Don’t Let Your Dog’s Life Slip Away
By Bob Encinosa, DVM
The joints of dogs, particularly the hips and shoulders, are designed to move primarily forwards and backwards. They have very limited side to side 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 to already sensitive joints. The trend away from carpeted flooring has made this problem worse.
So here are a few tips to make life easier for these senior pets.
- Place runners 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. The easier it is for them to get up, the more often they will.
- 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, shaded side of many homes. These areas can become very slippery after rains.
- Purchase dog boots or socks that provide good traction on the bottom. These are primarily for indoor wear. They can stay on for short jaunts in the yard but take them off for longer leash walks so they don’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.