Owner’s dementia causes dog distress

This is a very sad and unhappy story.  When elderly people become ill, what happens to the dog?   When the illness is dementia, even the most loving owners can unknowingly neglect their pets.   This is what happened to little Sally, a Westie who has just come in.  We went to fetch Sally from the home because her owner had been taken into hospital.  There is no doubting that the lady loves Sally and her other pets (who have been brought  also) but her condition means that she cannot care for them.  This has been the situation for a long time.  Unfortunately she would not let anyone else help her or the dogs.  It’s only because she is now in hospital that the situation was discovered and something could be done.

We were shocked when we saw Sally, she’s in such a mess.   No hair (except on her head) overgrown nails, teeth missing, a sore mouth and crawling with fleas.  This is the worst flea infestation we’ve ever seen.   She is such a lovely little dog, pathetic and pleased to be helped.   She’s  loving, a bit timid, very sweet and hungry, she eats well which is reassuring.

We’ve de-fleaed her, bathed her, put her a coat on and cuddled her up in blankets.  Whether we’ll be able to save her though, it’s anyone’s guess.  Pictures of her tomorrow, but if you don’t want to be upset, don’t look.  They are really bad.