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There are a number of reasons why dogs drag their paws including:
All of them can lead to dogs scraping their nails against the ground, breaking nails and damaging thier pads and skin.
DEFINITELY see your vet. Here's a bit of info on the different issues that can contribute.
Degenerative Myelopathy is a spinal cord disease in older dogs. You generally first notice a loss of coordination in rear limbs, paw dragging, knuckling over and wobbly walking.
Lumbosacral Spondylosis most often affects older dogs by inhibiting mobility. You notice a loss of mobility and balance, pain when touched, lameness, back stiffness and incontenince.
With Fibrocartilaginous Embolic Myelopathy the spinal cord blood vessels become blocked. Accidental trauma from rough play or fights can be the cause. You may see a loss of coordination, wobbly movement and or paralysis.
Sciatic Nerve damage shows up foremost as pain. Your dog may become limp on one side and drag his or her paws. Some dogs experience constipation and muscle loss.
Invertebral Disc Disease shows up in dogs as a reluctance to move, tender abdominal area, stiffness or crying out in pain. In this condition the discs between the verebrae push against the spinal cord. A lot of times dogs become very anxious as moving causes pain.
Ruffwear Grip Trex Boots are not designed specifically for dragged paws. But they are the most sturdy construction of Ruffwear dog boots and they have the strongest reinforcement in the toe.
I have had many, many, many customers purchase these boots for their dogs who drag paws and they have been life changing for so many dogs.
Grip Trex Boots are made with a sturdy mesh upper for excellent breathability. The air circulates and makes for a safe healing environment. The Ruffwear Boot Liners can also help to keep the skin safe and dry.
As the dragging creates conditions beyond normal wear I highly recommend getting some Aquaseal Gear Aid to use in areas where the boots will experience more concentrated wear from your dog's dragging. Sometimes this can be on the sole, sometimes the toe and sometimes the upper. Watch how your dog is dragging the boots to determine where to add in this reinforcement. Aquaseal is a patented urethane rubber repair tool and can create a sole-like texture wherever it is applied.
Grip Trex boots won't always last forever in cases of excessive dragging but they are the best option I've found. Ruffwear are not able to guarantee the longevity of their boots when dragging is a factor so do be sure to reinforce any areas getting extra wear with the AQUASEAL for best results.
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Our Pug loves her Ruffwear Dog Boots as they protect the top of her feet from scraping the ground when she's walking outside due to her arthritis. They also help her when she's walking inside on the tiles and floor as she no longer slips. We wish that we had knownabout them earlier." - Sue Duffy
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Our German Shepherd is going on for 13 1/2. She had began dragging her back right paw and a toe nail quick started bleeding. Our timber floors inside the house had not been kind to her, she had developed deterioration of the spine, her back legs would often splay out drastically and we had to help her up. This was a one-way track at her stage of life and especially with her bad heart problem. My husband started clutching at straws in a search for help and fortunately he found the Waggle website. We cannot believe the instant transformation that began from the moment we put on her Waggle boots. She had grip on the floor inside the house. The confidence that these gave her and/or the feeling of support and protection made her "knuckle under" less outside on the rough pebble concrete. On the occasions that she still drags the back paw she has protection for her toes and her nails will be able to grow again. We wish we had known about Waggle a long time ago but at least our Stella has a new lease on life." - Beverley Wilson
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "As my GSD, Rani, has sacro-illiac disease & drags her left rear leg, the Grip Tex boot helps protect her foot from being scraped along the ground. She has gone through 3 boots in 18months - the last one she ate after a week of wearing which is not to be recommended - so they are very hard wearing & well made. She never complains about wearing the boot & walks & runs with ease, so it must be comfortable for her. Highly recommended by both Rani & me." - Jenny Lord
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "These boots have lasted well with my dog that scraps his back paws due to a genetic paralysis disease. They have grip so he doesn't slip as much. They are easy to put on but I do use the socks so his paws don't get rub marks. He appears to lift his back legs more when he has them on which is in fact helping to maintain his balance and helps with building his deteriorating muscles. I highly recommend these boots." - Suzanne Cross
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Unfortunately our dog has developed a neurological problem which affects his hind legs causing him to drag and wear down his claws. these boots give him back ( most ) of his freedom to run around and they protect his feet. They are very good.." - Dom Bourke
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Purchased a pair for my hip-dysplasia dog to protect her dragging paws. Very easy to put on and take off. Strong, pliable, easy to walk in and durable. Will have to get a pair in each colour now. Excellent communication with customer service, fast reply and the live chat was very helpful with sizing. Shipping was also fast.Thanks!" - Danni
