One of today’s interior home design trends seems to be causing some problems for older pets. Wall to wall carpeting is being rapidly replaced by tile and hardwood floors. This may make house training for puppies a little easier or at least a little less messy, but the hard, smooth surfaces provide less traction and are tougher on the joints. While this can be a problem for all older pets, it is particularly tough on older large breed dogs.
The joints of dogs and cats, particularly the hips and shoulders, are designed to move primarily forwards and backwards. They have very limited lateral range of motion, that is, they don’t do “splits” well, even when they are young. But that is exactly what often happens as they age. Because of the weakening of their muscles and arthritic joints, they have a more difficult time rising and are more likely to fall and land in awkward positions that can cause injuries. Slippery stair treads in a house are especially treacherous for aged pets.
So here are a few tips to make life easier for these senior pets.
- Place runners (long, narrow area rugs) with good bottom traction along the pathways that pets frequent. It’s also important for them to have good traction surfaces in the areas where they rest and sleep as they will be the most unsteady when first rising.
- Put up barriers to keep them from climbing interior stairs or buy non-skid tread mats to place on slippery stairs.
- Make sure that exterior hard surfaces like brick and wood are kept algae and mold free. This is especially necessary on the northern side of many homes and in areas close to the house that are shaded by trees. These areas can become very slippery after rains.
- Purchase dog boots that provide good traction on the bottom. Traction socks are inexpensive but also tend to not stay in place. You can buy a set of boots from Pawz or Ultra Paws online for anywhere from 15 to 35 dollars, depending on size. They hold up well and you may only need to put them on your dog’s rear paws, so you can wash a set and keep a clean pair always ready. They can stay on for short jaunts in the yard but take them off for longer leash walks so your dog doesn’t get tender feet over the long term.
- Talk with your veterinarian about prescription pain medications when arthritis becomes an issue.
Taking some or all of these measures will not only help keep your senior pet from injuring themselves but may also help slow down the aging process in a way. The more comfortable we make it for our pets to get up and down, the more likely they are to get up and stay active and keep those joints healthy and those muscles strong.