Signing up to our Frenchie Blog will grant you a front row seat to all you need to know in order to take the best possible care of your furry friend To understand more, I need to explain what happens when they move And anyone who has French Bulldogs knows that stairs are a danger in the house Rather than sliding smoothly, the ball and socket that make up the hip joint rub and grind causing the joint to deteriorate over time Rather than sliding smoothly, the ball and socket that make up the hip joint rub and grind causing the joint to deteriorate over time. Low-Incline Design and Extra Wide Platforms All of our full ramps have a low-incline design and provide dogs with a more gradual slope to navigate when walking up and down I wish we could have them when we had our dachshunds many years ago If the diagnosis reveals mild to average injuries, treatment may include the administration of anti-inflammatory medications So, are Stairs bad for French Bulldogs? Stairs are bad for French Bulldogs and it is very dangerous for French Bulldogs to climb up or down the stairs at almost any age An MRI confirmed that Winston had a herniated disc in his cervical spine Average Price Of A French Bulldog Puppies An MRI confirmed that Winston had a herniated disc in his cervical spine. What other owners say about step training Here are some more comments from other people who successfully trained their Frenchies to use the stairs in their house Train your Frenchie to stop jumping to avoid the stress It is an age-related condition in most cases, but can still occur in younger dogs, in particular the French Bulldog breed Why French Bulldogs Have Terrible Balance French Bulldogs have short legs with small travel distances, this makes their steps small and not enough to give them the required balance to shift their weights from one step to another Clear the steps of any obstacles Your Frenchie could fall, so make it as easy as possible for him by making sure there is nothing on the steps that he could trip over Clear the steps of any obstacles Your Frenchie could fall, so make it as easy as possible for him by making sure there is nothing on the steps that he could trip over. You can find animal protein in raw meaty bones and raw meat This extra feature is particularly important for shorter dogs using bed ramps, such as French Bulldogs, as the impact from jumping a distance times their height can put unnecessary strain on their bodies These are dogs with short legs in comparison to the size or length of their bodies, which makes them have a higher risk of developing back and limb issues Kibble supply is artificial calcium supplements and not recommended Why is it bad for French Bulldogs to jump on and off furniture? In addition to being a brachycephalic short-nosed breed, French Bulldogs are also a chondrodystrophic breed Bully English Bulldog Puppies For Sale Why is it bad for French Bulldogs to jump on and off furniture? In addition to being a brachycephalic short-nosed breed, French Bulldogs are also a chondrodystrophic breed. If the diagnosis reveals a more severe case, you Frenchie may have to undergo surgery to open up the space around the spinal cord .

His paw-rents had to use a sling to support his body so that he could eat his meals This lasted for about 6 months, until I got him trained using treats and some positive reinforcement You might be lucky and have a French Bulldog who loves to climb stairs with no issues, you might have one who can only go up and not come down, or you might get one who point blank refuses If you find yourself choosing between a dog ramp or pet stairs for your French Bulldog, a dog ramp will always be the better choice If you find yourself choosing between a dog ramp or pet stairs for your French Bulldog, a dog ramp will always be the better choice. Now I have to tell him to slow down because he takes them so fast! It was the coming back down the stairs which presented a problem Introduce your French Bulldog to stairs gradually and slowly so you never put a strain on their bones or muscles He has to climb stairs on a daily basis, because we live in a split-level home on a hill, and the only way to get into our kitchen after a walk is to climb some stairs up to the first floor of our home Do French Bulldogs Need Ramps? French Bulldogs need ramps as they have almost no impact on their bones and will basically eliminate the health risks associated with going up or downstairs Healthy diet: You should feed your Frenchie a high-quality diet that consists of animal protein French Bulldog Puppies For Sale Cheap Healthy diet: You should feed your Frenchie a high-quality diet that consists of animal protein. On top of taking a handful of additional precautions to reduce the chances of future episodes, such as prioritizing gentle play and avoiding stairs, Winston uses his DoggoRamps Couch Ramp to easily and safely enjoy his favorite hangout spots .

On top of taking a handful of additional precautions to reduce the chances of future episodes, such as prioritizing gentle play and avoiding stairs, Winston uses his DoggoRamps Couch Ramp to easily and safely enjoy his favorite hangout spots

For dogs who are really anxious, it might be small steps with just a few each day until he gets braver The dog can get outside the crate for minutes for short walks on a leash and harness Are stairs bad for French Bulldogs? What could the risks be for a Frenchie climbing stairs? Are they bad for their health? In my personal opinion, as your Frenchie gets older, he might become prone to health problems concerning his spine, hips, and kneecaps

This helps him reduce the amount of stress he places on his back on a daily basis and can help decrease the chances of another disc flaring up

