Best flooring for veterinary clinics – supporting fear-free practice and optimal care

best flooring veterinary

Our latest guide to the best flooring for veterinary clinics, considering durability, cleanliness, noise reduction, and how they align with fear-free practice principles.

Choosing the best flooring for veterinary clinics is crucial for creating a safe, hygienic, and welcoming environment for both animals and staff. Flooring needs to endure heavy foot traffic, animal claws, and regular cleanings, while also fostering a fear-free atmosphere for pets who may be anxious. There are many options for vets, including:

Sealed concrete

Sealed concrete is an excellent choice for clinics seeking a durable, long-lasting flooring option. It can withstand heavy foot traffic, chemical spills, and constant cleaning, all while providing a modern, clean aesthetic. Concrete can also be treated with epoxy or urethane coatings to improve resistance to scratches, stains, and microbial growth.

However, for fear-free practices, concrete is far from ideal due to its hardness and potentially noisy echo. It is also cold and unwelcoming for pets and humans alike, and can represent a slip hazard.

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT)

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) combines the practicality of vinyl with the visual appeal of natural materials like wood or stone, offering clinics a way to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere without sacrificing durability. LVT is waterproof, stain-resistant, and relatively sound-absorbent, making it a fantastic choice for fear-free practices.

The aesthetics of LVT can be particularly helpful in reducing stress for pet owners, who often transmit anxiety to their pets. Creating a calm, beautiful space can set both owners and pets at ease. LVT also allows clinics to incorporate colours that are known to calm pets, such as softer earth tones. At Floors for Paws, we offer the CAM-endorsed Pawsafe Domestic range plus a choice of luxury vinyl planks or luxury vinyl tiles in our luxury vinyl range.

Commercial vinyl flooring – practical and hygienic

Sheet vinyl is perhaps the best flooring for veterinary clinics due to its durability, low cost, and easy maintenance. High-quality vinyl flooring resists scratches from claws, is water-resistant, and can be cleaned quickly—a critical feature in any environment handling pets and medical procedures. Our guide to sheet vinyl flooring has lots more information.

For fear-free practice, vinyl’s ability to reduce noise is especially beneficial. Loud noises, like footsteps or shifting furniture, can contribute to a pet’s anxiety. Sound-dampening vinyl options can help minimise these disturbances, creating a quieter, more comfortable space for animals. Additionally, slip-resistant vinyl options makes it safer for pets, particularly older or injured animals who may struggle on slick surfaces.

Flooring for a fear free veterinary practice

Incorporating fear-free principles in veterinary clinics extends beyond gentle handling techniques; it’s also about creating an environment that reduces anxiety triggers. Flooring plays a key role in this strategy, as it influences noise levels, safety, and the overall ambiance of the clinic. To find out more about fear free vets, read What is a fear free vet?

Best flooring for veterinary clinics from Floors for Paws

Choosing the best flooring for a veterinary clinic not only improves functionality and cleanliness but also supports a fear-free approach to veterinary care—creating a happier, calmer experience for pets, owners, and clinic staff alike. At Floors for Paws, our Pawsafe Commercial range has been developed with the support of veterinarians and endorsed by Canine Arthritis Management (CAM). Offering the highest slip rating of any commercial vinyl flooring on the market currently, this sheet vinyl flooring comes in a choice of wood- or stone-effect finishes, making it ideal for both consultation and reception areas. Completely waterproof, the Pawsafe Commercial range will withstand daily, deep cleaning too.  Constructed from multiple layers, the sheet vinyl has an anti-slip layer, a cushion comfort layer, an insulated backing layer, and a UV-cured polyurethane top layer for long lasting durability and protection. With a 10-year commercial guarantee, it’s easy to see why Pawsafe Commercial is popular with vets around the country. But, to see for yourself, you can order three free samples and find out what all the excitement is about!

For more information, email us at info@floorsforpaws.com or give the team a call on 01522 300218 today.

Is dog proof flooring good for dogs?

dog proof floors

Our latest guide examines why dog-proof flooring isn’t always good for dogs.

At Floors for Paws, we always prioritise the needs of our four-legged friends, without forgetting the needs of our two-legged customers, so here we’re going to explain the difference between dog-proof flooring and dog-friendly flooring, and why they aren’t always the same!

What is dog-proof flooring?

The definition of the term dog-proof is ‘something that can withstand dogs’. Dog-proof flooring, then, means any flooring that can withstand the effects of dogs. But what does dog-proof flooring have to withstand exactly?

Dog pee – just as puppies have accidents while they are being trained, so too do senior dogs as they begin to age and develop age-related incontinence.

Muddy pawprints – dogs returning from wet, winter walks will often have muddy paws and unless you’re quick enough to wipe them down before they venture very far into your home, that mud will travel round your house in the blink of an eye.

Sharp claws and teeth – dog-proof flooring needs to be durable enough to withstand the wear and tear, and damage, inflicted by sharp teeth and claws.

Noise – dogs make noise, and so do their paws! Your flooring needs to be able to limit how much this noise will be heard in other rooms of the house, and even by neighbours.

Dog-friendly flooring

Now we’ve looked at what dog-proof flooring needs to withstand, let’s look at what flooring that is good for dogs, or dog-friendly, needs to offer.

Comfort and cushioning – most family pets spend the majority of their time on the floor. For puppies whose bones are developing, and older dogs who may be suffering from canine arthritis, flooring needs to be soft and comfortable.

Stability – just like human toddlers and seniors, dogs need to feel steady and secure on their paws, and to be able to keep their balance at all times to avoid injuries.

Which dog-proof flooring is good for dogs?

Tile flooring – certainly easy to clean, ceramic or porcelain tiles are water resistant to a point but repeated exposure to dog pee will lead to discolouration and deterioration of the grout in time. Tiles are also extremely slippery for anyone walking on them and hard to the touch.

Carpet – clearly comfortable and warm for dogs, carpet will not tolerate spills or dog pee, and very rarely comes out on top against teeth and claws. It will absorb noise.

Laminate floors – certainly more robust against claws, laminate is slippery and can degrade quickly with regular or prolonged exposure to moisture and pee. It is also uncomfortable.

Hardwood floors – although durable and moisture-resistant, solid wood floors are susceptible to sharp claws and teeth and hard to lie on for prolonged periods of time.

So, should we give up trying to find a dog-proof floor that is also good for our dogs? The answer is an emphatic no! At Floors for Paws, we have developed our vinyl flooring ranges to keep dogs and their owners happy!

The best flooring for dogs from Floors for Paws

We offer three ranges of quality vinyl flooring that tick every box – the Pawsafe Domestic range, the Pawsafe Commercial range and our Luxury Vinyl range.

Stylish, to satisfy the most houseproud among us, our flooring is made up of 5 separate layers for durability with a scratch resistant top layer that will stand up to scratches and scrapes. The cushioned layer will be a big hit with your dogs while the non-slip, textured coating will help to keep them steady on their legs. Completely waterproof and low maintenance, and offering great sound absorption, our flooring is also manufactured from sustainable materials using eco-friendly processes.

To find out more, call us today on 01522 300218 or contact us by email at info@floorsforpaws.com