When 12-year-old Maggie, a Beagle-mutt, escaped from Jeremy’s yard, the chase was on. The thing is, Jeremy has young onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD), so the chase to catch his elderly dog was not a usual one. Jeremy says that when he’s off his medication, he walks around “kind of shuffly.” So there he was, in pursuit of Maggie, him and his “dad bod shuffling with a shaky hand,” trying to “run like a slow lightning bolt.” When he eventually caught her, she wasn’t through exploring, so she went limp as a dish rag, resisting going home. “I couldn’t get her up,” he said, “I had to scold her up to the house.” Reflecting on their chase that day, Jeremy wonders, “Would it have been any less stressful without Parkinson’s? Probably not. But Parkinson’s made it worse.”
Jeremy’s story from his YouTube series: “Parkinson’s with Jeremy Mac”
Jeremy is a pet dad to Maggie, the beagle, and Slow Poke, a 14-year-old black cat. Recently, he talked about taking care of pets when you have Parkinson’s on his often-hilarious and insightful YouTube channel, “Parkinson’s with Jeremy Mac.” “When you have pets,” he said, “they can be great for your blood pressure…great little companions.” It’s true; pets provide a sense of love and connection, offer us a sense of purpose, and enhance our wellbeing. As any pet owner knows, having a pet often sparks joy and laughter and it can renew our enthusiasm for life. But being a pet owner is also a responsibility, one that can be complicated when you’re living with a movement disorder.
For example, after Maggie’s escape, Jeremy and his wife decided to keep her indoors until they could get their fence fixed. “This led to a fiasco,” Jeremy said. “I couldn’t fix the fence. Maggie started throwing a pissy fit”—quite literally. “She started urinating all over the house.” There were times when Maggie would relieve herself right in front of Jeremy, but he’d have to call out to his wife because he was going through an OFF time when his medications weren’t working and he couldn’t move. “Honey, the dog peed the rug again,” he’d scream out. Jeremy said it was stressful, not only because it’s frustrating to have a dog doing her business in the wrong spot, but because he felt like the burden fell on his wife.
The same is true with Slow Poke, the cat, whom Jeremy calls the “John Gotti of the neighborhood.” According to Jeremy, Slow Poke used to “talk crap to all the neighborhood cats and come back with scars.” This was no good, for a few reasons, one of which is that Jeremy’s driving is limited. “I can’t take him to the vet,” he said. “I would get the carrier out, but my wife had to do it all. I don’t like going to the vet, but it bothers me that I can’t help my wife.”
Jeremy loves Slow Poke and Maggie dearly. “I baby talk ‘em all the time,” he said. But when it comes to getting a pet when you have Parkinson’s, Jeremy suggests caution. “It’s an extra commitment.”
Best Tips for Pet Care with Parkinson’s
So we wanted to know: is it possible to have both—Parkinson’s and a pet? And are there ways to boost the benefits and reduce the drawbacks? We reached out to our community and asked, “What are your best tips for caring for a pet when you have Parkinson’s?” Here’s their advice:
1. Have back-up caregivers.
Jennifer told us, “I couldn’t make it without my fur balls of love! They bring me so much happiness. So what I suggest is that you have a pet plan that includes people you can count on in case of emergency.” Think about who in your life—a family member, neighbor, friend, or co-worker—might be a back-up caregiver candidate, take them out to lunch and discuss it. If they’re enthusiastically on board, you’ve got yourself a plan!
2. Hire a pet sitter.
Can’t find a close friend or family member to be your back-up caregiver? You can find reliable, kind pet sitters through websites like Rover.com. Or talk to your vet: while the price can be steep, most vet offices offer boarding.
3. Get a dog walker.
Carl said, “It’s hard for me to keep up with my dog’s daily exercise needs. I hired my neighbor’s teenage daughter to take my dog on walks. My dog comes home happy, wiped out, and ready to rest.” Want your dog to have the at-home fitness experience, instead? Jane suggested trying a doggie treadmill.
4. Find feeding support.
Arlene has trouble opening new cans or bags of cat food. When her grandkids visit, she asks them to open a new bag for her so it’s ready to go. You can also rely on gadgets like automatic pet feeders or water dispensers.
5. Purchase a self-cleaning litter box.
Getting on your knees to scoop litter is no one’s favorite task. Consider a self-cleaning litter box to make the work of cleaning up after your cat purrfectly simple.
6. Set timers to stay on top of care.
“My mom struggles with her memory a bit,” Layla said. “So we helped her set up timers. She has reminders for feeding time and giving the cat his medication.”
7. Consider pet insurance.
Pet care costs can be high, especially for older adults on a fixed income. Look into pet insurance; it may help cover the cost of some vet bills.
8. Consider size and energy level when choosing a pet.
For example, will the dog you’ve got your eye on be hard to control on a walk? Does it need to be active throughout the day? Consider other animals, like cats that stay inside or even a fish. No walking required!
9. Choose to foster.
If you’re not sure you can commit to caring for an animal long-term but still want a four-legged companion, choose to foster. It’s a loving way to provide a home for an animal in need while tiptoeing into the responsibilities of having a pet permanently.
10. Choose a service dog.
Not only do service dogs provide love and companionship, they can help with daily activities like getting in and out of chairs or getting up after a fall; opening doors and turning on lights. They can even retrieve objects like medication or a dropped phone.
The good news is: You have options. Pets nourish us and, with the right plan, it’s possible to safely and lovingly care for an animal.
Learn more about the ins and outs of service dogs in our NeuroLifeOnline replay.
