My senior dog with hip issues slips on hardwood. How to help?

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. There are MANY different things that can be done to help him get around better - namely medications that your vet can prescribe. I think it would be the least you can do to help him. Remember, just because a dog is not crying or complaining doesn't mean he is not in pain. Animals do not manifest pain the same way we do. They just carry on and do the best they can like they would do in the wild. Please take him to a vet for an exam and to get him started on some NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication). Don't let him continue to be in pain. You will be surprised at how much the medications help. You could also get him nail grips or special boots/socks for him to wear the have grips on them to help him not slide around on the floor: ( https://toegrips.com ) ( https://www.amazon.com/DOK-TigerToes-Premium-Non-Slip-Hardwood/dp/B0BHKN1G9C/ ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for using PetCoach. If she is slipping on floors, ToeGrips are sometimes more helpful than booties. https://toegrips.com/ If it is pain or weakness sometimes acupuncture can make a world of difference for senior dogs. Please be sure that you find a veterinarian that does acupuncture in conjunction with her current medications. If it has not been done X-rays to try to localized the cause of her problem can sometimes help determine the best therapy. (Ie back or hips or knees or all?) Best of luck I hope this helps.

Hi there. In general, there should be no problem with having Sadie wear booties designed for dogs most of the day, if she tolerates them well. So you could certainly try this. As another option, I would suggest taking a look at canine toe grips, which are designed specifically for this purpose and are much less bothersome to most dogs than booties: https://toegrips.com/ Putting down rugs and carpet runners in areas where she spends a lot of time can also be a good way to give her more traction. I hope that helps a bit! :)

Well Max is probably the cutest dog I have seen all day! He could be slipping for long nails or poor joints. He is young but if he has joint issues, he could have arthritis at a young age and a hard time getting his grip on slick floors. I would consider putting him on a joint supplement. I like either dasuquin or flexadin UC-II. Make sure his nails are cut to where they are just touch the floor / even with his paw pads. The vet will be able to help you with this. Finally, I would consider getting him some “Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips”. You can order these online. These work great to help give them traction. Also, I would confer taking him in for a thorough orthopedic exam. Your vet can even do X-rays to see the joints if there are any concerning problem areas. I hope this helps!

I recommend you take a look at the links below and then consult with your veterinarian about what other options would be suitable for Grogan. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951467 https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8896028 The Help Em Up Harness and Toe Grips at the links below may prove helpful as well: https://helpemup.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjc7P5_vm4QIV16mWCh0GSgUDEAAYAiAAEgLsV_D_BwE https://toegrips.com/ I also recommend looking into rubber-backed carpet runners over any tile or hardwood floors to provide more traction for Grogan. You can also look into acupuncture, massage, physical therapy and chiropractic as treatment options for Grogan in future, and see if your vet can refer you to vets in your area who practice them.

Your dog could have arthritis which makes him unstable. He could also suffer from hip dysplasia (which can lead to arthritis) or have some compression of the spinal cord which can affect the hind leg movement. A vet exam is recommended to check for these issues. Some may improve with anti-inflammatory medication available from your vet. In the meantime, using small throw rugs on the floor (that have grip on the back so they don't move) may help your pup get around on the floor.

Poor Blitz. I would first make sure you have him at a healthy weight. These things can be so much harder to handle when they are overweight. I am most worried about the aspirin dose as it can cause an upset stomach and even a GI ulcer when given for too long. I would talk to your vet about trying Galliprant or rimadyl or something similar for pain and inflammation. Galliprant is the safest for the liver and kidneys. I would also look to see if you have an alternative or integrative vet in your area that specializes in Chinese herbs and acupuncture. I have had great success with these and dogs with severe arthritis and pain. Finally, I would look into a brace that helps these guys stand up. It is called orthodog hip hound brace. You can also look into Dr. Buzby's toegrips or pawfriction to help him with traction on slick floors if that seems to be troubling him as well. I hope this helps!