Your mom is devoted to her dog. He\u2019s her loyal companion, but she\u2019s becoming very forgetful. She forgets to feed her dog some days and overfeeds him others. She can\u2019t remember when she last took him to the vet. His nails are getting way too long. She\u2019s letting him roam the neighborhood because she can\u2019t remember there are leash laws.<\/p>\n
When a dog\u2019s safety is affected by your mom\u2019s health issues, it\u2019s tough. On the one hand, you don\u2019t want to take away her companion. On the other hand, you don\u2019t want that dog to get injured, lost, or impounded for attacking another person. Before you make a rushed decision, try these suggestions.<\/p>\n
Can Your Mom Complete a Daily Checklist?<\/strong><\/p>\n You might be able to set up a checklist on a dry erase board for your mom to go through each day. When she\u2019s completed a task, she checks it off. For tasks, put things like feed dog in the morning, feed the dog at night, change the dog\u2019s water, and walk the dog. At the end of the day, she erases her checks and repeats the process when she wakes up.<\/p>\n If your mom is able to care for her dog using a checklist, keeping her dog becomes an option. You may still need to arrange to have a groomer come to your mom\u2019s home once a month to give the dog a bath and trim nails. Ask your mom\u2019s veterinarian if they will email or mail you appointment reminders.<\/p>\n