Old Dog + Hardwood Floors

[N80]

My labrador retriever, Dash, is eleven years old and starting to have problems with arthritis, particularly his hips. He also had a back injury a few years ago and his back legs are weak. He lives indoors with us. He is still happy and active but he is having increasing difficulty getting up from lying down on our slippery (for him) hardwood floors. We have no carpeting but we do have rugs in a lot of rooms. He does not have trouble on the rugs. The biggest problem is the hardwood stairs and he has fallen up and down them several times, luckily without getting hurt.

We can certainly use a child gate to block the stairs but he loves to sleep upstairs with us. We also know we can carpet the stairs but that would be expensive and not consistent with the decor rolleyes.

I have heard there are non-slip boots but I think he would pull or gnaw them off.

So I'm looking for something else, maybe a tip or trick that someone else has tried and had it work?

 

[Furu]

We used runners with rubber backing throughout the house. We did use the rubber booties (not cheap ones) and he loved them. He seemed to know they helped.
Try the runners on the stairs with double sided construction tape to hold in place. Of course that might leave deposits on the hardwood but then he is your buddy. We also carried our old man up and down the stairs at times.

 

[N80]

My wife said one of the companies that makes the boots guarantee that the dog can't get them off. But we have encountered very few toys and such that Dash wouldn't gnaw through, but it might be worth a try.

And yes, I have carried him up the stairs before when he was wobbly or slipping. He weighs 85 pounds though.....not THAT heavy, but still, kind of awkward to carry.

Temporary runners on the stairs might work. Stairs are 80+ years old and worn so deposits wouldn't be the end of the world. Just as long as they would not be a tripping hazard for us....we're not kids anymore either.:laughing:

It seems to me that something like a non-toxic rubbery substance you could paint on their foot pads would work. You'd probably have to do it fairly often......just thinking outside the box. Maybe not the invention of the century and probably closer to the Opti-Grab glasses.......if you remember those....:laughing:

 

[QRTRHRS]

The stairs are going to take a hard choice I am afraid. We have had to resort to throw rugs and towels on one level which is alot of work. We had to set up a ramp to allow arthritic dogs to negotiate three steps to keep going outside.

I think you are going to have to set up sleeping quarters on the main level to accomodate your four legged friend.

 

[whistlepig]

I agree with QRTRHS. I have had to make choices for some of my old dogs that were unpleasant for them. But it gave them another year or so in my case. It's an unpleasant thing no matter how you go about it. Good dogs are far and few between.

 

[kidr]

See your vet. My old dog is on rimadyl and hyaluranic acid with msm, and it helps.
He can also provide a sling so you can assist the dog up and down stairs.

 

[bucktaker]

We have hardwood floors and I bought a large carpet remmant and had the edges sewn so it was a huge area rug. with no slips under it it worked great for my English Springer Spanial who lived to just short of 17. she was mobile and kinda learned to only lay on the carpet.

 

[Egon]

For the stairs consider some rubber mat/runner on each individual step.

 

[MossRoad]

Also make sure his nails are trimmed well. It can make a big difference in his walking comfort.

 

[trihounds]

These work really well and don't break the bank.

Heathered Stair Treads