I presented a Pup-Peroni in
the exam room to Pebbles, an aging Labrador retriever, and watched her thrust
herself with sliding paws to an upright position, her eyes bright with gustatory
anticipation. I do so love this breed --
they’re so easy to please!
If we’re lucky dog owners,
eventually we’ll be dealing with a senior pet like Pebbles. Almost all older dogs get stiff and
arthritic. But larger breeds can have a
particularly difficult time getting up from a lying position and navigating
slippery floors and stairs, even when they are on a good arthritic drug
regimen.
I turned to Patti Triola of Dogs in Motion for an expert opinion about
products for dogs with mobility problems.
Patti started out as a physical therapist for humans; eventually, she
decided dogs were her first love and became a certified canine rehabilitation
therapist (the doggy equivalent of a physical therapist).
Patti has helped many dogs
recover from injuries and surgery, and she has worked with many arthritic
geriatric dogs. I asked her to focus on
the needs of stiff older dogs who are afraid of falling or who have trouble
getting up. Some owners of senior pets
have their own problems with strength and mobility, so picking up their dog, or
carrying it upstairs, isn’t a good option.
But help is on the way!
Triola suggests trying
booties to give your dog better traction.
One example is Pawz, a rubberized bootie that is disposable and reusable. For more comfort, buy a size larger and put a
soft sock on each paw first. She also suggests Muttsox,which are soft and have a nonstick
surface on the bottom.
I know they’re not
attractive, but non-skid rug runners placed in strategic areas are invaluable
for dogs that slip. Triola suggest going
to Home Depot or Walmart, for example, to get a good value. Once you see how much your old guy or girl
appreciates the good footing, the lack of aesthetics will become a minor
nuisance
The
best product Patti turned us on to is the Help ‘em Up Harness, an underutilized
little miracle. Hind-end weakness causes
a dog to pull itself up with the front legs, which puts stress on the back,
shoulders and elbows. With the Help ‘em Up Harness, you use handles positioned over
the dog’s shoulders and hips to help your pal get up from the floor, climb the
stairs or get into or out of the car. The harness stays on during the day or
when you feel it’s needed the most.
If
you’ve discovered something that’s been a big help for your pet’s mobility, e-mail
me: mmcculloughdvm@gmail.com. Your
experience is our most valuable resource.
