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  1. #1
    Puppy arlene's Avatar
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    Need help getting upstairs

    How to help my 13 year old climb stairs. Sometimes he can do it and other times he hesitates. Walks away and comes back to the stairs a few times. Then he climbs up ok.
    Just use a towel under his behind and hold him up.... is that the answer? He is 70 pounds though.
    HELP please.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog
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    Rather than use a towel, I would get a support harness specifically meant for that sort of thing. Before doing that though, unless I knew what the problem was that was causing the hesitation/difficulty I would have a vet check. You need to know whether it is visual, hips, spine etc to best know how to help.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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  4. #3
    Real Retriever Moby and Barley's Mom's Avatar
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    I don't let Moby upstairs anymore in my new house. He fell down them twice and they are too steep. I may consider a support harness that helps me lift his back end eventually - because he also is almost 70 pounds. The vet showed this to me last week. They are expensive, though - about $110. Right now - he can get up and down but I do need to help him sometimes,and I have portable stairs to help him into the car.
    Forever in my heart - Sweet gentle Moby - lover of belly rubs, bacon, and Barbara 9-10-2001 to 11-2-2015

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  6. #4
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    Ditto Annette. Using a support harness could do harm. You need to find out where the problem is first; spine up near the neck? Middle back, as my girl's problem was? Lower back? Hips? Knees? Vision? Toenails too long or too furry toes? Could be front legs too.

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  8. #5
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    Once you know the whys it may be time to evaluate if the stairs are a good idea. Sometimes, for their own good, you need to make changes to the routine. I know it isn't easy to do but safety is much more important.
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  10. #6
    Puppy arlene's Avatar
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    I do use a support harness but I cannot lift him. He looks up the stairs and doesn't move.

  11. #7
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    I've had Nikki examined six ways from Sunday. She gets regular chiropractic adjustments, laser therapy and takes low doses of Metacam as well as mobility supplements. When she wants to go upstairs, I have to help her. I stand behind her with my arms under her back end in front of her back legs and we have a walking rhythm where I act as her support system. When she doesn't, she just stays downstairs. I actually ask her if she wants to go up. If she doesn't, she just lies down.

    I would get him checked out but if he still doesn't want to go up, I wouldn't push it.

  12. #8
    Senior Dog
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    Quote Originally Posted by arlene View Post
    I do use a support harness but I cannot lift him. He looks up the stairs and doesn't move.
    In that case, it sounds like he might be afraid of hurting while doing the stairs. Mulder used to whack his knee when he would go up them too fast and then be scared for weeks after - this went one most of his life, and would happen every few months. Once he got older though, the fear (and effort for him) got to be strong enough that he preferred just to stay downstairs rather than deal with the stairs. After a day or two he adapted fine to it.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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  13. #9
    House Broken dynamicgang's Avatar
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    Put the front paws on a step, left the back end and put them on a step, move the front too new step, etc. mine would not tolerate a support.


    The Dynamic Gang

  14. #10
    House Broken bearbuddymarie's Avatar
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    Arlene, I see I am late to your posting, but I use this with my 14 yr old 95 lb yellow boy,
    I tried something else first and he refused to move !
    This one you leave on all day, and take off at nite, there are places open for pee and poop too.
    He loves it !
    helpemupharness.com

 



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