1.Maintain an appropriate weight on your dog. 

2.Use rubber-backed area rugs strategically placed on slippery floors.

3.Teach your dog to wear rubber-soled booties in the house (Don’t leave these on all day as it could interfere with the dog’s cooling mechanism).

4.Restrict (with baby gates) your dog’s access to stairs and uneven surfaces in your home or yard when you are unable to supervise him.

5.Train your dog to use a ramp to get into your vehicle.

6.Apply rubber stair treads to steps to improve traction for mobile dogs.

7.Use a rear sling to give extra support. 

8.Use a sturdy body harness that you can grab easily from the top to aid in entering and exiting vehicles.

9.Use portable stairs for getting on the couch or bed.

10.Use rear harness/sling to get dog up into standing position or for walking.

11.Elevate water/food bowl if your dog is unable to get up and down easily. (Generally this is not a good idea because of risk of bloat, but for these dogs it is practical).

12.Place food and water bowls on rubber mesh mat on floor so that it does not slide away from him if your dog is unable to get himself up.

13.Offer water several times throughout the day with increased disability.  Access to the water bowl may be more difficult, involve more spills.  Do not let the dog remain wet from such spills.

14.Use beds that are soft and supportive, without high edges/sides.

15.Change your dog’s position every 4-6 hours to avoid pressure sores if he is unable to reposition himself.

16.Use bolsters or rolled up blankets to aid in maintaining trunk support.

17.Assist with toilet needs (provide balance) as he becomes increasingly disabled or, if incontinence develops, you may need to express bladder (AKC/CHF Video available to show how to do this).

18.Train your dog to use a wheel chair if rear legs no longer function.

19.Provide fun activities for your disabled dog to do because typically cognition is unaffected – e.g., toss balls directly to him to catch, roll balls to him to catch or go for walks with aid of wheel chair.

20.Develop a home exercise program.  Consider including passive motion and massage. (Be sure to get professional advice on what exercises to do as the wrong ones can injure the mobility-compromised dog). 

21.Use an underwater treadmill to extend quality of life.  Treadmill uses rear legs, whereas swimming typically only uses forelegs.  Swimming is excellent exercise for the forelegs.

22.Consider alternative therapies, such as acupuncture.

23.Maintain forelimb strength with appropriate exercise if forelimbs are unaffected.