The Updated Home: Creating a Supportive Space for your Dog
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Your pets spend majority of their lives at home, so
it is important to ensure their home environment is
supportive. By making small changes to their everyday
living, you can protect and preserve your dog’s
wellbeing and improve their joint health. As veterinary
physiotherapists, we identify things in homes that are not
supporting your dog’s joints or overall well-being
By Megan Klaasen
Here are some major tips we usually recommend:
Step It Up!
Did you know? A dog that jumps out of the car ab
sorbs 4-6 times their total body weight. This means
a 25kg dog will absorb 100-150kg. So, a ramp for
the car is an important addition to protect your
dog’s joint health.
We usually recommend a stable and durable car
ramp that can carry your dog’s weight while also
not breaking your back while setting it up. We love
the ramp made by DogMom (www.dogmom.co.za,
R2999).
A set of stairs at the couch or bed is also one of the
easiest adjustments to make! The stairs allow dogs
that are too weak to get up and down furniture
safely without compromising their joints. It is also
an important tool in preventing dogs from jumping
off beds or couches, especially to protect your
Dachshunds or French Bulldogs backs.
We love recommending Ora Pets Woof Stairs (star
ting at R1095) or PupSak Corduroy Stairs (R2200) – functional and aesthetic!
Grip and no-slide!
Slippery surfaces are the most detrimental to our
pet’s joint health. A lack of grip causes abnormal
forces to go through the joints and can cause pain
and discomfort. Notice any areas where
your dog is more prone to slipping.
We usually recommend putting down a carpet in
that area. Non-slip interlocking floor tiles are also
quite handy, and they easy to find at any home
store.
Another thing we frequently see that decreases
grip and increases slip are too long nails. Ensure
your dog’s nails are trimmed and make sure the
hair on the bottom of their paws is not too long.
You can trim your dog’s nails at home, or you can
ask a groomer or your vet to trim them for you.
Block Those Stairs
Constantly going up and down stairs is more detri
mental for your dog’s joints than you may realise.
Especially your older dogs who are already dealing
with osteoarthritis or joint disease. We prefer it
if you block access to the stairs using a dog gate
at the bottom or top of your staircase. These are
easily found online.
While these are only a few tips, they can support
your pets in small but measurable ways. Reducing
abnormal forces through joints is key to protecting
older dogs joints from damage as well as pre
venting joint changes in younger dogs ensuring a
better and more comfortable daily life.
