Thoughts on getting Barney to go outside
But I'm wondering now if it could be his hips that are hurting him and making him not want to walk down the steps to the yard. My problem is, that all the ways to get outside have many stairs, and steep ones. So there's no way for him to go out without using stairs. Does anyone have any suggestions about this? An elevator would be nice, but not realistic!  |
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| Too bad you couldn't make a sheepie ramp like the ones people have for wheelchair accommodation. That would be so cool. |
| Is he worse going out or coming in? If he comes in and up the steps okay I would tend to assume his issue is more he just doesn't want to be outside. If its both directions than I would assume it's the steps and maybe its time for an Nsaid - or an adjustment in his meds if he already takes one?
As I am learning - a lot - this summer about rehab, I also wonder if there aren't exercises that could help make the stairs easier for him if they are indeed the issue? I assume if an elevator is out of the question so is a ramp? |
| I was going to suggest a ramp, too. Is that a possibility? |
| could you help him up or down a bit? Rudie hates getting in the car and now that I give him a little boost, I find that he does not run away altogether when it's time to get in.
Maybe you can get one of those slings that goes under their belly and give him a little help with the stairs? |
| Beach towel under the lower abdomen and support him up and down the steps. You'll know quickly if that hurts him and you'll have a better idea where his pain is. He needs to go outside for potty breaks and to move gently. |
| He seems to not want to go out more than come back in, so he goes slowly down the stairs, but is fairly okay going up. I don't know if that's just from him not wanting to go out so he is going slow and wanting to come back in so he goes faster, though.
It'd be quite a long ramp! I think that a ramp probably isn't the best solution. More do-able than an elevator, but still not ideal. He does okay on our walks. Not thrilled, but walks slow and steady. I'm not convinced it's pain or discomfort that is making him not want to go out, but it's just a thought that I had. And it's not heat, either, at least in the past few days. It's been so nice out! I think we hit the 50s this morning. Come on, fall! |
| Okay try feeding him only outside no treats or anything unless he is outside. That may make him more aggreeable to going out. If it doesn't than maybe his issue is in his elbows which would have more wieght and stress going down stairs than up. |
| Hmmm, feeding outside is an idea. I think we'll try that tonight! |
| Poor barns.. I hope it's not b/c he's in too much pain. |
| How are his eyes? Failing eye sight could make the out of doors a scary place now. Do you notice this is more at dusk and dawn? Does he have allergies......it's ragweed time. Did something scare him outside? |
| Poor guy....
Is he on any type of supplement for arthritis? |
| You could try a telescoping ramp www.dogramp.com. They are fairly light and easy to move if you need to, I have a couple for the old boys and they work well. |
| Forty years ago, my stepfather made a ramp so his daschund could go up and the back back steps. It was steep steps and poor Bourbon got several hernias dragging his abdomen on the steps. My siblings and I used it too - we almost killed ourselves falling when it was removed. |
| I think his eyes are okay. He can spot a crumb that the baby drops from across the room
He seemed a little better last night. I didn't feed him outside...forgot. But he did fine on our walk, just a little front leg limpy it seems, but maybe that's just how he walks. He's on glucosamine. We ran into someone on our walk last night and they wanted to know how old our old man is...We said he'll be 5 on Saturday 
As long as I put his leash on him and escort him to the top of the stairs he seems to be okay. He just doesn't seem to want to leave the inside of the house (again, not unusual for him). I have to figure out a good bday gift for his half decade celebration! |
| Steph are the stairs solid? What I mean by that is not just planks/slats and no backing?
With Kelsey and her backend failing she would not go down ours at all at the farm, only 3 little steps but not all incased. She could go up and back inside but not down them. If there steep and just the slats for the stairs and all open then barney might be loosing confidence there maybe because of a slight weakness there in his backend with his hips. Personally I would look at some sort of ramp for him to be able to confidently negotiate the stairs on his own.  |
| Maybe he is just lazy? Or possibly outside isn't as fun as inside so no point? Feeding and treats outside could be a good start, or make fun outside games.
Also, I know Barney is sensitive to a lot of foods, but I noticed a huge difference in Walter's exuberance for life after I changed him from Beneful to Fromms. Perhaps a diet change could help. |
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