My dog is clumsy and falls often. How can I prevent injuries?

Well Max is probably the cutest dog I have seen all day! He could be slipping for long nails or poor joints. He is young but if he has joint issues, he could have arthritis at a young age and a hard time getting his grip on slick floors. I would consider putting him on a joint supplement. I like either dasuquin or flexadin UC-II. Make sure his nails are cut to where they are just touch the floor / even with his paw pads. The vet will be able to help you with this. Finally, I would consider getting him some “Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips”. You can order these online. These work great to help give them traction. Also, I would confer taking him in for a thorough orthopedic exam. Your vet can even do X-rays to see the joints if there are any concerning problem areas. I hope this helps!

Poor Max! Max could have a soft tissue injury such as a sprain or muscle strain, or it's also possible he could have fractured something. Max should be seen by a vet to determine the source of the injury. For now, keep Max as quiet and calm as possible. Don't let him jump on/off furniture, and keep his walking to a minimum. If he's not using that leg normally within the next day or two, he needs to be seen by the vet. Do *NOT* give him anything for pain. There are no human pain meds that are safe and effective for dogs, and anything you give him could conflict with a more effective medication that the vet prescribes. Hope this helps and he feels better soon!

It sounds like poor Max injured himself playing outside. He is in pain because he's limping. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps!

Poor Hamish! I'm encouraged to hear that he is bearing some weight on the injured leg, as this makes a fracture seem a bit less likely. Instead, it sounds as though he may have a soft tissue (muscle, ligament, tendon) injury. Keep Hamish restricted to a crate or very small room to prevent him from running, jumping or playing over the next few days. Try to limit his activity to short leash walks strictly to eliminate. If he is still favoring the injured leg in the morning, Hamish should be examined by his vet for further evaluation and possible anti-inflammatory pain medications. Do not give any human pain medications, as none are safe for dogs. I hope that he feels better soon!

That depends on if he’s actually having a seizure or if he is trying to get his legs to work normally. The first thing I recommend to do is to record one of these episodes and show it to his veterinarian. While videotaping the episode, call his name as pets who are having seizures are generally not as responsive. If he is having a seizure, the best thing you can do is dim the lights and make the environment quiet. You do not want to create more stimulation. Additionally, if he is having seizures there are medications that can control them and I recommend to discuss this with his veterinarian. If this is not a seizure, I recommend to start him on an omega-3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, a joint supplement, a joint diet and also pursue physical therapy. Jasper is still a young dog and starting physical therapy now can make all the difference when he is older. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It sounds like Daddy injured himself jumping up on the bed. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. There are MANY different things that can be done to help him get around better - namely medications that your vet can prescribe. I think it would be the least you can do to help him. Remember, just because a dog is not crying or complaining doesn't mean he is not in pain. Animals do not manifest pain the same way we do. They just carry on and do the best they can like they would do in the wild. Please take him to a vet for an exam and to get him started on some NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication). Don't let him continue to be in pain. You will be surprised at how much the medications help. You could also get him nail grips or special boots/socks for him to wear the have grips on them to help him not slide around on the floor: ( https://toegrips.com ) ( https://www.amazon.com/DOK-TigerToes-Premium-Non-Slip-Hardwood/dp/B0BHKN1G9C/ ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.