Advice Needed With Dog Problem

[odddog1]

I have kept dogs for 45 odd years and have encountered many little problems with them along the way but with this one I am stumped, I have an 11 year old Border Collie who has has many funny little foibles but they have always been reasonably easy to rectify, over the past 6 months he has shown a fear of walking on the kitchen floor (Vinyl flooring), we assumed from this that he had slipped and hurt himself at some point, to help him I have put mats all around so that he can easily get to the back door and round into the dining room, this has worked for a long time but yesterday he started showing fear of the rugs as well, he has recently had a check up at the vets (receptionists and nurses scurrying around looking for rugs for him) nothing out of the ordinary except that he does have arthritis for which he is on medication for, has anyone out there ever encountered this problem with their dog? I'm open to any suggestions you may have so that I can make his life a little easier.
Thanks.

[Samuraisan]

Maybe as he has arthritis he knows if he slips it will hurt .

[rsvp]

Is he okay on other surfaces like fitted carpets , grass etc?

[woofgang]

Did the vets think about dementia?

[jakep]

I'm sorry I can't directly answer your post.
Just to say that our friends have a ten year old arthritic golden retriever who is the same. I have bought old bedspreads from the charity shop so she feels comfortable when she stays with us.
Carpets and that cushion floor stuff at her home.

[frugalfred]

Are the rugs becoming electrostatically charged? This might shock the dog via its paws. Any man-made fibre in the rugs? Friction between your shoes/slippers might lead to a build-up of electrostatic charge.

[odddog1]

Yes he fine on fitted carpets.

[odddog1]

I have also tried Vetbedding and it doesn't make any difference, if you could see my kitchen floor this morning, I have 3 large rugs and on top of those I have put odd carpet tiles to see if it's the texture of the rugs, he seems ok on an flokati rug I cut in half for him to sleep on so the static suggestion could be true

[odddog1]

The vet didn't mention dementia but I have thought about it, he was bitten by an Adder years ago on his lip, his head swelled to 3 times it's normal size, we have put a lot of his odd behaviour down to this though the vet didn't think there would be any long term effects.

[odddog1]

I've go some old duvet covers perhaps I will put those down and see what happens, our other dog (a GSD) watches us do all these things and looks at me as if she thinks we're nuts! lol!

[ladybirder]

Oh bless you for persevering with him and what a pity they can't tell us what's wrong although they do try their best. I hope you succeed in allaying his fears but at the very least you are providing amusement for your GSD LOL. Good luck.

[jambutty]

You're doing your very best odddog and I salute you for that.

[odddog1]

Quite simply, we love him he is part of the family who obviously has a bit of a mental health issue bless him, when he is out on his walks he is a different dog, it is only in the house and if it means we are inconvenienced a little by it then it's a small price to pay, he got me through some very tough times in the past now it's my turn to help him.

[woofgang]

an adder bite won’t cause dementia....if you think its a possibility, do ask the vet as there are drugs that can help...
http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advice/diagnosis-and-management-of-dementia-in-dogs.html
activait is a non prescription supplement
https://www.medicanimal.com/Aktivait-Capsules-for-Medium-and-Large-Dogs/p/I0000012
and senilife is as well
https://www.viovet.co.uk/Logic_Senilife_Brain_Ageing_for_Dogs_Cats/c2410/

I had a dog in vivitonin about 10 years ago. the improvement was noticeable and it improved the quality of her last two years of life.

[rsvp]

If he's okay on fixed carpeting then it suggests to me he's slipped and hurt himself on rugs - I have a (rescue) collie, have had the breed for years and used to foster for Border Collie Rescue - they are particularly bright as you know and I'm willing to bet he's either tripped, slipped or felt the rug move underneath him - if he absolutely has to use the kitchen then is there any way of fixing a large non slip mat/carpet/rug because if he walks on a fitted carpet okay then he should walk on a totally secure surface in the kitchen. Get him used to the chosen rug by laying it out in another room for a while for him to get used to it. Any sort of knock, slip or stumble can be extremely painful for arthritis sufferers and it's really important that they feel secure in their footing. Be interested to hear how things go -stay well

[woofgang]

I know you said he is on meds for arthritis but are they working as well as they could? maybe a review is in order?

[odddog1]

rsvp I will try what you suggest but the rugs I have in the kitchen are quite heavy and rubber backed so don't move easily, at the moment he only comfortably stays in the hallway where we have fitted carpet, he gets into the back garden by very gingerly walking on an old flokati rug placed between the hall door and the back door so at least he can get out but even then, sometimes, he looks at me for reassurance, it's pitiful to watch, he is such a sweetheart and is the single most intelligent dog we have ever had, when I got him he had been rejected by 4 people and he was only 16 weeks old can you believe? I love him to bits, I always said I would never have a Border Collie I have always had Shepherds but I have never regretted a minute of it.

[Zacs-Master]

With BCs it's all in the head. Ours has 'pontophobia' - a name we've given to him having difficulty with small bridges where there are gaps in the planks. Once somethings in their head, it is very difficult to remove.

[rsvp]

odddog1 welcome to the Border Collie carers club! never a dull moment - just when all seems to be going swimmingly somebody pulls the plug. I fostered a really screwed up 18 month old collie (4 homes that we knew of) who had so many issues it was unreal - one was doors, he used to go beserk when one was opened, literally climbing the walls so for about six weeks I left all the doors open, only closing the external ones at night. Then when he's settled a bit I'd walk him to a closed door with one of those lap trays with the soft bottoms about 18 inches above his head - as he jumped up he'd hit it but he was the cause of the slight discomfort , it wasn't me causing it - took about three weeks for him to come right on thart issue.
Maybe your dog would benefit from wearing a harness until he feels more secure walking on the rugs - that way you could support him when he has to walk across them - do that in another room to the kitchen first so he gets used to it. Or, even if there is another entrance/exit but there are steps, most dogs soon get used to a ramp - now you see, in my kitchen I'd just lay a long, flat heavy piece of wood down and leave it for him to use but I'm in a position to do that as I live alone. - am sure you'll find the solution soon - lucky dog to have found you!

[Baldric]

I can't add to the advice that's been offered, just wanted to say 'Well done you and good luck'.

[odddog1]

Thanks rsvp & zacs master, it's good to hear from fellow Border Collie owners/lovers, yes I agree it's all in the head he has many phobias, hosepipe though has never been squirted with water vac/lawn mower/grass strimmer, my hubby takes the dogs out lunchtime on his own for their 2nd walk and I hoover then, we have tried everything to get him used to it all to no avail, he has strangely got used to when the army are about if they are firing but if they start shouting which they invariably do he is a quivering wreck, I've heard though that this breed has particularly sensitive hearing, that would explain it.
I will certainly try the harness tomorrow and yes we have another door to the living room so will open that.....fingers crossed, will let you know what happens.
Thanks for all the help and support to everyone.