Winter is approaching fast. For seniors that have pets, taking some precautions and making some adjustments for winter pet care is necessary to keep both them and their pets healthy. Some of the best winter pet care tips for seniors are:
Enlist the Help of Elder Care
The cold weather can make it tough for seniors to take care of pets, even seniors that don’t have any debilitating health conditions. When it’s bone chillingly cold outside seniors may have trouble walking their dog, scooping up waste in the yard, or lifting large bags of pet food or boxes of litter. Elder care can help seniors make sure their pets are provided for and well-taken care of by helping senior do the things that they need to do daily for their pets like cleaning litter boxes or going for walks. Elder care can also help seniors brush their pets and make sure the house is free of pet hair and pet messes.
Find A Home Vet
There are vets that offer house calls and home visits to seniors and others who have trouble getting out of their homes. In the summer seniors may not want to bother with this service but in the winter when the weather is bad and seniors may have difficulty getting their pet to the vet having a vet that makes house calls can be life-changing for seniors. Getting a pet to the vet is always stressful, but it can be even more so for seniors who don’t drive and may have trouble getting their pet into a carrier or keeping it calm on a leash. Most cities now have vets that see patients in their homes so it’s worth seeing if there is one where your senior parent lives.
Invest In Self Heating Beds
Self-heating pet beds may be a little pricey but they are worth it. The bed traps the pet’s own body heat and holds onto it so the bed is extra warm and toasty without having to use any batteries or electricity. Since these beds aren’t electric they aren’t dangerous for pets and they won’t overheat but they will keep pets toasty warm throughout the winter. And since they have no electricity there are no cords that seniors can trip over.
Stock Up On Pet Supplies
In the winter shipments can get delayed because of all the extra packages being sent during the holidays. And stores can quickly run out of pet supplies if there is a storm or if there are shortages of certain things. So seniors with pets should order pet food and litter in bulk now. That way your senior parent won’t have to worry about making sure that they their pet’s favorite food or that one litter that their cat prefers. Elder care providers can help seniors organize and put away pet supplies in safe and secure but accessible areas so that seniors will always be able to get to the pet supplies they need.
Source
https://newsroom.cigna.com/unexpected-health-benefits-of-pets-for-older-americans
If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Laurel, MT, call the caring staff at SYNERGY Home Care of Billings today. 406-839-2390
