We’ve talked about how to make staircases safer for humans, but what about our dogs? Our four-legged friends need to get up and down our staircases too, but this can often prove difficult for them. Sometimes they can have difficulty gripping the treads, causing them to fall down. Other times age has caught up with them and they can’t make it up the stairs without assistance. Whatever the reason, it’s always best to find ways to make your staircase safer in order to avoid any future accidents.
Use stair runners or anti-skid spray
Have you ever led your dogs to the stairs only to see the bolt down the steps? Most times they’re fine, but it only takes one slip for your dog to get seriously hurt. Because many stairs are made out of smooth material such as wood or metal, it can be difficult for dogs to find traction and grip under their paws. As a result, they can slip and fall when they’re running up or down the stairs. To prevent this, it’s best to provide them with something to hold onto. Stair runners are an easy way to do this, as are the various anti-skid sprays available on the market.
Supervise your dog on the stairs
If your dog is older or has any health issues, then you want to make sure you’re by their side as they’re making their way up or down the staircase. Orthopedic problems such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, or ligament injuries are all very common in dogs. While these can occur at any age, they typically occur as dogs get older. If your dog has any of these health issues, then be sure to supervise them as they’re ascending or descending the stairs to prevent any injuries.
Improve visibility
Dogs are not cats—they can’t see well in the dark. As such, you need to make sure there’s proper lighting throughout all times of the day or night. Our dogs can’t reach up to flip a switch (although never say never), so you should make sure to install nightlights or automatic lights somewhere along your staircase.
Carry your dog
This obviously won’t work for bigger dogs, but if you have smaller dogs, then try to carry them instead of letting them walk up and down the stairs themselves. It’ll prevent them from accidently slipping or tripping on the stairs. Plus, if they’re very small (such as young puppies) they may not even be able to climb the stairs and will likely need your assistance to get upstairs or downstairs easily.
When all else fails, block them off
If you’ve tried everything but your dog is still having difficult getting up or down the stairs, then it’s safer to just block them off all together. While some of us would like to have our dogs join us upstairs and feel bad when they’re kept away from us, sometimes it’s just the better thing to do in order to keep them healthy. So, plan on installing a gate at the bottom of your stairs that’s tall enough to prevent your dog from jumping over it.
Here at Acadia Stairs we want to make sure that all of our staircases are safe for both our two-legged and four-legged family members. That’s why we offer anti-skid sprays for our wooden treads, and anti-skid surfaces for our metal, stone, glass, and concrete treads. If you want to learn more about the safety features our custom staircases provide, then feel free to give us a call at 845-765-8600 today.
