Harley Emergency - Now Worried!!

[Mel X]

Hi everyone.  Just wanted to share my morning today and seek some advice.

Harley's breeder advised against allowing him up the stairs and due to cockers enthusiasm to be with family, and us having two kids, he recommended a baby gate to prevent him accessing the stairs.  We became good friends and during a visit to our house and seeing its layout, he advised moving it to halfway down the hallway which we duly did.

Our 14yr old golden retriever Murphy had appointment with the vet this morning as his back legs are causing him problems.  Harley seemed to particularly protest to Murphy coming with me and not him, trying to get out the door with us but followed instruction to return thro the baby stairgate which was promptly shut behind him.  Left Harley at home, behind the stairgate but with access to half the hallway, all the kitchen and the garden.

I used to take Murphy out for very short walks without Harley to allow Murph a break from a young dog (now 18months) and though Harley would bark a lot, he'd  seemed to settle after a while and get used to short periods alone.  This hasn't been happening recently as Murphy's arthritis has been worsening.   

We left in the car to the sound of Harley barking.  The vet in the village was running late and a 20minute trip out turned into 50.  We returned to an unusually quiet house!!!!

On entering the hallway I found Harley hanging from the stairgate motionless and silent!!!  I swear my heart stopped for a sec!! As I approached him he whimpered a little.  I think he'd tried to jump the gate (though he's never tried this before).  He was hanging upside down over the gate and had caught his foot between the gate spindles!!  After gently removing him I placed him gently on the floor.  It was heart breaking to see my normally bouncy, demanding, excitable young man literally drag his body away to the side , crying.  He'd gone into shock, shaking uncontrollably, had been doubly incontinent and had thrown up for the world.

I scooped him up and took him straight to the vet in the village.  I felt stupid as I told the vet what had happened I remembered the image of him as I first got home and promptly burst into tears!!!!

The vet was brill and took him to the veterinary hospital for x-rays.  Thankfully nothings broken though they're a bit worried about his knee which seems now to be a bit unstable.  He's on pain killers and anti-inflammatories and has strict orders of rest for next four weeks with weekly checks.  Can have no walks and no play and should be on lead when toileting in garden to stop any potential for running around.  He's back home now, and after his initial excitement to be home is now quite subdued and certainly not his usual self, I'm hoping he'll be more like himself in time!!!

Concern 1 - want to now remove darn stairgate but worried he'll start up and down stairs freely which is against breeders advice and surely wouldn't be good for his knee.  Can anyone think of any alternative though - no I don't have a door to kitchen to close as doorway unusually narrow and have been unable to locate door to fit from any DIY store.

Concern 2 - have been told that when we are out Harley is like Murphy's shadow and stays close to his big bro.  After today, I'm worried about how he's gonna cope when Murphy's no longer with us and I have to go out - a depressing but realistic consideration given his age!!! 

I feel so guilty that he got hurt by something that was intended to ensure his safety!!!

Mel X

[Countrygirl]

That must have been so terrifying for you, thank goodness little Harley was still conscious when you got home and could get him to the vet so quickly.  Sending lots of positive thoughts to you both that Harley recovers as soon as at all possible.
 
The only advice I have regarding stairs is that my present and last cocker were climbing steps in the garden from the day they arrived and came and have come to no harm.  In fact with Ellie we had to hurredly instal some plastic fencing to stop her launching herself off the raised flower beds.  The cocker before the last one was going up the stairs inside from a few days of him being home, mind you he was 14 weeks when we got him.  I know the normal advice is to not let them go up and down steps, I didn't know this years ago, but just wanted to reassure you that mind did and were/are fine.

[Archie bean]

Oh my, I can't imagine how frightening that must have been for you.  for you and little Harley. I'm sure he will be back to his normal self soon. Did I read correctly that he is now 18months old? If that's correct then I would think the stairs should no longer be an issue. Hopefully someone can confirm that (or not!  ) is there another room you can trust him in, other than the kitchen, when you are out? If not then the only thing I can think of is a bespoke door or seeing if you can find someone to cut a normal sized one down to size.
I don't have experience of having two dogs but hopefully someone will soon be along with some advice for you re getting him used to being away from Murphy.

