No stairs, but we have stairs
Basically, my dog (9 years old, 39kg, husky/lab cross, very good boy) needed a meniscus removal after an injury caused by running up some back stairs at top speed in chase of a weird sound. Surgery went well, first month went well, both the rehab vet and the surgeon said he'd be good, but a month in he started walking weird and his leg was clicking, so now he needs another surgery because he has too much rotation in his joint. Making good use of his insurance that's for sure
Now, with the first surgery, we had 3 steps so while annoying, we could lift him up. But, before the complications showed up, I was offered really cheap rent in a basement suite at a family member's place where I agreed to move in March 1st. Originally, that was supposed to be when my dog was ready to do assisted stairs, but now, I have stairs.
Both the surgeon and the rehab vet say "don't let him do stairs" or "just kinda lift his back legs" but that was dangerous enough and almost lead to broken human bones many times on 3 very wide steps with a gradual incline. Now, we have 6 steps encased in concrete and it doesn't really feel safe walking him downstairs like that. My partner has tried carrying him downstairs, but our dog doesnt like being lifted and thrashes around enough
My dad made a wooden ramp to go over the steps, it has stoppers the width of every step so he doesn't slip. But its too steep for my dog to go up, and while he can go down it, the steepness around the middle seems to be an issue. I'm thinking of trying to add carpet, but I don't know if that'll work or if there's something that could work better??
So if anyone has any ideas or suggestions of what we could do I'm open to ideas, his surgery isn't until March 18th so I have a bit of time to set it up.
Posted Mar 4, 2026, 7:06 AM UTC