Stairs- Won't go up or down anymore ONLY 3YRS OLD - YorkieTalk.com Forums

willowc828 · 10-03-2010, 04:07 PM

Hello,

My 3 year old female yorkie is having trouble going up and down the stairs. She never had a problem before. Has this ever happened to anyone's pup?

Thx!

107barney · 10-03-2010, 04:11 PM

Did she slip or is she scared? Do the stairs have carpeting on them? More info might help to answer your question.

willowc828 · 10-03-2010, 04:15 PM

She was never scared before. Now she cries at the top and the bottom of the stairs. Sometimes she goes up if she really really tries hard. She isn't walking weird and seems completely normal. Thx for your quick response and advice!

Rhetts_mama · 10-03-2010, 04:15 PM

Have you had her knees and hips checked?

willowc828 · 10-03-2010, 04:18 PM

I haven't had her knees or hips checked. She was just at the vet last week for a follow up on her teeth cleaning. I think I am going to bring her in the next day or so, but didn't know if this was common after a certain age. I figured an older dog, this would seem expected, but not for a 3 year old.

107barney · 10-03-2010, 04:22 PM

what kind of stairs? Mine were never to fond of our wood stairs until I put down a runner recently but they never cried or whined.

I agree with rhett's mama - might be orthopedic.

Could also be a behavioral issue - carrying up/down the stairs can make some spoiled and demanding.

willowc828 · 10-03-2010, 04:25 PM

The stairs are wood with a carpet runner. She does go up and down them a lot and I try to carry her as much as possible when I am going up, since I know her legs are so little and she makes the trip a lot during the day. I appreciate all of your responses! Thank you!

Rhetts_mama · 10-03-2010, 04:28 PM

Since you say she's having difficulty when she does go up, I think it would be in her best interest to have her checked to rule out an injury. Symptoms of LP and subluxating patellas can also start to present themselves after an injury.

ladyjane · 10-03-2010, 04:28 PM

I would definitely have her checked out. As 107barney said, it also could be that she has learned how to get carried up and down them...stand and whine.

Honestly, you might be better off if she does not like to tackle them by herself. Many yorkies have knee problems and steps can aggravate them. Then, when we need them to be still, it is very hard to teach them not to run up and down steps and jump on and off of furniture.

Welcome to YT.

willowc828 · 10-03-2010, 04:36 PM

Thanks so much everyone!

I definitely spoil her carrying her--everytime i go up and down the steps, so does she, so I try to limit her trips up and down when I can, since I know her little legs are tiny

mscat · 10-03-2010, 08:35 PM

Maybe she just got used to being carried. I live on the second floor and my Yorkie is over 2 1/5 . Suzi has only been down the stairs twice , and never gone up . Now she never goes down the stairs by herself. And has "trained" my shih tzu to do the same. I am very glad that they both don't do this .

yorkieusa · 10-03-2010, 08:52 PM

Welcome to YT. She's very, very cute.

Connie · 10-03-2010, 09:19 PM

When my daughter's yorkie had a disc problem, the first thing my daughter noticed was that he wouldn't go up or down steps, but always did before. My vet said that is one of the first signs of disc trouble. I would suggest you keep her very quiet and carry her where she needs to go until you have seen your vet. If it is a disc problem, movement and exercise can make it worse. My daughter's yorkie ended up with a ruptured disc and it took many weeks to heal. I hope that is not the case with your yorkie, but it was the first thing that came to my mind when reading your post. Best wishes.

deeda9999 · 10-03-2010, 10:59 PM

That same exact thing just happened recently to Skittles my 4 year old. He has always gone up and down the stairs but he would just sit at the bottom and cry. I took him to the vet and she found he was having back pain. Luckily a few weeks of anti inflammatory meds and some rest and he was better. He immediately resumed going up and down the stairs.

I would definitely go to your vet. Hope she is feeling better soon!!

10-03-2010, 04:07 PM	#1
willowc828 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fairfield, NJ Posts: 5	Stairs- Won't go up or down anymore ONLY 3YRS OLD Hello, My 3 year old female yorkie is having trouble going up and down the stairs. She never had a problem before. Has this ever happened to anyone's pup? Thx!

