A Guide to Dog Stair Safety
In the modern days that we live, it is virtually impossible to find property devoid of stairs. As such, whether you live in a simple one-story home or a large split-level house and you own a dog, there are plenty of reasons to be concerned whenever your beloved pup takes to the stairs.
Stairs-related dog injuries are can be very serious. From small bruise and muscle strains to the more extreme head injuries, fractures, and sometimes fatalities.
Luckily, most dogs are innately capable of descending and ascending staircases.
Most animals usually learn how to navigate stairs quite early in their life. They are usually incentivized and are willing to learn as they usually want to follow their owners or mothers. However, they do have natural cautiousness that helps to keep them safe.
Older dogs, puppies, and dogs breed that have long spines (for instance, corgis, Dachshunds, and Basset Hounds) do encounter difficulties when it comes to using stairs. There may be other reasons aside from age according to this post from Pet Carrier Verdict. That being said, it is important to give your dog the best chance of success.
Herein we will explore 5 of the best tips to use to ensure that your pet does not have difficulties with using the stairs.
1. Supervise Your Dog
Watching over your dog as they use the stairs will not prevent accidents from occurring. However, doing so will help you prevent other health conditions or problems that may be even more serious.
You can use the stairs a diagnosis tool, much like he does. He says that while many people will blame the stairs for their pet’s inability to move around, it is not always the case. It may be that whatever is afflicting the dog is only apparent when the dog uses the stairs.
He further reckons that dogs that have orthopedic issues – for instance, knees, hips, and hind legs, will tend to have problems going up the stairs thereby showing some struggle, reluctance, or simply bunny hop their way up the stairs. However, they will have no problems going down the stairs. When the reverse is the case – they have a problem going down the stairs and no problem whatsoever ascending the stairs, the problem is typically a shoulder or elbows.
You can also diagnose neurological problems.When a dog has a disc, back, spine, and or neck problems, he or she will have difficulties in trying to lower or lift their head as they move up or down the stairs.
A dog that struggles with balance issues when using the stairs might be suffering from a vestibular disease. As such, your dog will try and adapt to their situation by hugging the wall as they use the stairs as it steadies and supports them.
As you can appreciate, simply keeping an eye on your dog as they use the stairs will help notice other health issue and problems that your dog may be suffering from. This will help you seek medical attention before the health issue becomes too serious.
#2. Improve Visibility
If your dog has no health issues, and you simply want to prevent issues such as falling, the first thing you should do is to improve the lighting within and around the staircase. Better lighting will accord your dog better vision, allowing their natural cautiousness to kick in.
The darkness within and around the stairs is a safety hazard especially for dogs that do poor eyesight, mobility issues, weaknesses, depth perception, and balance issues. The darkness will exacerbate their depth perception, cause balance, and limit their mobility issues.
3. Install Stair Runners
Popular contemporary interior designs have seen the rise in popularity of hardwood floors. However, according to Arnoldy, having a runners or carpeted stairs will provide good footing for your pet dog, thereby negating the risk of slipping.
Put grips on your dog’s toes. These are rubber bands that go over the toenails, thereby providing traction. Dog shoes and boots are loathed by most dogs and the toe grip is a better medium for most dogs.
4. Install Ramps
Ramps are not particularly practical for long flights. However, they are perfect for a couple of steps in areas between rooms or up to your porch. When you can install a non-slip ramp, it will dogs that struggle with stairs a great deal.
However, when you install ramps, you need to train your dog to use the ramp. The best way to go around this is to use positive reinforcement while using a harness, a leash, or a sling.
5. Carry Your Dog
The final option is to carry the dog. Small dogs, dogs that are under a sedative and dogs that have undergone a surgery recently should be carried as long as it is safe – for both the owner and the dog. For this a pet carrier can be a good addition and can make carrying the dog easier.
For bigger dogs, the best option is to avoid the stairs altogether or as much as possible. To this end, you should make sure that everything that your dog needs and love is located on the main floor of the house. Additionally, you should consider blocking off the stairs when you spend extended periods of time in a different floor or away from home.
When you need to carry the dog, use an appropriate sling (alternatively, you can use a long towel) placed under the stomach or chest to guide your dog up the flight of stairs.
