Elder Care Charlotte NC
For elderly adults, dog ownership can be very beneficial and rewarding. Dogs can be great companions to their elderly owners and help them to fight loneliness, boredom, and isolation. However, a dog requires a lot of care and attention in order to live a happy and healthy life. September is observed as AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Month to help encourage dog-owning families to do their very best when it comes to caring for their dog. If your elderly loved one owns a dog, they may need your help caring for it.
Read on for some responsible dog ownership tips that you and your elderly loved one can strive to use this month and they whole year through.
Tags and Microchips
If your loved one’s dog gets lost or runs away, it can be a very scary situation. However, if your loved one’s dog is wearing a collar with and identification tag that states their name and your phone number and address, they may be found by a neighbor and easily returned to you or your loved one. In addition, many vets recommend getting a microchip for your pet. This is another way to increase the odds of retrieving a lost dog.
Health Care
It is important for your loved one’s dog’s health and safety that they be taken to the vet for regular check ups. It is a great idea to ask the vet how often they recommend. In addition, it is essential to keep your loved one’s dog up to date on vaccines. Vaccines can prevent your loved one’s dog from getting harmful diseases that sometimes even be life-threatening such as rabies. At a vet check up, you can also ask about ways to prevent parasites like fleas, ticks, and worms. Getting a dog to the vet isn’t always an easy task, but it is one that you as a caregiver can help your loved one with.
Happiness
There are so many ways to help your loved one to keep their dog happy. Remember, when the dog is happy, they will be better able to make your loved one happy, too! It is a great idea to go with your loved one on walks with their dog or even play some games of fetch in the yard. A dog will always appreciate it when you bring them a new toy or something for them to chew on. As a bonus, they will be less apt to chew things such as furniture or shoes when they have plenty of toys and bones to enjoy!
Source: http://www.akc.org/dog-owners/responsible-dog-ownership/
