General Question Stairs bad for joints?

SiuMai

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Good morning from Hong Kong and siu Mai is looking at the beautiful clear blue sky here in my garden.

Awesome to see her climb stairs to greet me at alarming pace. But am concerned about it. Is this good exercise for her bones n joints
c63b32e3f147e1cfb62f8f047b4f42e2.jpg
development? She is only 12 weeks old n we have 3 flights of stairs at home.




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Hankster

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I'll let someone else answer about the stairs but she is just beautiful... perfect :)
 

helsonwheels

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Why would stairs be bad? Nothing wrong going up n down so long she doesn't slip n slide down. Nyala runs in n out and jumps a few stairs. Duke goes down slow but runs up as he's still young. And yes I do have rubber mats. All dogs like humans needs to take care of joints as it catches up when we age no matter what. Start introducing every other day turmeric n ginger in her meals. Slowly down the road, add it on regular basis.

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SiuMai

SiuMai

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Why would stairs be bad? Nothing wrong going up n down so long she doesn't slip n slide down. Nyala runs in n out and jumps a few stairs. Duke goes down slow but runs up as he's still young. And yes I do have rubber mats. All dogs like humans needs to take care of joints as it catches up when we age no matter what. Start introducing every other day turmeric n ginger in her meals. Slowly down the road, add it on regular basis.

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Turmeric n ginger ? Raw powder form?


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cefe13

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We have three flights of stairs too and have carpet treads so Castor (or humans!) won't slip.

I have heard, though, that pups shouldn't walk stairs (something to do with the impact on undeveloped joints being too heavy, perhaps?) so when Castor was a pup and we lived in a flat on the third floor, we took the elevator or carried him up and down the stairs. We moved to our current house when Castor was 2, and here he runs up and down seemingly without problems.
 
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SiuMai

SiuMai

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We have three flights of stairs too and have carpet treads so Castor (or humans!) won't slip.

I have heard, though, that pups shouldn't walk stairs (something to do with the impact on undeveloped joints being too heavy, perhaps?) so when Castor was a pup and we lived in a flat on the third floor, we took the elevator or carried him up and down the stairs. We moved to our current house when Castor was 2, and here he runs up and down seemingly without problems.

That's what I heard too that's the reason for being concerned


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2BullyMama

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That's what I heard too that's the reason for being concerned


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I always restrict going down till they are 7 months old--- all the pounding COULD cause an issue with the bones,, not a chance I chose to take. Up isn't a problem.

With all ours we carried down and placed a gate to limit access bur once they hit the7 month mark-- all clear to do the steps


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Lalaloopsie

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Steps are considered not good for joints of young puppies of many breeds - as when puppy walks the stairs he uses his paws in unnatural way not intended by nature. It is especially true for breeds with heavy body and predisposition to joint problems, like bulldogs, sharpeis, mastiffs etc. In bulldogs hip and elbow joints are especially vulnerable as their legs are positioned not exactly UNDER the body, like in many dogs, but More ON THE SIDES of the body. That means, weight is not really supported by legs, and joint is under extreme duress. So, general recommendation is to restrict stairs usage by bullies.
I was carrying my bulldog both up and down till 8 months old, as we stayed in apartment at that time.
 
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SiuMai

SiuMai

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Really appreciate the advice. Many thanks. She is pretty daring n she just threw herself down from our sofa which is almost 1 meter tall. Will watch her closely n stop her as much as possible with all this climbing n jumping .... worried


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Cbrugs

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From what I have heard, going up the stairs isn't bad but a puppy that young shouldn't go down until they are past 6 months old.
 

natski282

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We have stairs for the couch 2 steps and stairs for the bed 3 steps .
Tilly had elbow issues as a pup that they had to operate on twice , they think it was due to her jumping off things or up on things so I got the stairs , i lift all My Bulldogs into and out of the vehicles now also.
Both our bulldogs use them all the time they do zero jumping now and I have never had issues with there joints since . You can get them cheap on Amazon
 

Hankster

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We have stairs for the couch 2 steps and stairs for the bed 3 steps .
Tilly had elbow issues as a pup that they had to operate on twice , they think it was due to her jumping off things or up on things so I got the stairs , i lift all My Bulldogs into and out of the vehicles now also.
Both our bulldogs use them all the time they do zero jumping now and I have never had issues with there joints since . You can get them cheap on Amazon

can you show a good one to get?? I imagine that it has to do with what your heights and stuff are but................ I have a great flip open one for hank getting in and out of car. work great for that but bed or couch nope
 

natski282

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Megan = Meg,

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