Medical Alert Dogs: These dogs can recognize symptoms such as irregular breathing, heart rate changes, or oncoming fainting episodes, alerting their recipients to take preventive action. Many individuals with heart conditions or other chronic illnesses rely on these dogs to detect early warning signs and provide crucial assistance.
These highly trained service dogs are not pets; they are medical aids that help prevent life-threatening situations. Their specialized training makes them invaluable to individuals with non-visible disabilities, giving them a greater sense of independence.
Why Awareness Matters: Recognizing & Respecting These Teams
Despite their crucial role, individuals with non-visible disabilities can face skepticism from the public when using a service dog. The lack of visible impairment leads to misunderstandings, unnecessary questioning, and even denial of access to public spaces. This is why education is essential:
- Public Perception & Legal Rights: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs are allowed to accompany their recipients in public spaces, regardless of whether the disability is visible. Businesses and the general public must be aware of these laws to ensure that service dog teams are not discriminated against.
- Understanding Boundaries: A working service dog should never be distracted, petted, or engaged with by strangers, as this can interfere with their ability to assist their recipient. Many individuals with service dogs face challenges from well-meaning but uninformed people who try to interact with the dog while it is working.
Spreading Awareness & Advocating for Service Dog Rights
Raising awareness about service dogs for non-visible disabilities helps foster greater understanding and inclusivity. Here’s how you can help:
- Educate Others: Share information about service dogs and their role in assisting individuals with non-visible disabilities. Education plays a key role in breaking down misconceptions and promoting a more inclusive society.
- Support Those in Need: If you or someone you know could benefit from a service dog, explore the resources available through Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. Our organization provides invaluable support and guidance to individuals seeking a service dog.
- Donate & Advocate: Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs provides service dogs to veterans, first responders, and civilians in need, changing lives every day. Your support can help make a difference for individuals who rely on these highly trained dogs for their medical safety and independence. Donations go toward the training, care, and pairing of service dogs with individuals who need them most.
- Get Involved: Advocate for service dog rights by promoting accessibility, supporting policies that protect service dog teams, and educating businesses on their legal responsibilities and rights. Your voice can help create a more understanding and accommodating world for individuals with non-visible disabilities.
To learn more or to make a donation, visit Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs.
Mrs. Borden’s expertise and accomplishments are acknowledged by numerous national awards from various industries and agencies including the 2018 Corporate Pet Industry Woman of the Year and multiple awards for her organization’s work in mental health and suicide prevention.
She is frequently requested as a Keynote Speaker, and as an Industry Consultant to teach service dog laws to judicial systems, attorneys, and businesses, and to assist in service dog bills in multiple states that were passed into law. In 2020, she started an Institute for Higher Learning and the Borden Veterinary Hospital. Additionally, she has written and teaches college-accredited/VA-approved apprenticeship courses on dog training and service dog training.
- Author and Medal of Honor Recipient Kyle Carpenter to Deliver Keynote Address at Pittsburgh Event - March 19, 2025
- How Service Dogs Handle Distractions in Public Places - March 18, 2025
- Service Dogs for Non-Visible Disabilities - March 3, 2025
