As dogs age, like us humans, some things may not come as easy as they did before. Senior dogs may suffer from dementia -- like Chloe, who mistakes the time zone for the US. Other old dogs may face trouble controlling themselves and as a result, soil themselves often.
At HOPE, we often come across these senior dogs who are in need of fostering. These gentle souls are usually found in poor condition, which, when taking into account their old age, means a lot of care and love is needed.
For example, some senior dogs need constant care and may not be able to be left alone for more than two hours. As senior dogs may not have a lot of teeth or face trouble chewing, they might also require special diets and home-cooked meals.
With age catching up, senior dogs are long past their hyper-active puppy days. This means that they might need help doing simple activities like standing up, or require massages to help with their circulation. In some cases, senior dogs may need to use a wheelchair to get around. It might not look the fanciest, but it sure does the job of letting them explore instead of being confined to a space.
It also means that these senior dogs need a strong and patient human to care for them in their final days. Be it carrying them in and out of their wheelchairs or having to flip them every two hours to avoid bedsores, it definitely is not an easy task.
But it is so rewarding to know that you’ve helped a sweet, loving soul in their final journey to experience warmth and love -- perhaps for the first time in their lives.
Taking care of senior dogs is not a walk in the park. Yet it would mean the world to them.
If you would like to foster a senior dog, please email hopedogrescue@singnet.com.sg
Written by: Erin
