Watching a pet get old is not easy. My dog, George, was the first dog I acquired as an adult. He taught me how to parent before I had children, how to help him with his separation anxiety, and that loving a dog unconditionally means that you do so even when heās stolen food off the counter or broken into the garbage (again).
Unfortunately, George has begun to show his age, and the years have taken a toll on his rear legs and back. Necessity is the mother of all invention, and Iāve had to invent a few ways to make our home less slippery for Georgeās feet. I would like to share them with you in hopes that they might be of use to you and your aging pet.
I will preface these tips by saying that untreated osteoarthritis detracts greatly from a dogās quality of life. Your family vet can tell you about appropriate medications, supplements, or diet for your senior dog. You can also ask your veterinarian for a local rehab referral so you can learn exercises to promote your pet’s strength.
Slips can result in injuries such as torn ligaments, tendon sprains, or muscle pulls. Wall-to-wall carpeting is great to make our dogs secure, but many of us have lots of laminate or wood flooring. If you donāt wish to change your flooring, there are temporary adjustments you can make to both your floor and your dog!
- Yoga matsĀ are a highly practical and inexpensive option. Our entry door isĀ off the kitchen, and I often feared the mad dash George makes to greet me because the slick laminate floor took his back legs out from under him. We placed two yoga mats along that path to the door, and the dash was made much safer. Dogs can also slip while going from sitting or lying to standing, so a yoga mat in your dogās sleeping area might be a good idea, too.
- If youāve carpeted part of your home, you may haveĀ carpet remnantsĀ left over. Weāve placed a really large remnant at the foot of the bed where George sleeps so that he can get up safely. If your dog sleeps in bed with you and can still jump up on the bed, remnants or yoga mats can be used to help ensure his rear legs donāt slip while jumping. Along the same lines,Ā rugĀ padsĀ can be cut up and placed around the house, too. While not really attractive, these solutions are cheap (or even free) and highly portable in the event of houseguests.
- Keep your dogās nails trimmed. Long toenails make your dog more vulnerable to slippage. So bite the bullet andĀ trim those nails, or pay your vet or groomer to do so!
- I tell everyone I know aboutĀ Dr. Buzbyās Toe Grips. Ā Dr. Julie Buzby invented toe grips, and they are brilliantly simple. Toe Grips are a ring of rubber that slides on over your dogās toenails. The rubber contacts the floor behind the toenail and provides fantastic grip on slippery surfaces. Toe grips have also done wonders for Georgeās āOMG-sheās-home!ā mad dash. Get them! You wonāt be disappointed.
- If your dog is shaggy like George, youāll want to perform regularĀ foot trims. When the bottoms of a dogās feet are hairy, theyāre like slippery socks. I donāt encourage scissor trims by anyone who isnāt a skilled groomer; we often see pets lacerated by well-meaning owners. Instead, use a clipper for this task. Wahl and Oster are two quality brands. Of course, clippers can be expensive, but you wonāt need professional grade for foot trims; mine cost $50. A #10 blade is the only one recommended for trimming the bottom of paws; keep the blade level with your dogās foot to keep the top cutting edge clear of the paw pad.
These changes were easy ones to make and I was able to see an instant result ā a dog who walks more confidently in my home. Hopefully, these tips will help you help your geriatric companion to be more comfortable and secure in your home!