How To Help Your Aging Parents Take Care Of Their Pets: 12 Tips to Consider
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Pets are more than just animals to many people – they are the beloved members of the family. And as our parents age, it’s important to make sure that their pets continue to receive the exact care and attention they need.
Whether your parents are struggling with mobility, financial challenges, or simply getting older, there are plenty of ways you can help them take care of their furry companions.
Let’s look at the 12 most practical tips and advice that you can follow to support your loved ones and their pets through their golden years.
Buy the Right Pet Supplies
As your parents age, it can become increasingly difficult for them to keep up with the daily care of their pets. Therefore, it’s important to remember that as our parents age, their needs change too!
So, it is our duty to ensure that our parents have access to everything they need to keep their pets healthy and happy. It may seem like a small step, but it can make a big difference in the quality of life for both your parents and their pets.
From food and water bowls to comfortable beds, toys, and grooming supplies – there are a lot of items that can make caring for a pet easier and more enjoyable.
Different grooming supplies suit different breeds, so choose the right products for your parents’ dog. For example, if your parents have a poodle, consider buying them the best shampoo for poodles to keep their pet’s coat looking shiny and healthy.
Make Arrangements for Regular Vet Checkups
Just like humans, pets need regular checkups to stay healthy and catch any potential health issues early on. And as your parents grow older, they might forget to schedule these appointments, so you must take the lead and make sure their pet gets the care they need.
This could involve scheduling appointments with their regular veterinarian, setting reminders, arranging for transportation to and from the vet’s office, or even accompanying them to the appointment to provide additional support.
And if your parents’ pets require regular medication or treatments, you could also help them keep track of these and ensure they are administered properly.
Moreover, discuss any concerns they may have about their pet’s health and well-being with the veterinarian. Staying on top of their pet’s health needs can help prevent any kind of serious health issues from arising, ensuring that their furry friend continues to stay healthy and happy for many more years to come!
Make Sure Their Pet Has Proper Identification
Pets can easily get lost or wander off, especially if your parents are older and have mobility issues. And losing a pet can be a pretty devastating and traumatic experience for them in case they have already developed a strong bond with their furry companion.
One of the best and easy ways to help them keep their pet safe is by making sure that they have proper identification.
For instance, you can get a collar with an identification tag that includes your parents’ contact information or can even get their pet microchipped. So encourage your parents to keep their pet’s identification up-to-date and to have a recent photo of their pet on hand.
This in return can make things much easier for someone who finds their pet to get in touch with your parents and thus help them reunite with their furry friend without much hassle and delay.
Plus, your parents can stay relaxed and remain completely rest assured, knowing that their beloved pet is safe and secure.
Set Up a Feeding and Walking Schedule
Setting up a feeding and walking schedule can help your parents stay on top of their pet’s needs. Pets thrive on routine, and having a set schedule for when they eat and go for walks can help them feel more secure and less anxious.
After all, with aging, things just kept on becoming more difficult to remember, let alone any important tasks.
Talk to your parents about their pet’s current schedule and try to create a plan that works for everyone involved. And in case your parents have trouble remembering when to feed their pet or take them for a walk, the best is to set up reminders on their phone or a calendar.
You can also hire a dog walker or pet sitter to help out if your parents cannot do so themselves.
Help with Pet Grooming
As pets age, they may not be able to groom themselves as well as they used to. This is where you can step in and help your aging parents care for their furry friends.
Regular grooming of your pet helps keep their fur clean, shiny, and tangle-free. It also prevents skin irritations and infections. Trimming their nails is also important parts of grooming that should not be overlooked.
Grooming a pet can be messy and time-consuming, but it’s a great opportunity to bond with your parent’s pet.
You can use this time to chat with your aging parent and ask them how their day was while also giving their pet some much-needed attention.
Consider Pet-Sitting Services
Sometimes, your aging parents may need to go out of town or may have a medical appointment that will keep them away from home for an extended period. So, it’s important to make sure their pets are well taken care of during their absence.
This is where pet-sitting services come in.
Pet-sitting services offer a variety of options to cater to your parent’s needs. They can come to your parent’s home and take care of their pet while they are away, or they can even take the pet to their own home if that’s more convenient.
The services, in general, includes providing feeding, exercise, and companionship to your parent’s pet – ensuring that they are happy and healthy while their owners are away.
