A new dog owner survey suggests certain types of homes and home features may help exacerbate arthritis in dogs. We recently surveyed 500 dog owners throughout the country to learn if certain types of homes create an atmosphere for dog arthritis.

Flexcin team leaders uncovered a possible link between dogs that suffer from joint pain and arthritis and homes built a certain way or with specific features. Headlining the survey taken by people whose dogs have arthritis and joint pain, 68.3 percent of respondents said their homes have tile floors while 63.6 percent said their homes are two-story. Other home features that were prevalent among dogs with arthritis include backyard patios with cement and tall furniture that dogs could jump onto.

Survey participants were asked about the style and features found in their home. The survey found that homes may also be designed a certain way to prevent a dog from getting exercise during the day. Homes with more rooms leaving smaller common areas may prevent dogs from running around the house as a way to gain extra exercise. Homes with fewer rooms leaving more open area provide a larger area for dogs to run, allowing more opportunity for indoor exercise.

“Even some of the best dog lovers sometimes fail to keep their dogs needs in mind when designing the perfect home,” said Tamer Elsafy, CEO and founder of Flexcin. “Feeding your dog the right diet and making sure they’re warm at night still isn’t enough. Arthritis affects dogs in many of the same ways it affects humans, and every aspect of your home needs to be taken into account for your furry little loved one.”

Percentage of arthritic dog owners with these home features:

• Homes have tile floors (68.3%)
• Two-story homes (63.6%)
• Backyard patios with cement flooring (54.2%)
• Tall furniture in the home (43.8%)
• No backyard at all (36.7%)
• Small common space in home (24.7%)
• No walk ways near home (23.5%)

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