Your Parent's Pet: Friend or Foe?

I know an older person who "gave up" and lost their will to live when her dog was taken away. She did not speak to her daughter again.

cmacp

about 2 years ago

This is our current problem with my disabled husband's terrier. Jack is technically 'our' family dog, but jack and my husband were a team before my husband and I even met, - so their bond is strong. My husband has a brain injury and mid Alzheimer's. His balance is precarious and I am his sole caregiver. Jack not only is constantly around our ankles, but now has begun leaking, - making the floor slick and unpleasant. His 2 walks a day are my responsibility, as are his trips to the vet. He is loosing his sight, has a bleeding hemorrhoid, and a non cancerous tumor on his back. We are trying a course of anti-biotics and may have to try a another drug for his incontinence. At best, Jack is an added expense. At worst, he is a hazard to my husband's safety. And of course, he adds to my already full plate of responsibilities. I have no answers or wisdom to offer. Just adding that I understand the difficulties of balancing the benefits of a pet against the added problems they bring.

SPeticolas

almost 3 years ago

When my mother had trouble seeing her black scottie against the dark rug, she put a light colored tee-shirt on him. He was much easier to see. With respect to larger dogs, a Gentle Leader or Haltie head collar works very well to prevent sudden lunges pulling you off your feet. On icy days, I put head collars on both of my laborador retrievers (72 lbs each) and that has saved me from many a fall.

donnajeanw

almost 3 years ago

You can take my dogs away from me when you pry their leashes from my cold dead hands! I'd rather die than give them up.

BettyRN

almost 3 years ago

My Mom has a toy poodle that she loves dearly. He keeps her from hibernating in the house all day but I do worry about her tripping over him

Pets are wonderful and my Mom loves her golden retriever dearly, even though she's still recuperating from a fractured pelvis caused by a fall 4 years ago when they were out for their morning walk. Just the normal routine, but that morning the dog saw another dog, my Mom pulled back on her leash and landed flat on the street and couldn't get up. Scary.