Some Pets Are Beneficial to the Elderly
Pets are for more than just enjoyment. People who own a dog, cat or other animal friend show marked improvement in their health. Lower cholesterol, improved blood pressure, less incidences of depression; these are just a few of the ways that pets cam make you healthy.The elderly, maybe more than anyone else, can benefit from the companionship of animals. Many family members know this, and they generously set up their elderly loved one with a pet. Unfortunately, they don't always use common sense.
- Is the pet expensive to feed?
- Is the pet prone to illness?
- Does the pet require a special set-up?
- How often will it need vet care?
- Is this animal small enough to be handled easily?
- Is this pet capable of tripping, biting or otherwise injuring an elder?
Its okay to want to be helpful, but you do have to take into consideration the health and capabilities of your loved one BEFORE you purchase or adopt a pet for them. Sure, some elders can handle a variety of pets of different sizes, but the people who benefit the MOST from a pet are lonely shut-ins or those who can no longer be as active as they once were.
When this is the case, pets should be low-maintenance. Here are some pretty inappropriate pets I have seen gifted to the elderly, and why they might not be the best choice for your loved one:
Potbelly Pig
Delores' daughter was sure that her mother would love this cute, cuddly piglet. And she was right. But piglets grow into pigs. It was very hard for Delores to care for an animal that needed lots of outside time. Plus, the pig was destructive, as pigs tend to be.
Potbelly pigs may be smaller than their hog cousins, but they are still quite large when fully grown, and after escaping one day, this pig did some expensive damage to the neighbor's yard. This led to a huge dispute which cost Delores quite a bit of money.
Large Fish
Beautiful and soothing, fish can be the perfect pet for the elderly. They don't need to be walked or groomed, and if they die, they are easily replaced. However, someone has to heft those fish tanks every now and then to clean them.
Setting their parents up with the 50 gallon pedestal fish tank with the huge tropical fish was a great idea. But Hank and Nettie's kids didn't bother to come over and help with tank up-keep. Hank decided he would do it himself, and ended up with broken tank, dead fish and a serious cut that required stitches.
Snake
Jack was 91 and could still drive, but didn't like getting out more often than necessary. Always an animal lover, it only took a few tears from his 7 year old grandson for Jack to agree to adopt the boy's pet snake. After the snake earned an eviction notice for eating a pet parakeet at home.
Not only are snakes expensive to maintain, with special set-ups and lights, but they aren't the easiest to feed either. Living nearly a hundred miles from a place where he could purchase feeder mice, Jack had to make long trips too often to stock up on snake food. Then he bought in bulk, and had to spend even more to be able to keep the mice.
Owning the snake put quite a dent in his budget and didn't do much for his social life either. Most of his friends refused to come by now that he had "that snake" in the living room!
His and Her Dogs
Such a cute idea. Hannah and Ray had recently lost their 20 year old dog, and were devastated. To cheer them up over their loss, their son and daughter-in-law brought them his and her dogs. For him, a St Bernard (a manly dog) and for her, a terrier cross that was lap-sized. (dainty!)
This might have worked, except that Hannah was wheelchair bound, meaning that she couldn't help train or care for the dogs. Then the small dog became attached to Ray, and the larger dog was attached to no one. Unable to train either dog well, thanks to his own physical limitations, Ray soon became a victim of "wrong place, wrong time". The two dogs got into a fight, and when trying to save the smaller dog, Ray became tangled in both animals, fell, and suffered a broken hip.
{Author's Note: Both dogs and cats make excellent elder companions. However, they should already have some training and be calm enough to not cause injuries.}
Chickens
Vera really thought that buying her elderly mom six chickens was a great idea. Not only would mom have something to care for, she would have free food. Except, eggs aren't free, even when you own the chicken.As Vera soon learned, chickens also need a coop, feed, water, medicine, bedding, roost poles and a variety of other creature comforts. Oh, and sometimes you have to pay for a permit to keep them inside city limits. Ouch.
Not only was this costly, but Vera's mom couldn't go outside on certain days to care for the chickens. So, guess who had to do the job?
Think Before You Buy
Yes, animals are great for the elderly. However, not all animals are perfect.And of course, the advice here is non-applicable to seniors who are fond of the animals listed and prefer them to other pets. Use common sense when choosing a pet for your loved one.
And please, ask them first whether or not they would like one before you surprise them!
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