Top tips: caring for your dog with Parkinson's
Clare was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2018 and adopted her dog Obi the following year. She shares her top tips for looking after Obi, and herself.
Getting started
My top tip for owning a dog with Parkinson’s would be to choose a breed which isn’t too high maintenance or reactive.
Obi is a rescue dog from Cyprus. He is mixed breed, so we were unsure of his character and temperament. Fortunately, he is a big softy!
I’d also recommend puppy training classes. That training gave me the confidence to take him out on my own, because I knew he would listen to me. If I tell him to wait, I am confident he won’t move or attempt to pull me until I give another command.
Delegation
I buy Obi’s food online and it is automatically delivered once a month. This massively reduces the amount of heavy shopping I have to do.
Obi goes to the groomer regularly so I don’t have to worry about getting him in the bath or shower, or any of those other little jobs which could be tricky with a tremor.
I also pay a monthly fee for Obi to be a VIP at the vet. It’s a monthly subscription which covers all of his routine health checks, and there is no extra cost for flea and worming treatment or annual vaccinations. It means I don’t have to worry about any of the routine stuff.
If you have a larger dog, take someone else with you when going to the vet, to help lift them onto the table.
Kit
Obi wears a harness because I find that more manageable than just a collar. I use a lead which has two handles. This gives me reassurance that I can keep hold of him on more wobbly days.
I have a super duper pooper scooper, with long handles - just put a plastic bag over the end and away you go! No bending. No light-headedness. No mess. And I can do it myself, which is so important to me.
In between professional grooms, giant dog wipes are amazing for after those walks where he’s a bit mucky.
I have a small dog walking bag which I wear across my body. That means I can keep my hands free in case I fall or need to have more control of the dog.
I also always have my phone with me if I am walking him alone, so I can get help if I need it.
Walkies for Parkinson's
Obi and I loved doing the Walkies for Parkinson’s challenge in 2024.
I need that sort of motivation to make me push myself a bit more on days when ordinarily I would just nip round the block or ask someone else to walk him.
If you need more help
- The Cinnamon Trust’s volunteers provide free dog walking help for owners who can no longer exercise their pets themselves.
- If you’re struggling with the cost of pet care, the PDSA or RSPCA may be able to provide reduced-cost or free treatment for your pet.