10-03-2010, 04:11 PM	#2
107barney T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England Posts: 9,816	Did she slip or is she scared? Do the stairs have carpeting on them? More info might help to answer your question. __________________ T. Bumpkins & Co. Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy

10-03-2010, 04:15 PM	#4
Rhetts_mama Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,959 Blog Entries: 1	Have you had her knees and hips checked? __________________ Don't get your knickers in a knot. Nothing is solved and it just makes you walk funny.

10-03-2010, 04:22 PM	#6
107barney T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England Posts: 9,816	what kind of stairs? Mine were never to fond of our wood stairs until I put down a runner recently but they never cried or whined. I agree with rhett's mama - might be orthopedic. Could also be a behavioral issue - carrying up/down the stairs can make some spoiled and demanding. __________________ T. Bumpkins & Co. Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy

10-03-2010, 04:28 PM	#8
Rhetts_mama Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,959 Blog Entries: 1	Since you say she's having difficulty when she does go up, I think it would be in her best interest to have her checked to rule out an injury. Symptoms of LP and subluxating patellas can also start to present themselves after an injury. __________________ Don't get your knickers in a knot. Nothing is solved and it just makes you walk funny.

10-03-2010, 04:18 PM	#5
willowc828 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fairfield, NJ Posts: 5	I haven't had her knees or hips checked. She was just at the vet last week for a follow up on her teeth cleaning. I think I am going to bring her in the next day or so, but didn't know if this was common after a certain age. I figured an older dog, this would seem expected, but not for a 3 year old.

10-03-2010, 04:25 PM	#7
willowc828 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fairfield, NJ Posts: 5	The stairs are wood with a carpet runner. She does go up and down them a lot and I try to carry her as much as possible when I am going up, since I know her legs are so little and she makes the trip a lot during the day. I appreciate all of your responses! Thank you!

10-03-2010, 04:28 PM	#9
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,451	I would definitely have her checked out. As 107barney said, it also could be that she has learned how to get carried up and down them...stand and whine. Honestly, you might be better off if she does not like to tackle them by herself. Many yorkies have knee problems and steps can aggravate them. Then, when we need them to be still, it is very hard to teach them not to run up and down steps and jump on and off of furniture. Welcome to YT. __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP

10-03-2010, 04:36 PM	#10
willowc828 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fairfield, NJ Posts: 5	Thanks so much everyone! I definitely spoil her carrying her--everytime i go up and down the steps, so does she, so I try to limit her trips up and down when I can, since I know her little legs are tiny

10-03-2010, 08:35 PM	#11
mscat YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hanford, CA Posts: 4,895	Maybe she just got used to being carried. I live on the second floor and my Yorkie is over 2 1/5 . Suzi has only been down the stairs twice , and never gone up . Now she never goes down the stairs by herself. And has "trained" my shih tzu to do the same. I am very glad that they both don't do this . __________________ "No matter how little money & how few possessions, you own, having a dog makes you rich."

10-03-2010, 08:52 PM	#12
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 21,173	Welcome to YT. She's very, very cute. __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel

10-03-2010, 09:19 PM	#13
Connie Loved by Maddie & Libby Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: North Dakota Posts: 10,732	When my daughter's yorkie had a disc problem, the first thing my daughter noticed was that he wouldn't go up or down steps, but always did before. My vet said that is one of the first signs of disc trouble. I would suggest you keep her very quiet and carry her where she needs to go until you have seen your vet. If it is a disc problem, movement and exercise can make it worse. My daughter's yorkie ended up with a ruptured disc and it took many weeks to heal. I hope that is not the case with your yorkie, but it was the first thing that came to my mind when reading your post. Best wishes. __________________ Custom doggie dresses and vests Memory is a country where I can go to see your face - but where do I go when I miss your embrace?

10-03-2010, 10:59 PM	#14
deeda9999 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: long island, ny, usa Posts: 115	That same exact thing just happened recently to Skittles my 4 year old. He has always gone up and down the stairs but he would just sit at the bottom and cry. I took him to the vet and she found he was having back pain. Luckily a few weeks of anti inflammatory meds and some rest and he was better. He immediately resumed going up and down the stairs. I would definitely go to your vet. Hope she is feeling better soon!!