Why Slippery Floors are dangerous for ALL dogs!
It is most common now for a lot of the rooms of our modern homes to be carpet free, and comprise of tiled and laminate flooring. They look nice, sure, but they are a massive hazard for dogs of all ages. Slippery floors are a very common cause of injuries in the home- both for older dogs who already have conditions like arthritis, but for growing puppies and young dogs. Puppies are not immune to the vast array of problems caused by slippery floors!
Imagine walking on ice in flip flops.... its not easy is it?! You can't get grip on the surface and it affects how you move, balance and, lets face it, we often fall flat on our face on the ice! Think of slippery floors in your kitchen or living room as meaning your dog gas to walk on ice every time they move around, The same applies to outdoor surfaces like wooden decking, esp if it becomes covered with ice in the winter.
Imagine walking on ice in flip flops.... its not easy is it?! You can't get grip on the surface and it affects how you move, balance and, lets face it, we often fall flat on our face on the ice! Think of slippery floors in your kitchen or living room as meaning your dog gas to walk on ice every time they move around, The same applies to outdoor surfaces like wooden decking, esp if it becomes covered with ice in the winter.
Every time your dog/puppy slips on flooring it causes Microtrauma
Dogs simply cannot get traction on slippery surfaces and have to make a real effort to walk on them. As a dog's muscles become weaker due to age, and/or they have stiff, arthritic joints, it becomes even harder for them to navigate slippery floors, and every slip moves those painful joints and muscles out of their normal "comfortable" range. Micro-trauma is basically small injuries to joints and surrounding soft tissue. and these can scar tissue, stiffness, and pain in the immediate term, but in older dogs or dogs with any degree of joint pain or arthritis, these regular slips can lead to faster progression of their arthritis.
preventing this repetitive trauma and pain using simple measures is likely to make their lives easier both in the short and long term.
preventing this repetitive trauma and pain using simple measures is likely to make their lives easier both in the short and long term.
Puppies slipping on flooring affects their future joints
Studies have shown that dogs housed in an area with slippery floors while young are 1.6 times more likely to develop hip dysplasia and luxating patella, compared with dogs kept on non-slippery floor. (study van Hangen et al, 2005) Hip dysplasia and patella luxation can, over time, be a huge factor in the development of arthritis. So preventing slipping in puppies and young dogs as the grow can reduce the poor joint development and proper cartilage growth especially in prone breeds such as, English and French Bulldogs.
Runners and Rugs = Less Drugs!
Preventing this trauma to joints and muscles which occurs over and over is so easy to do, and will make your dogs life so much easier both now and long term- Cover slippery flooring with non-slip runners and rugs. If there is an area a runner or rug wont fit, use non-slip doormats or anti-slip clear tape, or use use runners or rugs at least in the main pathways your puppy tends to navigate through your home. This enables them to move around the house without risking injury or damage to joints, especially important to growing puppies.
Why spend money on things like hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, supplements when any benefit will immediately be undone when your dog slips in your home? By preventing slipping, you will most likely find your dog wont need medications to address the unnecessary pain being prevented.
Why spend money on things like hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, supplements when any benefit will immediately be undone when your dog slips in your home? By preventing slipping, you will most likely find your dog wont need medications to address the unnecessary pain being prevented.
Slipping does not only happen at speed
Contrary to popular belief, slipping does not only happen if a dog runs at high speed through the house. If you watch your dog move though the house, watch closely and you will see that often their paws slip slightly on every step. Even these small steps cause damage-to older dogs it will cause immediate pain, and puppies and younger dogs damage over time. Watch how your dog gets up from a lying position if he/she is on a slippery, laminate or tiled floor. Does he/she get up easily? watch the paws! do they move and slip out, even slightly, as they try to get up? Even these seemingly small slipping movements are enough to cause damage over time.
Trimming the fur between your dogs paw pads will help with traction, but there is no getting away from the fact that dogs paws are simply not ever going to get significant traction on slippery floors to move around safely and without some degree of injury, (weather we are aware of it or not) Remember dogs tolerate a huge degree of pain before they will show any obvious signs to humans.
Soo Please..... Cover slippery floors, your puppers will thank you for it!
Trimming the fur between your dogs paw pads will help with traction, but there is no getting away from the fact that dogs paws are simply not ever going to get significant traction on slippery floors to move around safely and without some degree of injury, (weather we are aware of it or not) Remember dogs tolerate a huge degree of pain before they will show any obvious signs to humans.
Soo Please..... Cover slippery floors, your puppers will thank you for it!