HandicappedPets.Net

Our dog has ivdd and had surgery but still has a hard time doing stairs.
We have little room downstairs and she cries and cries and tries to get up the stairs.
I used the harness and we have a help em harness but they just dont work . SHe freaks out because although she is a large
dog she is longer in the back and has shorter legs (80 pounds).
IF she gets a running start about half the time she makes it up 4 patio stairs but stairs are not her favorite thing.

I really have been looking all over the internet for a ramp to put over the stairs we have about 9 for her to go up
are there any success stories? most of what I see says the ramp would be too steep
any advice appreciated
thanks

Nine stairs probably means a five foot rise? How much room do you have for a ramp? It isn't very hard to make a ramp to place over half the staircase but if it is too steep it won't help her get up- stairs might actually be easier. You need to be able to make the slope more gentle.

So she is long in the body and short in the legs, similar to a bassett hound. And she doesn't like the HelpEmUp, not sure why, because it has the handle over the hips where it seems like you'd want it, but if she's close to the ground you'd have to bend over.

I confess I had a hard time getting a harness that worked for my dog, too. A lot of frustration and it seemed like a lot of money trying 3 different ones.

I don't know if you looked at this page but it shows an assortment of harnesses. Several of them are 2-piece so they are adjustable in the length of the back. Since she can walk pretty well, you might be able to get away with using the Bottoms Up

http://www.handicappedpets.com/help-pets-walk.html

Back when I was looking for my dog, they did not have all the ones shown on that webpage, and I ended up getting him a Hartman Harness. They can wear it pretty much all day if you want, or they can keep the chest part on and you can take the rear part on and off when you wish.

http://www.hartmanharness.com/

You have my sympathy! I remember how frustrating it was trying harnesses, and they all cost money, and they all took time to arrive, and they all looked like they ought to work on whatever dog they were pictured on in the ad, and then they didn't. The best I can say is, don't give up, I think harnesses are like blue jeans, we are not all built to wear the same brand. You will find one that works if you keep trying, and then you will be set for life. It's just a shame it isn't easier!!

That being said, they recommend that IVDD dogs not do stairs, so your idea of a ramp is better if you can do it. Here is a post of Bobbie's showing a great ramp she made for her dogs.

http://handicappedpet.net/helppets/view ... =4&t=11501

And a video!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig4sVHMQkhY[/youtube]

The Ruffwear Doubleback harness is great- meant for lifting search and rescue dogs- but I think 80 lbs is a lot to lift. But you might be able to make it work with a carpeted ramp and assist with a harness.