Thread: Slipping and sliding on tile floors

My 9 year old lab has very, very smooth pads - soft as a babies bottom. We have tile floor throughout most of our home with throw rugs here and there. He loves to lay on the cool tile, but has trouble getting up as his legs slip out from underneath him. Is there a way we can rough up his pads so he can have better traction? Taking him for walks and things like that don't work as he is a lazy boy and he's not very energetic. I've heard about a wax but haven't heard good results about it. Would taking a heel buffer to them work? We try to keep his nails trimmed, and even when they are he still slips and slides. I'm afraid it's only doing damage to an already herniated disk in his neck, plus he's not getting any younger. Any suggestions? Thanks a bunch!

There is no way to increase the traction on the feet. You can get some booties from Pets Smart but they need to be checked twice daily to make surethey are not hurting the feet. You can also try to use more rugs on the floor and that may help but there is no way to increase the traction. The other thing you may want to try is getting him on some anti-inflammatories and a joint supplements.

I have tile floors everywhere except the bedrooms. Dolly & Desi don't like being on the floor because it is cold for them. Their favorite place (except for the recliner chair) is in one of their many beds. They have sports car beds, regular beds, Animal Planet dog houses. I put little blankets (they are Chihuahuas so they do fine with good quality baby blankets) in their beds and houses and they will run around and play and then when their feet get cold, they go to the recliner or one of their beds.
So, for your lab, perhaps you keep a small area rug in different places in your home -preferably close to where he loves to lay. When he gets up from the cold tile, the rug would be there to help him get up OK.

they actually make stick on pads for dogs feet, our old dog was having trouble getting up on our tile floors and we ordered the stick ons for his pads and it worked very well. They're called"puppy love paw pads", they have several different kinds, they start at about $4.75. There phone number is 1-877-784-5535, you can check out there website and see the different kinds. Good luck.