|
Third floor apartment? Does anyone else live in an apartment that is not on ground level? Do you allow your little one to walk up and down the steps or do you carry them? I have a regular sized yorkie (8 lbs, not mini or teacup) and was just wondering what I should do. I've never had her in an apartment that was on an upper level but my last home did have 2 stories. But the steps were carpeted and backed. The apartment I'm moving to has cement steps but they are open in between the steps if that makes sense. I know this might seem silly and minute but I don't want to be careless and she hurt her back or something. They are not really steep steps, fairly short height in between. But 3 stories is a lot and there is not an elevator. Should I carry her every time I take her out?? |
I live on the fourth floor apartment, and I carry my puppy downstairs or up the stairs if I am not using an elevator. I am mainly worried about stress on her knees especially since this breed is predisposed to luxating patellas. |
To be safe, I'd probably carry her. |
Oh that's true, Lolli does have luxating patella in one of her knees. It's not constant but I would not want to risk irritating that!!! |
I wouldn't carry her, dogs can walk! lol. They have more legs than us. Jackson goes up and down stairs fine. :) So do his 4lb and 6lb yorkie friends, they do just the same things he does. |
With the knees it probably would be best to carry her as much as you can. You want to protect that precious connective tissue in and around the joints. |
I lived on the 3rd floor of an apartment when Luma came home. She was sooo tiny...I remember how hilarious it was to watch her go up and down stairs. We made her learn but I did carry her often since I knew her growth plates weren't closed. She is almost 1 and we live on the 2nd floor of an apt now, and she goes (well, runs) down the stairs herself lol. With the LP I'd definitely carry her though. Sounds like she will be spoiled like a princess :D I bet she's okay with that haha! |
When I brought Joey home we were on a 3rd floor...I carried him, but the stairs had backs. If they didnt, then I wouldnt have let him even try. I really only let him go up and down the top floor because there were dogs below and I didnt know if they might be in the hallway. |
Quote:
|
No right or wrong answer. Same situation here except we are second floor and the s are carpeted. They are backless. The 17 pound boy walks most of the time. He does stop to sniff getween the steps though.:rolleyes: I only let him up and down on a leash. Backless really aren't safe for small dogs. Ellie (6 pounds) is carried bc of her back problems. She used to walk sometimes. The backlessness was a problem though. Be very careful... Never seemed o bother her knees but in her case the LP has never caused obvious symptoms. BTW, I'm not one to stop the pups from walking (except for medical reasons). |
Because of her LP, I would try to carry her as much as you can. I'm sure every once in a while won't hurt her, but it's better to be safe than sorry. |
LP can get worse. You want to preserve her joints as much as you can. Walking is good for her but you don't want to over do it. Going up and down steps is a movement that does cause more stress on the knees and in particular the connective tissue that your dog really needs. Things like jumping and doing stairs are things that can cause damage to a dog with LP. If it was two or three steps maybe she would be OK doing them now and then but three stories is too much. |
Sophia and Brody are both 9 pounds and I also live on a third floor apartment. I carry them both down every time :). The stairs here are steep and I feel more comfortable carrying them. |
Is Lolli on supplements like cosequin or dasuquin? It's actually a good thing to moderately exercise them on level ground (if it's vet approved), but probably not a good thing to have them bend their knees repetitively...so a ramp is recommended. We live on the 2nd & 3rd floors, it's a condo but much like an apt. The parking lot is on the 1st floor, so it's actually the 3rd & 4th floors, so we need to go down 4 flights of stairs. We do have an elevator, but I like taking the stairs for exercise. They fly up & down the stairs lolll, I have to walk very fast to catch up w/them. 1st 2 parts are carpeted & the bottom 2 are cement w/anti slip thingies on it. It's not backless, those stairs would make me nervous. Momo is the only one w/Grade 1 LP on 1 knee, the others have good knees. He's never limped or favored a leg & he does very well going up & down steps/stairs. I only give him 1/2 of a cosequin once a week for maintenance. |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:33 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use