Upstairs Downstairs

[bizzylizzy]

Hi everyone,
nearly 5 years on from his back operation and as expected, the arthritis is now setting in, Humphrey?s now on a strict diet to help him lose weight, he?s been put on pain killers permanently and we?re back on regular physio sessions.
But we can?t complain, at the moment its all manageable and he?s still enjoying life albeit a bit slower.
Our biggest challenge at the moment is getting him up and down stairs which the  physiotherapist says we absolutely must avoid. At the moment OH carries him and down when we go to bed but he?s 77 this month, also has arthritis, so that?s no long term solution.
I think we could probably help with the going up by giving him some support with a harness or from behind but down is a problem, (he tears down on 3 legs if we don?t stop him). We ordered a type of support thing online but it arrived yesterday and isn?t really what we?d expected.
So, long story, simple question: has anyone got any suggestions, (other than leaving him downstairs which I couldn?t bare to do now )? ANyrecommendations for a suitable support harness?  I?ve done a lot of googling and can?t find much else so I don?t know what I?m expecting    , but COL?ers often come up with hidden tricks out of the bag, just thought it worth a try!
Thanks! 

[MIN]

Have you in the search bar put " support for getting elderly dog upstairs" . It comes up with slings, ramps evev a trolley type thing.  If all fails then I'm afraid it's a bungalow, but they are a tad expensive

[Finvarra]

Sympathies to poor Herr Humphrey, it's so sad to see them struggling as they get older. Min has made a good suggestion, I know there are ramps you can get for them to get in cars and on chairs, but I can't think of anything for stairs other than a doggy stairlift!! We live in a single storey cottage so haven't the problem of stairs, but Dylan (who will be 11 in June, now has trouble and expects a helping hand under his bottom to get on his chair - he now has us on a piece of string, up, down, up down 🙄

[Finvarra]

Just a wild thought - could you get a plank, cover it with carpet or something, and fix it up the side of the stairs? Or is this mad?

[bizzylizzy]

Thanks for your thoughts both, I have managed to find   some better support harnesses online, so we?ll look at those. The idea of the plank wasn?t mad at all but I think it?d be difficult on our stairs unfortunately.

(Back at the vet today ?cos the little wotsit obviously had his head somewhere where he shouldn?t have, probably under some brambles, has  ripped open the wart on his head and has another hole just below it!  )
Have a nice weekend all!