Do you have dog steps for your older dog?

Question

About a year ago we had to dog steps for our dog who just turned 14 years old. It was getting difficult for him to get into the car and on the couch. he's a good sized dog and when he was younger he could jump straight up and land with all 4 feet on the dinng room table. about 30 inches(.75m). he uses them, but you can tell he'd rather not.

Thanks to everyone who answered. I'd like to pick a best answer,but I can't so I'll put it to a vote.

Answer 1

I bought a set for my mother's older dog, (almost 16 years old), but she would never use them!!

Answer 2

I surely have 2 ramps for my dogs with osteosarcoma. One is a tri-fold this is intense-high quality yet heavy and that i've got a telescopic one that is extremely handy and easy-weight.. i like the ramp vs. the stairs because of the fact this is not any longer as problematic on her as stairs could be. The telescopic ramp I surely have is from Solvit and it replaced into no longer too high priced and is made properly. It slides open and is long sufficient to apply for my dogs to get into my SUV so a settee could be no difficulty.

Answer 3

I didn't go with steps for my older dog when he got arthritic. The steps were hard for him, even at times the 3 steps he needed to get past coming in from the yard. I got him a ramp which was easier for him. It just depends if steps are hard for them which is better, but they have things you can get for them so sure, why wouldn't I help my older dog? He still liked going places :)

Answer 4

We adopted a Schipperke (pronounced, "SKIP-er-key") mix from a shelter.

She always had to "perch" from a high-vantage point (sofa, stairs, bed, etc). We jokingly thought she was part cat, but were told that it was a trait of the breed, so we presumed that's why she always tried to leap onto the two-foot high sofa, etc, even when, at 16, she had become arthritic and couldn't do so as easily as in her youth.

If we pushed her away, to prevent her from hurting herself, she would whine or bark or become despondent (getting down from her perches was equally problematic).

We finally resorted to using a couple of kiddie chairs, which were low enough to let her climb onto high surfaces (surfaces like dairy milk crates, etc, were difficult on her paws).

However, there was one piece of furniture for which the chair was too low. Unfortunately, it was her "favorite" place. Luckily, a neighbor was having his home reconstructed, including replacing his stairway. We asked if we could take part of his old stairs, and, when we told him and the contractors the reason, the contractors not only removed just the right number of stairs, but also cut it width-wise, so that it wouldn't overwhelm our room! They even attached a support for the cleared part! When we brought it home, she seemed to know exactly what it was for! As soon as we put it down in front of that piece of furniture, she ran up and down it, like a kid running up and down a playground slide! We laughed until we cried; she was very, very happy!

I'm not saying that you should cut down your neighbor's stairwell, but, a simple ramp should do the trick (keep in mind that you'll have to find a way to hold it up AND prevent it from sliding away as your dog walks up it).

Nothing was too good for any of the dogs we've had!
I'm sure you feel the same way!
But, don't anthropomorphize your dog's "plight";
animals don't feel "silly" about such things;
you may be misinterpreting his confusion
about the steps, which aren't "natural" for any animal,
even humans (ever watch a toddler try to climb stairs?).

Good luck!

Answer 5

yes hun I do.So does my mother.I have a 16 year old chihuahua that was a rescue .I rescued her in 1995 and now shes alot slowewr than she was.But shes in good health,just needs assistance geting on my couch.But I have bought her a set of steps and I payed just a fraction Of what a pet store would have cost me thru Petedge.I enclosed a link for u, of many doffernt types.

Answer 6

I built my dog a ramp so he can walk up to the porch.he walks down so she don't hafto walk down.
my dog was 15 amd she g ot so bad i had to have her put away.
When she was 13 a mother cat brought her a kitten,as the mother cat was sick.My dog raised
the cat,and tbhe cat has a lot of traits the dog had.

Answer 7

You bet. I found it on E-bay for $60 - shipping included. The best $60 I never spent.


-MM

Answer 8

Yep and I made them myself