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Dr. Buzby's ToeGrips Review (2026): Do They Help a Slipping Senior Dog?

Dr. Buzby's ToeGrips Review (2026)

By Sarah Bennett · Last updated July 13, 2026 · 11 min read

Anyone with an aging dog knows the sound: the scrabble of claws on a wood floor, the back legs splaying out, the moment of panic when she cannot get up off the kitchen tile. A dog slipping on hardwood floors is not just at risk of a fall and an injury. She learns to be afraid of the floor, stops moving, and a dog that stops moving declines faster. This ToeGrips review looks at one of the most popular fixes for exactly that problem, and it tries to answer the only questions that matter: do they actually work, and are they the right answer for your dog or is something cheaper enough? I write as a researcher and owner, not a veterinarian, and none of this replaces an exam.

Our Ratings at a Glance

  1. 1
    Dr. Buzby's ToeGrips4.5 / 5

    Best traction aid for a senior dog slipping on hard floors

    • Natural rubber grips that slide onto the weight-bearing toenails
    • 20 grips per pack (16 for the weight-bearing nails, plus spares); 7 sizes (XS-XXXL) by weight and nail size
    • Designed for senior, arthritic, and special-needs 'walkers', not active 'runners'
    • About $39.99 a pack; plan to replace every 2 to 3 months; 30-day money-back guarantee
    • Sizing is critical: mis-sized grips fall off or migrate; some dogs need a dab of the brand's glue

See all our top picks for senior dogs →

This ToeGrips Review in One Minute

What they are: small rubber grips that slide onto a dog's toenails (not the paw) to give instant traction on slippery hard floors. They were invented by an integrative veterinarian, Dr. Julie Buzby, for senior and special-needs dogs.

Do they work: for the right dog, yes, and genuinely well. The clever insight is that they grip through the toenail, which a stiff arthritic dog can still load, rather than relying on paw pads she can no longer splay. The catch is that sizing has to be right and the dog has to tolerate them.

Who should buy: owners of a senior dog who slips on wood, tile, or laminate, especially one with arthritis, hind-end weakness, or recovering from surgery.

Who can skip: dogs who won't tolerate anything on their nails, homes where a few runners and rugs already solve it, and young, active "runner" dogs the product was never meant for.

What they cost: about $39.99 for a pack of 20, replaced every two to three months, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

How Dr. Buzby's ToeGrips Work

The idea behind Dr. Buzby's ToeGrips is genuinely clever, and it is worth understanding because it explains both why they work and who they work for. A dog grips a floor mainly through her paw pads and her ability to splay her toes. An old, arthritic, or weak dog loses that, and on a smooth floor her hard toenails just skate. ToeGrips are bands of natural nonslip rubber that slide onto the weight-bearing toenails, and the rubber "GripZone" makes contact with the floor just behind the nail tip. So they restore traction by working with the one part of the foot a senior dog can still plant: the nail.

That design also tells you who they are for. The brand is explicit that ToeGrips were made for "walkers, not runners," for senior, arthritic, and special-needs dogs who spend most of their time indoors on hard floors, not for athletic young dogs tearing around a yard. A small published study even found that applying ToeGrips produced only minimal changes in the gait of healthy dogs, which is reassuring on the safety side, though it was a study of normal dogs and not a test of how much they help a dog who is already slipping.

Specs Price What's included What it does
Natural rubber grips for the toenails; 7 sizes (XS-XXXL) by weight; for indoor "walkers" About $39.99 a pack (20 grips); plan to replace every 2-3 months 20 ToeGrips plus sizing guidance; 30-day money-back guarantee Slide onto the weight-bearing toenails and grip wood, tile, and laminate, giving a slipping senior dog instant, targeted traction

Do ToeGrips Actually Work?

This is the question every owner wants answered, so let me be straight: for the dog they were designed for, yes, ToeGrips work, and the change can be quick and obvious. The most common owner report is a dog who was cautious and skating on the kitchen floor walking across it with confidence the same day, and that matches the design logic. They are not a cure for whatever is making your dog weak, and they will not turn a wobbly dog with advanced disease into a steady one. What they do is remove one specific, fixable problem: the lack of grip on a slick surface.

But "do ToeGrips work" comes with two honest conditions. The first is sizing. The grips only stay on and do their job if they are matched to your dog's nail size, which means a careful, one-time measurement of the nails before you order. Get the size wrong and they fall off or migrate, which is behind most of the "they didn't work" complaints. The second is tolerance: most dogs ignore them within a day, but some paw at them or chew them off at first. Both of these are manageable, and they are the difference between ToeGrips being a small miracle and a frustrating $40.

What Owners Actually Complain About

A fair ToeGrips review has to include the real grumbles, because they tell you whether you are likely to be happy:

  • They fall off, especially early. Almost always this traces back to sizing or placement. Sized correctly and slid far enough back on the nail, they stay; sized wrong, they shed quickly. Measuring carefully up front is the single most important step.
  • Some dogs chew or pull them off. A minority of dogs object at first. The company sells a small bottle of adhesive for exactly this, and most dogs settle once they realize the grips help rather than hurt.
  • They wear out. Expect a set to last roughly two to three months before the rubber wears and you replace them. That makes ToeGrips a small recurring cost, not a one-time buy.
  • Sizing can be fiddly. Odd or damaged nail shapes don't always hold a grip well, and very long nails should be trimmed first.

None of these are reasons to avoid the product. They are the things that decide whether you, with your particular dog, are likely to be in the happy majority.

