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Having stairs that leads you from one level to another in your home is excellent, but they can put your dogs in danger, especially one associated with stumbling and falling. Whether large stairways or just small ones having few steps which are normally at entrances, your dogs can still get into trouble with them.
An excited dog running down the stairs can suddenly lose grip, slide, and fall. On most occasions, such a dog isn’t left without injuries.
Now, about climbing up, dogs are still not safe with the stairs. This is most common with older dogs with joint and hip issues. A dog with such problems wouldn’t find it easy going up the staircases as every step to climb up could be very painful for them.
The stairs situation is something that’ll leave you concerned as a dog owner. You won’t choose to have any staircases because of your dog’s safety. However, in this article, we will be sharing eight tricks that’ll help keep your dog safe from the stumbling that arises from plying the stairs around your home.
Enhance Visibility
Undoubtedly, it’s uneasy and unsafe to climb down the stairs in the dark as a human. This is quite applicable to dogs. It will be uneasy for them if they can’t see the stairs. There is every possibility of them stumbling and falling.
A dog with faulty movement or poor vision will find it hard to move easily on a poorly lit stairway. A healthy dog will just need a well-lit staircase, while one with impaired vision will require more than that. The staircase just has to be obvious. You can use duck tape to create outlines around all the edges of the stairs to increase visibility.
Take Your Dog to a Vet
If only we can examine carefully, some of the stair issues might not be from your stairs. Your dog might even be the primary reason. It may be your dog isn’t quite fit to ascend the staircase. It’s advisable to have a checkup done by your vet to fish out the possible medical issues. These issues could be joint problems, nerve defects, vestibular disorders, problems around the hips, and more.
While on the floor, your dog might show no signs of these issues. They only manifest themselves as your furry friends go up the stairway. At the time they accidentally stumble, you are wrong to blame the stairs. It’s your dog’s problem.
Notwithstanding, you should visit the vet and treat your dog at the early stages when treatment is still possible.
Obstruct Access to Your Stairs
If your dogs can’t access the stairs in the first place, they would be safe from stairs trouble. So, blocking off the staircase in a way your dog can’t access it is an excellent strategy to keep them safe from stairs trouble.
Using a “pet gate” is an easy way to do this as it hinders their access to the stairs. All you have to do is set them up on the floor of the stairs, and it will prohibit your dog from climbing up. These gates don’t human’s access as you can easily open the bolt, pass through the gate, and close it back. Preferably, you can have an automatic one that shuts by itself after you pass.
Use Dog Lifts
As your dog gets older and weak, especially larger dogs, they’re frequently bothered with joint or hip issues. These issues are very problematic. Your stairs aren’t an exemption either. A lot of weight settles around your dogs’ hind section as they ascend the stairs. Whether they ascend or descend the stairs, it’s always painful. This can make them avoid the stairs.
Nevertheless, a better way is to use a dig sling to assist your dog while climbing. With this in place, your dog would have less weight around the inflamed hind region.
Do this by winding the sling around the rear area of your dog to aid it and allow it to move comfortably go up the stairs.
Install a Ramp
Pet ramps are primarily built to assist dogs in getting into cars and out of them as well. Interestingly, these ramps can also be perfect stair-aids that’ll be protecting your dog. It works well for shorter stairs (fewer than five steps) and can ascend and descend the staircase.
Set it up in seconds by just spreading it on your staircase. Also, these ramps are great for older dogs as they also reduce the tension around their hip and hind section. Slipping is one of the good things ramps are best at preventing due to their non-slipping coating.
Improve Stairs Grip
If you already have your stairs carpeted, you’re good to go. However, if you haven’t done that yet, you should. Possibly, the uncovered staircase would have a slippery surface which can cause your furry friend to slip and fall. Slippery stairs’ surfaces like hardwood and tiles need further covering as they are too risky for your dogs to move on.
Placing a “stick-on stair thread” is a great way to give slippery stairways a better grip. All you have to do is place the thread on each step, and your dog would be more safe moving on it.
Carry Your Dog Yourself
This trick works pretty well for smaller dogs. If carrying them down the stairs would prevent them from stumbling accidentally. It’s a very effective way of keeping them out of any stair trouble. A travel kernel can come in handy, especially if you have dogs that normally act out every time you carry them. Also, if you have a dog that gets uncomfortable when going on a road trip, here’s a way to fix such anxiety.
Train Your Dog to Keep Off the Stairs
Training your dogs is a way to keep them safe from certain things. Just like how you train them to stay within an environment or avoid some particular areas, avoiding the staircases is something they can learn how to do. Such training is called boundary training or invisible barrier training, as it deals with restrictions to specific areas.
Conclusion
Your dog’s safety is your responsibility as a dog owner. As you prevent them from damaging things, you should also keep them out of danger. At home, you here are tricks‘ to help you baby-proof your dogs’ food and water bowls. Hopefully, with this article, you can be able to apply certain tricks that help prevent your dogs from falling off the stairs.