Pet Care Tips for Older Adults

Do you have a precious pup or a courageous kitty? Here are a few pet care tips for older adults, to make caring for our furry family members easier as we age.

Fuss-Free Daily Care

Daily pet care can be arduous, to say the least. But did you know there are a heap of handy (and ergonomic!) pet care products out there, to make daily care fuss-free?

For example, try an automated food and water dispenser. Depending on the type of dispenser you choose, you can program feeding times, and the amount of food you’d like dispensed each time. This way, you won’t have to bend down as often—the feeder will do the heavy lifting for you. If you’re after a more budget-friendly solution, try a no-bend pet bowl! Either way, make life a bit easier for yourself and your furry friend, and invest in some handy pet tech.

Always Have a Plan

Life can be pretty unpredictable. That’s why it’s important to develop a care plan for your furry family member in case the unexpected happens.

In an easy-to-interpret format (try a grid, or dot-points), list all the information that is essential to your pet’s health and well-being. That could mean food type, feeding times, scheduled exercise, vaccination status, grooming, medications, medical conditions, regular vet, and more. This way, if you’re unable to care for your pet for any reason, a friend or family member can easily take over your role. Just remember to make your care plan as clear as possible—you may not be available to explain it to your pet’s carer if the time comes.

Enlist Some Help

Are you finding it hard to take Fido for his daily walk? Or is cleaning the kitty litter becoming a bit too much to bear? That’s okay! There are plenty of pet care services available to older Australians, like dog walkers who make home visits, and mobile groomers. In fact, just like home doctors, you can organise a home vet check-up for your furry friend too! So, don’t be afraid to ask for help when it’s needed, and utilise the services your community has to offer.

Could you use a helping hand looking after your pet? Here at Simply Helping, we offer pet sitting and dog walking as part of our flexible in home care. We can provide food and water, clean your pet’s environment, offer regular exercise, and more! Click here to learn more and contact us today.