ToeGrips vs the Alternatives

ToeGrips are not the only way to keep a senior dog on her feet, and an honest review should put them next to the options you already have. Most homes should think of these as a layered set rather than a single choice.

Option Roughly what it costs How well it works Best when
ToeGrips About $40, replaced every 2-3 months Strong, once sized right; grips through the nail A dog slipping all over the house, especially with weak or arthritic legs
Runners and area rugs $20 and up, one time Very good on the paths you cover, nothing off them You can map her main routes (bed, door, food, sofa)
Toe-grip socks or booties $10 to $25 Hit or miss; many dogs dislike them and they trap moisture Short stints; dogs who tolerate paw coverings
Paw-pad traction pads or sprays $10 to $20 Modest and short-lived A quick, temporary boost
Keeping nails short and paw fur trimmed Cost of a trim Helps a little, free with grooming Always worth doing, alongside anything else

The honest takeaway: a few well-placed runners are the cheapest, simplest first move, and for some dogs they are enough. ToeGrips earn their place when the slipping is everywhere, when she has real hind-end weakness, or when you cannot rug every surface she uses. Many owners end up using both.

Who Should Buy ToeGrips, and Who Can Skip

Buy them if:

  • Your senior dog slips on wood, tile, or laminate and it is making her hesitant or fearful.
  • She has arthritis, hind-end weakness, or is recovering from surgery, and traction would help her stand and walk.
  • You are willing to measure her nails and size correctly, which is the whole ballgame.

You can skip them if:

  • Your dog will not tolerate anything on her nails or feet, even with a settling-in period.
  • A few runners and rugs already solve the problem on her usual routes.
  • She is a young, active "runner", the opposite of the dog this was built for.

For the dog in that first list, ToeGrips are one of the highest-value small purchases in senior dog care: about $40 to give a frightened, skating dog her footing back.

What ToeGrips Cost

A pack of 20 ToeGrips ran about $39.99 at the time of writing, with 16 for the weight-bearing nails plus a few spares, though it is worth checking the live price, since it shifts over time and varies by size and retailer. You can see the current price and the sizing guide on Dr. Buzby's official store. Because the rubber wears, plan on replacing them every two to three months, so the real ToeGrips cost is more like a small ongoing expense than a one-time $40. Dr. Buzby's backs them with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which takes most of the risk out of trying them, and is worth using: if your dog is going to reject them or they will not fit her nails, you will know inside that window. Set against an emergency vet visit for a dog who fell on the stairs, the math is easy for the right dog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do ToeGrips really work for senior dogs?

For the dog they were designed for, yes. ToeGrips for senior dogs work by restoring traction through the toenail, which an arthritic or weak dog can still plant, rather than the paw pads she has lost the ability to grip with. Owners commonly report a slipping, hesitant dog walking with confidence the same day. They do not treat the underlying weakness, and they only deliver if they are sized correctly, but for a senior dog skating on hard floors they are genuinely effective.

How do I size ToeGrips?

ToeGrips sizing is based on your dog's weight and the circumference of her toenails, across seven sizes from XS to XXXL. The brand provides a sizing guide, and measuring the nails before you order is the single most important step, because mis-sized grips are the main reason they fall off. Trim long nails first, and measure rather than guessing from breed or weight alone.

Why do my dog's ToeGrips keep falling off?

ToeGrips falling off almost always comes down to sizing or placement. Grips that are too large slide off, and grips that are not pushed far enough back on the nail work loose. Re-measure the nails against the sizing guide, make sure each grip is seated firmly toward the base of the nail, and for a dog who still loses them, the brand sells a small adhesive made for the purpose.

How long do ToeGrips last?

Expect a set to last roughly two to three months before the rubber wears down and traction drops, at which point you replace them. That makes them a small recurring cost rather than a one-time purchase, which is worth factoring in when you compare them to a one-time set of rugs.

Are ToeGrips safe for dogs?

For the dog they were designed for, yes. Because they attach to the toenail rather than covering the paw, they leave a dog's pads and natural sensation intact, and a published gait study in normal dogs found that applying them produced only minimal changes in how the dogs moved (Roush JK et al., Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2017;4:111; PMC5507962). The one real caution is a dog who chews a grip off, since a swallowed grip is a small ingestion risk: supervise a new dog through the first few days, check that each grip is seated correctly, and remove any that a determined chewer keeps working loose. Trim long nails to a healthy length before fitting them.

ToeGrips vs dog socks: which is better for slipping?

For most senior dogs, ToeGrips are the more reliable choice. Non-slip socks and booties are cheaper but many dogs dislike them, they can slip down or trap moisture, and they cover the paw the dog is trying to feel the floor with. ToeGrips leave the paw open and add grip at the nail, which tends to be better tolerated for all-day, everyday use. Socks can still be handy for short, supervised stints.

Sources

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The Bottom Line of This ToeGrips Review

If your senior dog is slipping on hard floors, this ToeGrips review lands on a clear recommendation: for that dog, they are worth it, one of the best $40 you can spend on her comfort and confidence, as long as you measure her nails and size them correctly. Start with a runner or two on her main routes, because that is the cheapest fix and sometimes enough, and reach for ToeGrips when the slipping is everywhere or her legs need the extra grip. If she will not tolerate anything on her nails, or rugs already do the job, you can skip them with a clear conscience, and that honesty is exactly why you can trust the recommendation when it is yes.

About the authors

Sarah Bennett writes Senior Dog Daily from a home built around her Border Collie, Lucy. I am not a veterinarian; I report and check against published guidance and the manufacturer's own specifications, and my aim is to help you make a clear-eyed decision, not to sell you something your dog does not need.