Ramp for old dog (1 Viewer)

[lallymc]

Hi guys

After finally making the decision to keep motorhome we must sort out our biggest problem. The dog ! Maxy is a 13 year old retriever with muscle wastage. He can no longer jump up and down the step and totally refuses to use a ramp.
Has anybody else had this problem. If so how did you resolve it ?

Thanks

Leanne

 

[Yorick]

I have a folding motorcycle ramp that would do the job

 

[Yorick]

I have a folding motorcycle ramp that would do the job

Oops didn't read properly.

Maybe a trampoline?

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[Minxy]

Hi guys

After finally making the decision to keep motorhome we must sort out our biggest problem. The dog ! Maxy is a 13 year old retriever with muscle wastage. He can no longer jump up and down the step and totally refuses to use a ramp.
Has anybody else had this problem. If so how did you resolve it ?

Thanks

Leanne

Why won't he use a ramp? If you can I'd persist with training him to use it with treats - put the ramp just a little bit off the ground at first and gradually raise the height until he's happy to use it at the 'right' height for the MH. One thing though, if his eyesight isn't great he might be having difficulty 'seeing' the ramp properly so you could try putting some brightly coloured tape across it so he can see it better.

 

[lallymc]

He is blind in one eye. Will try He is a stubborn old man !

 

[Minxy]

The only other thing I could think of was a way to assist him by lifting with a harness of some sort so I had a shuftie on the web and found this although there are others too:

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[K9Brian]

He is blind in one eye. Will try He is a stubborn old man !

Most become stubborn with age - hehe, no longer bothered about conforming

 

[Allan & Loren]

Try covering the top of the ramp with carpet. Our old retriever didn't like the ramp at first and refused to use it until we glued carpet on to it. She then was ok. Maybe the original covering didn't feel as secure to her as she was going blind too.

 

[lallymc]

Thanks

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[Hollyberry]

My 2 use a dog ramp as the car is quite high. Holly only has 1 working back leg so she can't take off very well. The ramp is covered with rubber type carpet, giving a grippy surface. I think your dog might be ok with some treats. Try some cheese or chopped up hot dog sausage. And just keep popping it in his mouth as he gets on the other ramp and he'll keep walking for more.

 

[Allanm]

We have a 12 year old Labrador with a similar problem. We use a fold out ramp but she falls off it, can't seem to get her back legs to follow the fronts. We have 4 steps up into the van and our house is all arranged on the first floor, so if she wants to come in, she has to climb 13 wooden steps from the basement/ garage of 13 concrete steps outside to the front door
We have 2 solutions.
1. We use a towel under her belly in front of her back legs to help her get up steps
2. the easiest and less complained about way us to assist her back legs to get up the stairs
I get behind her and put my hands, thumbs out, right at the top of her legs under her hips to assist her back end.
She seems happier that way and will wait with front legs up the first step till I help her the rest of the way.
Getting down is another story altogether!

 

[tjay]

I have an aluminium non slip extending ramp (was used for wife wheelchair) you are welcome too for free,Can wrap it and post it if you cover the cost of P/P

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[John.]

What a kind gesture tjay

 

[movan]

What about those coats that have a handle on top, like the sort used for dogs on barges so you can lift them up out of the water if they fall in... I know labradors are quite large but I have used a coat like this for my daughter's black and white collie as she is deaf and nearly blind and very arthritic. . . just lift her up like a suitcase.

 

[Yorick]

These may help

Or maybe adapt a cat carrier

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[jdk62]

We got a fold up ramp for our ageing retriever. We have a small single step up from the patron into the kitchen and left it there for several days and had his food bowl in the kitchen.. He initally refused to use the ramp but then obviously got hungry and started using it.

We then went away in the van and he was good as gold. Takes a little time but we got there in the end and we are all happier..

 

[irnbru]

Alan made my dog a ramp, he wouldn't go up it at first but I just persevered. As minxy said put a few treats on it to encourage your dog and try and keep it low to get the dog used to walking on it.