Why is my dog suddenly scared of wood floors and shaking?

Hi, this is Dr. Johnson. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Rudy! You didn't indicate how old Rudy is or if this is a new change. Some dogs always have a hard time on hard, shiny surfaces while others develops this as they get older. Either from fear of slipping, orthopedic pain or even poor eye sight. If this is a sudden change and Rudy is older having him checked by your Veterinarian for vision issues or arthritis may help him. Things to try at home: buy more rugs for the floor and make a trail of carpet runners. I know that you may not want to but it will make things easier. There are also booties you can buy to place on their feet. Just be careful to not keep them on all the time because they can get foot infections. Also some dogs are scared of the booties and walk worse with them on. I hope Rudy does ok!

Dogs can become scared of walking on slippery floors if they have slipped or injured themselves on it. This is more common in older dogs or ones with orthopedic problems who are not as steady on their feet. I recommend Dr Busby's ToeGrips to provide traction on slippery floors. These are little rubber circles that go on the nails so the toenails grip the floor when walking. Most dogs are no longer afraid when they have good traction. You can purchase these online. Otherwise I'd place a track of rugs or runners so she has a safe path through the house. Chihuahuas are prone to luxating patellas and back problems so you don't want Bella Blue to get injured, or be scared to go where she wants. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bella Blue.

There is a product (it used to be called Tacky Paws but the name may have changed) which you can spray on Ginger's feet to make them a bit sticky so the wooden floors won't feel so slippery to her. I'm not sure if it leaves tracks on wood floors because it is mostly used in the show ring so the dogs won't lose their footing. You can try it--it will definitely give her more traction. To get her back into the playroom, start putting her food bowl just inside the room so she can eat with her feet still on carpet. Gradually move the bowl farther inside (this may take days or even weeks) until she has to step onto the slippery floor to eat. If she does not eat after 15 minutes, pick up the bowl and offer nothing else to eat until her next mealtime, when you will repeat the proess. Put the bowl down where she was last comfortable and try moving it all the way into the room again. In time she will realize that, if she is going to get her dinner, she will have to go into the playroom. Remember that you are not starving her. This is a battle of wills, because the food is there, every day. She is choosing not to eat. When she realizes that there is no other option, she'll go into the family room and eat. If amazon does not have the spray product, you can go to Cherrybrook.com Good luck with this!

It is quite odd that your puppy doesn't want to walk on the floor. However you can try laying down blankets or towels on the floor. It may be a texture thing and he likes to feel something soft and comfortable. You can also try placing his favorite toy or treat on the floor to ease him into getting used to the texture. He will eventually get over this the more you expose him and the more he matures. Also if he shivering in his sleep could very well be his body reacting to a dream he is having. Puppy dreams tend to be quite vivid causing what appears to be violent movements of the body and sometimes heavy panting. As long as this is only occurring while he is sleeping then chances are he's completely fine. Puppies usually will grow out of these vivid dreams as they get older. However if you feel that he is having breathing issues while awake then definitely take him in to your veterinarian for a thorough examination.

I recommend thinking about what changes have happened in the last couple of days. Have you moved any furniture, replaced lightbulbs, or plugged in any new appliances? Some electronics can have sounds that we can't hear, but can trigger anxiety in our pets. There are a couple things you can try for anxiety; Composure chews and Adaptil diffusers. Adaptil is a pheromone that can help with anxiety. It is available as a plug-in room diffuser for large areas, and as a spray for small areas like a mat or bed. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-calming-aids/comfort-zone-diffuser-with-dap-for-dogs Thanks for using PetCoach.

I would give El some time to get used to everything. You can in the meantime lay down throw rugs to help her walk around the house. It can take up to two weeks for dogs to get comfortable with their new surroundings. Just be patient with her and slowly you will see her come around. If you feel it is taking too long then I would discuss getting a trainer to come to your home and work with you and her. Your veterinarian will be able to help you find a trainer they recommend. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there. It definitely sounds like Shia is in pain. Your veterinarian will likely recommend x rays to take a look and see if her back is ok, as well as checking her hips for any sign of dysplasia, degenerative joint disease, etc. they will likely also perform an orthopedic exam to check her for cranial cruciate tears or other injuries. Some injuries are indeed more noticeable when an animal goes from wood floors from carpet because they cannot grip with their nails like they used to, good observation! I hope this helps and I wish you all the best.