Last Updated on September 4, 2023
It isn’t just human beings that want to age gracefully and comfortably—it’s man’s best friend and other animals. Pets can be so helpful, particularly to those aging in place. But just like in humans, doggies can feel the effects of aging too, particularly regarding their mobility. If you have an elderly dog and stairs in your home, this could pose a potential safety risk to your furry loved one.
Even though dogs have four legs, a slight stumble on one leg can cause a tumble. Both dogs and cats pose significant fall risks for people, as well. Almost 87,000 fall injuries per year are attributed to pets. For these reasons, you want to keep everyone safe. If you’re concerned about how to get an old dog up and down the stairs, read further to learn how to help your dog’s mobility with products such as dog stairlifts.
Dog Stairlifts and Aids: Is Your Dog Afraid of Stairs?
You can’t be around your pet 24/7, and slight accidents, such as falls, can happen in your absence. If your dog is afraid of stairs suddenly, they have had a bad experience while mounting or disembarking. They may also be in pain, such as in their joints, which warrants a trip to the vet. However, joint problems come naturally with canine old age, and while you can help with supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin, your pup may need some extra help. Perhaps your dog won’t go downstairs at all and balks, which may be difficult to convince them to use the stairs.
In these cases, you can carry your dog (which can be hard when the owner is aging) or use a lifting-aid harness to give your dog better mobility on stairs. However, that also requires you always to be present, which may not be the best option. Other than dog stairlifts, there are some other ways to help dogs go down stairs, such as:
- Move all their belongings to the first level. Move your dog’s comfort items, such as their bed and toys, to the first floor, to help limit the number of trips they take up and down stairs.
- Carpet hardwood. If your stairs are hardwood, install carpet or apply carpet strips to help with grip.
- Use non-slip socks or toenail grips. Opt for non-slip socks or toenail grips for your dog, so they can take the stairs better.
- Install a non-slip ramp. Special ramps are made just for dogs and stairs; however, their downfall is that they can impede human traffic.
In many cases, outfitting your dog in non-slip socks or carpeting the stairs can greatly help. But, some dogs may need a little more assistance, such as an electric stair lift for dogs.
Dog Stairlifts: Stair Chair Lifts for Dogs and Other Types
It’s not recommended that a dog or other pet ride in your stairlift with you because of safety issues. However, if you have an elderly dog with mobility issues, dog stairlifts are made just for canines. Also, some companies can adapt chair lifts and other types of existing stairlifts into a type suitable for dogs.
The most common type is a carrier-type dog stairlift that securely places four steel walls around your pet, so they’re safe as your dog travels up and down the staircase, have a 75-lb. weight limit, and work well with most dogs. One drawback of dog stairlifts is that having both a doggie stair lift and a human one occupy the same staircase would be difficult. In this case, you may be able to modify an existing stairlift to accompany both.
To learn more about dog stairlifts or other doggie mobility products, or to learn more about medical mobility products for people that can be life-changing, contact Williams Lift Co. today. We want both patients and caregivers to live their best lives possible.