“Help, my dog hurt her back when she fell on the hardwood floor.” You’d be surprised how often I get an email like this asking me how to prevent dogs from slipping on the slick floors in your home. It’s a common problem that can happen to any dog.

Typically it’s an easy fix that sends pet owners to their computer to find boots or socks that minimize slipping.

But the readers of Lessons From A Paralyzed Dog are a creative bunch of pet owners. They’re used to taking care of senior dogs, arthritic dogs, or fur kids with hind end weakness, spine disease and paralysis. For our dogs, taking a fall on a hard surface can land them in a veterinary hospital or keep them on crate rest for weeks. It can also deflate their confidence about walking on any surface.

So, in order to protect their pups, these inspired pet parents have turned entire rooms in their homes into non-slip safe zones. They’ve created secure spaces and mobility paths where their disabled dog can walk without fear. 

If your dog’s having trouble maneuvering on hard surfaces, I think you’re going to learn a lot from their ideas. I know I did.   [Read more…]