Pet Care For People With Restricted Mobility: Tools & Tips
Pets bring so much joy and comfort into our lives, but taking care of them can sometimes be challenging, especially if you have limited mobility. Whether you have a disability, are recovering from an injury, or simply find it difficult to move around, taking care of a pet can sometimes feel like a daunting task. Here are some tools and tips you can use to make simple adjustments that will help to make pet care easier for you.
Easy Feeding
An elevated feeding station makes it easier for those who find bending over difficult or uncomfortable. Raised surfaces such as a bench or table are suitable for cats and a ramp or steps will also help older pets to get up without difficulty. There are also feeder shelves which allow you to set a height that is comfortable for both you and your cat.
Yiotl Wall Mounted Wood Cat Shelf
A raised surface is not as suitable for dogs but thanks to modern technology, automatic feeders are a great solution to help you feed both dogs and cats. With just the press of a button on your phone or smart device, your pet receives a portion of food. You can even schedule feeding times and pre-set portion amounts to minimise how often you have to bend down! Kmart offers a great little unit called the Mirabella Genio Pet Feeder for smaller dogs and cats. Pet Circle has a feeder for larger dogs called Dogness.
Electric can openers and automatic treat feeders can also help to reduce your manual labour load. Electric can openers make it a breeze to open wet food cans, and is especially great for those with arthritis or difficulties with gripping. Automatic treat feeders can be set to dispense treats at specific times, ensuring that your pet receives their snacks even when you're unable to physically give them.
An electric water fountain with a filter can store more water than the average pet bowl and will keep the water fresher for longer. This means less frequent refills.
Easy Grooming
For those who find gripping painful, there are a range of ergonomically designed products to make grooming your pet easier. An Australian company called Averee, stocks a range of ergonomically designed brushes with handles that are easier to grip and flat brushes which will fit across the width of your palm, along with many other adaptive pet products.
Purina Petlife Ergonomic Dog Brush
Toileting
Installing a pet door will allow your pet to go out to the loo whenever nature calls! There are also doors with a tag system that only allow animals that wear the correct collar through the door. A long handled pooper scooper will allow you to collect pet poop easily.
Exercise
Consider investing in a nose halti that provides better control and reduces strain on your neck and back. A well-fitted halti or harness is an excellent option to discourage your pet from pulling and give you better control. Black Dog has a range of great looking nose haltis that work well for those little too enthusiastic pups!
No Pull Harness from Stylish Hound
Accessible Parks and Beaches
There is nothing so joyful as seeing a happy dog running along a beautiful beach! If you live in, or are visiting the Southern Gold Coast area, take advantage of the accessible beach for exercise and playtime with your pet. Tallebudgera Creek is a dog-friendly beach that has both accessible bathrooms and beach matting for easy access. For pet parents who use wheelchairs, get in contact with the Neptune Royal Life Saving Club to organise the use of a beach wheelchair. Volunteering Gold Coast offers assistance to anyone who requires help accessing Tallebudgera Creek.
Would You Like Us To Help?
At Happy Hounds, we understand the challenges that come with caring for pets, particularly when mobility is an issue. If you would like some help caring for your furry friend, contact us today to find out how we can assist. We offer drop in appointments to assist you with grooming, feeding and playtime and we also offer dog walking services. Our team of experienced pet care professionals is here to help you and your pet every step of the way.