- Does your dog slide on slick or uneven floors?
- Has your dog had trouble getting up from a wood, tile, uneven or other slippery surface?
- Is arthritis, hip dysplasia or back issues preventing your dog from moving around comfortably in the house?
Struggling and slipping to get up can be very hard on your dog’s hips and knee’s,
not to mention hard on their psyche.
Here’s some ideas to help your dogs feel more secure and steady so they are more able to get a grip on the floor to create traction.
For those who have weak hind ends, injuries or other issues where they tend to slip-slide away on the floors, use one or more of these to help them move around the house more readily and safely.
Mats and Carpet Runners
- Yoga Mats used along the floor from one place to another to create something like a ‘carpet runner light weight, flexible, textured, cushioning rubber. These are durable, long lasting and easy to clean mats that allow a good grip for balance and stability. They protect the knees and joints and are available in a wide variety of colors. Amazon has a wide variety of sizes, brands and pricing.
- CarpetSaver, which is more economically priced, lightweight, non-skid floor and carpet protector. These are washable runners that are absorbent and foam-backed. They can conform to stairs and other uneven surfaces, provides, grip, and easy to cut. This would be an alternative to Yoga Mats. See www.CarpetSaver.com for ordering.
- Carpet Runners can also be used to create stability and a non-slip surface for moving from one area to another. Available where carpets and rugs are sold in stores and online.
Booties or Socks
- Dog Booties come in many variations from Ultra Paws Durable Dog boots, hiking boots (yes for dogs!) to lightweight house booties, all with with grippers to help dogs to get traction on uneven or slippery floors and surfaces. See your favorite local Pet Store or order online.
- Socks for dogs have non-slip bottoms, are washable and easy to use for inside use.
Great for senior dogs, hip dysplasia and arthritis. Socks for people with grippers on the bottom may also work for some dogs. See your favorite local Pet Store or order online.
ToeGrips for Nails
- Toe Grips are small non-slip bands that go around the toenails. Helps senior dogs and for pain and mobility management. There may be a stimulating action to the brain which may be helping dogs pay more attention to their paws.
- Although designed for senior dogs who slip or are weak, they have seen that ToeGrips may also be helpful for disabled and rehabilitating dogs. See your local pet stores or go online to: http://www.toegrips.com
These are just a few important tips for your aging dogs to help their quality of life.
About Sandy Rakowitz:
Founder of One Heart Healing Center for Animal Communication and Holistic Practices, Sandy has been leading people to deeper connections with their animals and hearts for over 30 years. For consults Click Here
Sandy is pictured with her lovely 13 yr old dog Haley a few months before she passed over. She loved and lived her best life, right up to the end.
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Hi we decided to put carpet tiles down to help our dog who slips slides falls due to arthritis and muscle wastage and nerve prob ,it seemed to work at 1st for few months but now he doing it again more on tiles in kitchen than in the living room on carpet runners are not a option as there’s to much area to cover so was thinking of a carpet flat not piled especially for kitchens washable as washing tiles has caused them to shrink a bit so now gaps but can not find special kitchen carpet can u help Ty
hello Gillian, Thank you for reaching out. I apologize for not having responded sooner to your question about your dog who slips, slides and falls on the floor. I was traveling across the country moving myself, my two horses and cat this summer and am just now catching up.
You can go into stores specializing in floors and ask for suggestions about non-slip surfaces that might be available for you. In terms of assisting your dog in creating more sure footedness, I have found that using Tellington TTouch has been extremely beneficial. When working with seniors I have found a multi-approach to be most supportive. Diet, food, nutrition, animal communication, Tellington TTouch and other supportive measures have been transformative for both the person and their animal during these changing times. If you’d like additional help with this, let me know. To strengthening, Sandy
My dog is 17 with back problems that cause his rear to wobble and thus he sometimes falls. He is not scared of the hardwood floors but struggled to walk on them without sliding. After examining my dog’s paws, I found them to be dry and callused. I started using Gold Bond Healing Lotion on them and, once the paws were soft again, the slipping diminished. Seems that dogs feet get dry just like humans!
Congrats to you and your dog – 17 is a milestone!
Yes, this is so true and a great way, that you dealt with this issue. Thank you for bringing this up. I’d be curious what can be changed in your dog’s food and nutrition to better support the moisture level from the inside as well.
For his back issues and rear end wobble, what have you discovered to help him strengthen? My golden/ hound mix lived till she was 2 months short of her 18th birthday and I made some interesting discoveries with ways to help her strengthen all the way to her sweet end in her beautiful physical body.
Thanks for posting!
What kind of discoveries did you make to help strengthen your dog? My cockapoo has lost so much muscle mass and I want to help her.
Hi Karen,
It is normal for elder dogs to become weaker behind.
I have found that using Tellington TTouch to be very beneficial in helping them use their muscles more effectively- whether it is an elder, or from an injury or even illness. There are books And DVDs by Linda Tellington-Jones On learning Tellington TTouch. Or, if you’d like an individual Session, please book a session here: https://onehearthealingcenter.com/get-aquainted/
Even a little TTouch goes a long way.
Thank you for this additional Tip for elder doggies. This is helpful for those who own their home, are able to put in a doggie door and if they have the attached space available to do so. Thanks!