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Planning for Your Pet

For many, a pet is an important member of the family. If you or a loved one are navigating a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, the information and resources below can help make caring for and planning for the future with your pet just a little easier.

Living with Your Pet After Diagnosis: Care & Considerations

There are many things to take into consideration when caring for a pet following a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. While thinking about the future can be overwhelming, planning ahead can help you be prepared as your disease progresses.

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There are many things to take into consideration when caring for a pet following a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. While thinking about the future can be overwhelming, planning ahead can help you be prepared as your disease progresses.

Click “+” to expand for more information.

Here are some things to consider as you plan for your pet’s care:

  • Maintain a regular routine for feeding and walks.
  • Create reminders for important routine pet care tasks like walks, feeding and cleaning. These may include phone calls or text messages from loved ones, phone alarms, sticky notes or other methods.
  • Place signs in highly visible places as reminders to close doors and gates to keep your pet from getting out of the home.
  • Create lists of the recurring care your pet will need. Enlist a loved one to check in and confirm your pet is receiving all care on the lists, and to provide support if needed.
  • Lists should include things such as:
Pet food icon

Food, water, walks/ toileting, medications

Pet grooming icon

Grooming/brushing, kitty litter change

Pet medication icon

Flea/tick and heartworm prevention, grooming, buying food, medication refills

Regular pet checkup icon

Vet check-up, vaccinations

  • If you have loved ones, friends and neighbors around you, ask them to assist with pet care if/when needed. Make them aware of your pet’s care lists, where your pet’s supplies are located and emergency contact information such as your veterinarian’s office.
  • Prepare for the unexpected: Keep your pet up to date on all required vaccines. If it has all its required vaccines, your pet can be boarded if an emergency arises.
  • Ensure your pet is microchipped in case they get lost or wander from the home.
  • Consider finances and budget as needed for future vet care, food and other potential pet-related expenses.
  • Check out this helpful resource from Triage Health for short-term and long-term pet care considerations.

Daily assistance can help your pet stay in your home. Consider the following assistive pet services:

Man walking a dog

Dog walking

Finding a local friend, family member, neighbor or service provider to walk your dog when you need support – whether it’s a few times a day, a few times a week or when you’re feeling unwell – can be beneficial to their health. In addition to helping with daily tasks, a helpful dog walker can also make sure your furry friend gets exercise and socialization.

Veterinary care

Veterinary care

Check with your veterinary office to see if they offer boarding or daycare services as needed for their patients.

Grooming essentials

Mobile grooming

Ensuring your pet is well groomed can be beneficial to their health and your peace of mind.

Pet food

Pet food

Meal delivery services can provide affordable pet food and treats for you to properly nourish your pet, without concerns of traveling to a store or spending money on expensive food.

Petting the pet

Other

Local community services or pet care services can offer temporary care, daily check-ins and playtime, walking and other services.
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Handling Pet Care Challenges: Temporary Care

Circumstances may arise where you need temporary care for your furry friend. Planning ahead can help you prepare for the unexpected.

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Circumstances may arise where you need temporary care for your furry friend. Planning ahead can help you prepare for the unexpected.

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Consider the following options for care until you can welcome your pet back into your home:

  • Family and friends who may have the advantage of knowing your animal and their routine. This can be important in ensuring your pet feels comfortable and safe.
  • Consider finding or appointing a pet care guardian in case of emergencies who could keep your pet for an extended period, if needed.
  • Temporary fosters that can house your pet and have experience in providing animal care. Ensure this foster is someone you can trust.
  • If you do not have anyone who could care for your pets in an emergency, identify a pet boarding facility that can provide short-term care and have their information available in case you need it. You may be able to make arrangements with a facility to care for your pet in an emergency.
  • Doggy daycare centers can be helpful for daily care for your animal, giving them the opportunity to get exercise while socializing with other dogs and caregivers.
  • Pet walkers/sitters can help provide support whether they help with walks, regularly scheduled care or watch your pet for an extended time.
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Planning for your Pet: Finding a Future Home

When to Rehome Your Pet

Unfortunately, there may come a time where the best choice for your pet and their quality of life is to explore rehoming options. When is the right time to rehome your pet? There is no single answer for that question.

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When to Rehome Your Pet

Unfortunately, there may come a time where the best choice for your pet and their quality of life is to explore rehoming options. When is the right time to rehome your pet? There is no single answer for that question.

Click “+” to expand for more information.

When deciding if pet care has become too much, watch out for the following cues that can be signs that your pet is in need:

Benefits of service pets Benefits of service pets
  • Your Pet is:
  • having accidents in your home
  • gaining or losing weight, which can be detrimental to their health
  • acting differently, including them becoming skittish around you or others and/or fearful of people
  • You feel like:
  • you can no longer properly care for your pet
  • you are struggling to cover your pet’s expenses

Finding a Future Home for Your Pet

Pets are members of the family and planning to rehome them is never easy. Here are some tips to help navigate the process:

  • When planning for your pet’s future, you can help ensure your pet is under the best care possible by making a pet directive, such as the Pet Placement plan created by Pet Peace of Mind. The Pet Placement Plan document includes information including where you would like your pet to be cared for and crucial details like feeding, vet history, medications and more.
  • Write down all important details about your pet and keep this document in an easy-to-find place. A pet directive should include basic details (name, nickname, breed, birthday, gender, photo); medical information; vet details; dietary information; behavioral and training information; care instructions.
  • Prioritize reaching out to family, friends and close contacts to see if they would like to adopt your pet. This would allow you to choose a home you trust as well as the opportunity to visit or be visited by your pet.
  • Use social media to connect with people in your extended network who may be looking to adopt a pet. Proper steps should be taken prior to surrendering your pet, like ensuring potential adopters are able to provide ideal quality of life for your pet, are able to financially provide for your pet, have adequate housing and, if they have other animals, that they all get along.
  • Locate local shelters, ensuring they are no-kill shelters. These organizations can provide care to your pet as they are waiting to be adopted by their future family.

Consider a Pet Trust

Family members holding a pet Family members holding a pet

A pet trust is a legal document where you pick a person, known as a trustee, to manage money for your pet’s care. A trust can start as soon as you create it or when you pass away. With a pet trust, you can:

  • Put aside money for your pet’s care and pick a trustee to manage it.
  • Choose one or more caretakers for your pet. The trustee and caretaker can be the same person or different ones. It may be helpful to choose backups, in case the first trustee or caretaker is not available.
  • Give specific instructions for your pet’s care.
  • After your pet passes away, you can choose to donate any leftover money to charity.

A pet trust gives stronger protection for your pet because it legally requires the caretaker to follow your instructions. If they do not, they can be held accountable.

Together Forever

Can’t separate from your pet? Visit Pet Peace of Mind to locate hospice facilities where you can remain with your pet. In many of these locations, pet care professionals are available to care for your pet during your stay. On their website, using a navigator by state, you can find which hospice programs near you offer assistance for you and your pet.
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