Finn is over 10 and has arthritis in his feet and hips. We manage this with frequent short strolls, previcox and gabapentin . At night he has always slept in our bedroom, his choice. He now struggles to get upstairs, pausing after every step. In the morning he comes downstairs easily. I wonder whether we should block the stairs so he cannot come up at night any more, or let him choose when it all gets too much? He has memory foam beds in the lounge and bedroom so can be cosy in either place.
Hi @Lin difficult decision. His heart wants to be with you. The body will not follow his will. I guess you've thought about ramp. Ramps are easier than steps on dog. Unfortunately the ramp may be too steep. Is moving your bedroom down stairs a possibility? If not practical, then a towel under his flank used as a sling will help to support his back end. Be careful. Stairs are dangerous. If you think it's unsafe for you and the dog, then a gate seems to be one way to go. Perhaps a return to the crate with extra special filled Kong is a possibility?
Oh this is a difficult one! Being upstairs with you is obviously an important part of his life...he gets a special 8 hours in bed with his people. Could you use a harness with a handle to help support his joints so he can get upstairs? Maybe it is time to review his medication, to see if a bit of tweaking can make him feel more comfortable.
IF he will happily sleep downstairs, my advice would be to transition to this now rather than later. Why? Because we have a nearly 13 year old Callie girl with whom I am now sleeping downstairs on the couch for her last days with us. Granted, she has cancer and her days with us are now very short, but I now wish that I had transitioned her to downstairs sleeping at some point or had her and the others sleeping downstairs all along. The fact that she can no longer navigate the stairs just makes it all the more clear that our days with her are few now. It is heartbreaking even if she has had a great day. IF I go up to bed, she lies at the foot of stairs and cries - this is not a dog that ever demanded anything from us - she was always the most content of her original pack and still now, as the elder of the current pack. When this began on August 4th - I remember the exact date - my heart couldn't take leaving her alone to cry it out and settle. So, if you can transition him now to remaining downstairs at night, I would do it.
Thank you so much for your reply, how sad that your beloved is so unwell. I see exactly what you are saying and think I should settle him downstairs as soon as. Thanks again and hugs to you.xx
An update on this, Finn almost fell down the stairs the other morning, so decision was made, no more stairs, sleep in the lounge. First night wasn't too bad, but last night he whined and cried and scratched the door at 3am. So I came down to sleep on the sofa, but even that didn't settle him, he knew my other half was still upstairs so still winged and whined. any tips for trying to get him to settle, either alone or with me to keep him company? Should I leave him to whine and scratch and hope it improves, or try a few more nights on the sofa? Thanks.
Hi @Lin I feel sorry for you and your dog. Such a massive upheaval in his autumnal years. And something he doesn't really understand. If you go to him, when he whinges, then you are reinforcing whinging. Consequently, it is more likely to happen. You will need to make the break, he sleeps downstairs, on his own, because you sleeping down there did not stop the whinging.. You two will need to ignore his whinging. It will get worse, which is part and parcel of behaviour known as an extinction burst. Think of a child throwing a tantrum in a shop, when the parent refuses the child's demand to get a chocoate. The crying and tantrum gets worse before the child realises the behaviour receives no attention.. Perhaps play quiet classical music to mask the crying. Some warm milk for your dog before you say goodnight. A bottle of wine or box of chocolates for your immediate neighbours. Good luck