[Pop-Star]

Oh no how awful for you and Harley
No advise but just wanted to send you lots of 
So pleased that Harley is home and will be better after a few weeks rest and tlc

[Poppypuppy09]

  for you and Harley ....what a terrible shock 

I hope the little fella is a little better this morning 

[ebony girl]

Omg how terrifying and awful...... I have no advice but just wanted to send you all some love, and wish Harley a speedy recovery xxxxx

[angie68]

What an awful thing to happen.  I hope he has had a good night and seems more like himself.  He is probably still in shock himself from what happened.     for all of you
Angie x

[JaspersMum]

It's not a good idea for any aged dog to be running up and down stairs so I would still keep a gate in place although I completely understand why you want to see it gone.  Could you block it in with a piece of card or melamine, or perhaps the patterned panels that you can buy to make radiator covers (so it still looks nice in a prominent part of the house)  That way at least you know he can't get a leg stuck again.

Can you set it a little higher or a second step that would discourage him trying again?  But please be careful you don't put it somewhere where you are going to catch your feet and have a fall yourselves

Hope that Harley has no long term ill effects from his accident

[mlynnf50]

Aw my heart sunk when I read this, poor you and poor little mite, I personally would never leave a dog alo e with a stair gate having heard a few stories of them getting stuck.  It must have been so scary.  Hope his knee improves  

[Ruby Tuesday]

I can't imagine how horrific that was for you. Even reading it made me go cold.

When we got Jem, we put a stairgate up. The first time we went out, we got home to find her at the top of the stairs. She'd squeezed through. We used some thick cardboard and some cable ties to block off all the gaps.

I hope Harley is all better very soon. Please don't blame yourself, this was such a freak accident.

[Lovely]

Poor you and Harley i can only imagine how shocking it must have been for you. It sounds like you got there just in time. Really hope he is feeling a bit better today. A bit of board might be the answer. Hopefully it was just one of these freak accidents, it's unbelievable how spaniels manage to find different ways to get themselves into these scrapes x

[MIN]

Never knew stairs were not good for dogs. Mine have allways had access to them when we had stairs. The only accident we had is when I was coming down  them and theakston nicked my slipper. That hurt but is an other story.
Hope HArley is soon up and running and none the worse for his experience.

[lindseyp]

    feel so upset to be reading this, this morning so goodness knows how you felt in the throws of it all 

As far as stair go...from my understanding it's more relevant to young developing pups & thier bone growth but seeing as Harley's now 18 months I think it's safe to say he'll be just fine. 
I still keep a baby gate up for reasons of containment when visitors come round etc - if you still feel the need to have one for what ever reason ...there are  extra large dog gates available, which are taller than the average baby gates & might be an option for you.
If you would still like to have some control over Harleys access to upstairs, perhaps put the gate on the 1st step, making it out of reach to jump ...we did this when we had stairs & worked well 

in the meantime though - sending masses of gentle get well squidges to your brave little man  It sounds like he put himself through quite an ordeal but Paws crossed, there's no serious damage & with good vet care & some special TLC off his mum, he'll be soon back to his happy self 

caring hugs for you too    remember this has ben an awful shock for you too & sounds quite horrific...be kind to yourself too over the coming days & weeks 

[supergirl]

Such an awful thing to happen - how is he doing this morning?  Its just one of those freak happenings that can't be foreseen (at one time I had 3 stairgates blocking various entrances, now I just shut the door.

Roly did something similar in his crate and got a paw stuck in the bars as he was leaving the crate, only ever happened the once and I think you can be sure that Harley won't try to jump the gate again.

I actually use a piece of customised trellis to block off an opening that's too wide for a gate.  Could possibly do the same for your stairs, maybe staple some fabric to it just incase the holes are too big.

Really hoping the little chap is doing ok 

[HoneyG]

This must have been so scary

Would never have imagined something like that could happen

We don't use a stair gate as we are able to section of different areas of the house with doors (although Honey has learnt which ones have poor catches and knows if she runs at them they open  )

As you say, whatever you do in long term, you will still need something in place in the short term whilst the knee recovers.

When my kids were smaller we had a 'roller blind' style stair gate.....hearing stories of the ones with slats I wonder if these would be safer?  Although I guess they may not be great with a chewer!

This kind of thing: http://www.babysecurity.co.uk/products/5034/KiddyGuard-Accent-Retractable-Safety-Gate-White-30cm%252D100cm.html

However, this is the price new.....I would try for second hand! Sure they didn't cost that much when we bought them!!  I have two in the garage, after seeing that price I might get them on ebay!!!

Hope Harley is much better soon