Probable cruciate issues - (nope! Not cruciate :) !)

My kitchen rug solution.

Keeping an active spoo quiet is, I'm sure everyone is astonished to hear, not the easiest thing to do.

She tends to be doing her "just barely limping/is she limping?" thing in the morning, and "oops, she overdid it, she's really limping" thing in the evening, so I am trying to cut back on the walks on concrete, which is where I really notice the limping.

But I really think her careening around the house is more of the issue.

I have the bottom of the stairs blocked most of the time, but she seems to manage to make it upstairs at least twice a day. Hopefully, as she gets used to the new routine she will no longer make a break for it to get upstairs in the evening. This morning she obviously forgot where I was, ran upstairs to find me, then slid down the stairs when she heard me downstairs. Oops.

Yesterday the wind blew the gate open and she ran out. Actually, both dogs ran out.

She definitely isnt feeling 100%. Usually if she makes it out, she runs joyfully at top speed through at least 4 neighbours' yards before coming back to me; instead she just ran next door and came back to me for her soccer ball without huge enthusiasm. I escorted her to the fenced in garden, then grabbed Trixie, then grabbed a turkey wing, and I think Annie thought THAT was worth recalling for!

The rug I bought is in the downstairs bedroom. Getting her to use a stool to get up is at about 50% success rate, but at least the rug stops the skid. Today I will be installing the rug in the living room after finally rescuing it from the back of my storage unit, hoping the carpet tape I ordered will arrive today or tomorrow. I really wish I could put rugs in the kitchen which is where she really picks up speed, but even these two are testing my mother's balance.

I've been looking into various forms of dog toe nail covers that go on the back middle toes of the dog for added traction which I've seen recommended for cruciate injury recovery. I've got some doubts about their efficacy and their durability, and the price is rather eye-watering for what amounts to 20-40 small pieces of rubber.

Progress! Today's the first day Annie didnt progress beyond "slightly limping" by evening. Now i just need to repeat it.

Changes: carpet in the living room, fewer 5 min walks (if it were up to Annie, we'd go on one every 2 min), and we kept entirely off pavement. Successfully kept her off the stairs all day. I'm at about 50% on getting Annie to use a stool to get on and off the bed. I also added 3-5 reps of some very mild dog physiotherapy exercises. She was confused, but cooperative.

All the animals seem to like the rug, and they all attemped to assist me as i affixed it to the floor with a full roll of carpet tape. Who knew it needed tooth marks for correct application? Here's to hoping no one throws up on it!