Make sure to do your own part of the research in choosing a reputable pet-sitting service to ensure your parent’s pet is in good hands. Consider reading reviews, asking for recommendations, and checking their credentials before deciding on a pet sitter. And in case you have a trusted friend or family member to look after your pet, you can also reach out to them.
Install Pet Safety Features
Another way to help your aging parents care for their pets is by installing pet safety features in their homes. This could include baby gates to block off certain areas of the house, non-slip mats to prevent falls, and even a doggy door so their pet can come and go as they please.
If your parents have a larger property, you might also consider installing a fence to keep their pets contained and safe. Last but not least, you can even opt for a doggy door that can be locked to prevent intruders or wild animals from entering their homes.
By taking these steps, you will provide your aging parents with the exact peace of mind, knowing their pets are safe and comfortable in their homes.
Have the Carpets Professionally Cleaned to Remove Lingering Pet Odors
Pets can bring a lot of joy and companionship into our lives, but they can also leave behind unpleasant odors that can be difficult to get rid of. For instance, it is not uncommon for pets to leave lingering odors on the carpets and the upholstery.
So, if your parents have carpets in their home, consider cleaning them professionally to remove any lingering pet odors. This will make the house more pleasant for your parents and their guests and create a healthier living environment for both the pets and the humans in the home.
Additionally, it can be helpful to regularly clean and replace pet bedding, litter boxes, and other items that may contribute to unwanted smells.
Get Automatic Food and Water Dispensers
One of the biggest challenges of caring for pets as our parents get older is keeping up with their daily needs. Feeding and watering pets can become quite a hassle, especially if mobility or memory issues are present.
This is where automatic food and water dispensers come in handy.
By installing these dispensers, your aging parent’s pets will have access to fresh food and water throughout the day without your parents having to monitor and refill the dishes constantly.
Automatic dispensers are particularly useful for pets that require strict feeding schedules or medication, as they can be programmed to dispense meals and medication at specific times. Plus, they can even prevent overfeeding, along with helping the pet to maintain a healthy weight.
Investing in automatic food and water dispensers will make life easier for your aging parents and ensure their pets are well-fed and hydrated throughout the day, even when their owners are not around.
Teach Pet Obedience
Teaching your aging parents’ pets obedience is extremely crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of both the pet and its owner. Basic obedience training can make a big difference in their behavior and help prevent accidents or injuries, whether it’s a dog, cat, or even a bird.
First, you should ensure your parents’ pets are properly trained to respond to basic commands such as sit, stay, and come. This can be done through positive reinforcement training, where the pet is rewarded for good behavior. You can also hire a professional trainer if needed.
Additionally, you should ensure that your parents understand the importance of consistency when training their pets. They should consistently reinforce the same commands and behaviors to avoid confusion or mixed signals.
Provide Pet Entertainment
Just like humans, pets need entertainment and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy.
How to do it?
Well, it’s pretty simple. You can engage and entertain them for long hours through interactive toys or puzzles. These toys are easily available and helpful in stimulating their minds and keeping them occupied for extended periods. As a bonus hack, you can also rotate their toys regularly to keep things fresh and interesting.
Another way to provide entertainment for pets is through regular exercise and playtime. This can be as simple as taking a daily walk with a dog or setting up a play area for a cat to climb and explore.
Plan for Emergencies
Emergencies can happen at any time, and it’s essential to have a plan in place to ensure your aging parents’ pets are taken care of in case of an emergency. This includes things like creating an emergency contact list, having a backup plan for pet care, and preparing a disaster kit.
One crucial step is to ensure your parents have a list of emergency contacts, including their veterinarian’s number, a nearby pet boarding facility, and someone who can check on their pets if they cannot do so themselves.
It’s also essential to have a backup plan for pet care ready in case your parents cannot care for their pets due to illness or injury. This may involve finding a trusted friend or family member who can care for the pets temporarily or researching local pet boarding facilities.
Lastly, preparing a disaster kit is crucial in case of a natural disaster or other emergencies. This should include essentials like food, water, medications, and any important documents related to the pets.
The emergency can also be pet related, especially if your parents have an aging family dog or cat, so make sure to contact a nearby vet who makes house visits.
Conclusion
Taking care of a pet can indeed be a rewarding and joyful experience for seniors, but it can also be challenging, considering the fact they will need additional support and care.
However, by providing the right support and assistance, you can help your aging parents take care of their furry friends, making sure that both are happy and healthy.
Just follow the above-mentioned twelve tips as instructed, and you will be all good to help your aging parents enjoy the companionship of their furry friends for many years to come.