Introducing dogs with Patellar Luxation to ramps can help them reduce how much strain they put on their knees and help them enjoy a higher quality of life As an impact-free alternative to jumping on and off furniture, using dog ramps can help French Bulldogs decrease the amount of stress they put on their hip joints over time and allow Frenchies to easily and comfortably enjoy their home environments The French Bulldog breed is notorious for having extensive health problems you can read them all here , and stair climbing could end up making the following issues worse: Hip dysplasia: this is a canine genetic condition which commonly occurs in older Frenchies Going up and down stairs requires a certain kind of balance that the bodies of French Bulldogs find very difficult to achieve This makes it easier for a disc to bulge or burst after experiencing a harder impact or injury from a simple everyday activity, such jumping off furniture or wrestling French Bulldog Puppy Sweater This makes it easier for a disc to bulge or burst after experiencing a harder impact or injury from a simple everyday activity, such jumping off furniture or wrestling. Avoid use of stairs and jumping: It is pretty hard to stop a dog from jumping as they like to be active Therefore, the impact from jumping off furniture can put a great deal of stress on their backs and joints and even aggravate spinal and joint conditions It happens when a displacement occurs between the hip joint and thigh and will lead to walking difficulties and pain DoggoRamps allow French Bulldogs remain comfortable and safe while use a dog ramp We gave him one each time he got closer to the stairs We gave him one each time he got closer to the stairs. If surgery is not successful, a dog wheelchair may be recommended Cavalier King Charles spaniel And here is a great infographic showing the stats of the IVDD outcomes with different treatments: Feel free to check out the sources section for the links to their website and other sources on IVDD At around 8pm every night we let him come upstairs with us so he can watch TV on the bed with my wife and me My advice to any French Bulldog owner, or someone considering buying a puppy for a home where you have lots of flights of stairs is to think very carefully How To Train A French Bulldog Puppy To Stop Biting My advice to any French Bulldog owner, or someone considering buying a puppy for a home where you have lots of flights of stairs is to think very carefully. But you can create a controlled environment where jumping on and off the furniture should be prohibited Based on that, I would take it easy, and recommend that you carry your French Bulldogs down the stairs if they are on a steep incline Some of these factors include early diagnosis, the severity of the symptoms, and the treatment option selected Leave a comment .

The best time to train your Frenchie is during puppyhood The best time to train your Frenchie is during puppyhood. IVDD is a very serious issue I have tested a few options, but the best one by far to be used inside the house is the one from PetSafe The body of the French Bulldog is ill-equipped to handle stairs well Even though French Bulldogs are rather short, they have a muscular build and can weigh up to 30lbs Going downstairs for your Frenchie is trickier as it requires more control and balance Miniature English Bulldog Puppies For Sale In Ohio Going downstairs for your Frenchie is trickier as it requires more control and balance. With the health concerns I outlined, these are things that you should think about as your Frenchie gets older and have regular health checks with the vet IVDD in French Bulldogs Walking up or down stairs is an intense exercise for French Bulldogs, and it can lead to serious accidents if they do it too roughly or if they fall over

He was immediately admitted for an emergency back surgery and had a very successful recovery

As well, although French Bulldogs tend to have muscular bodies, they only reach heights of inches at the shoulder - making them shorter than nearly all couches and beds

It probably took a minute for him to start using it and now he has one for our bed as well This is less than ideal for breeds prone to back and joint issues as these impacts still put additional strain on their joints and spine Potty Training Techniques For French Bulldog Puppy This is less than ideal for breeds prone to back and joint issues as these impacts still put additional strain on their joints and spine. It can occur due to knee trauma, as degenerative arthritis, or due to a genetic malformation This eliminates extra stress on the neck and back The fact that they are genetically prone to the disease does not mean they will fall ill Animal protein is the first ingredient to promote lean muscle growth Then really encouraged him with lots of positive reinforcement when he would get close to doing it, and after that he just went for it Then really encouraged him with lots of positive reinforcement when he would get close to doing it, and after that he just went for it. That gives your dog a reward for climbing the stairs and makes them work a little bit harder to get the next treat Like humans, dogs have intervertebral discs between each pair of vertebrae on their spine This is why French Bulldogs are more prone to falling off while climbing down the stairs or even running .

The impact experienced from jumping off furniture can further exacerbate the condition as well Falling off the stairs is not the only stairs-related injury that can happen to your French Bulldog, unfortunately French Bulldog Puppy Names Unique Falling off the stairs is not the only stairs-related injury that can happen to your French Bulldog, unfortunately. By rewarding your Frenchie with praise when he tries to climb the stairs it can lead to long-lasting results Having spoken to other Frenchie owners they have said the same; going up is easier than going down Are stairs bad for French Bulldog? But why? What could you do against it? We'd like to help you, so let's begin A little encouragement and training are all that is required to help your Frenchie climb stairs One of our Frenchie friends tried to start climbing the stairs at just 14 weeks One of our Frenchie friends tried to start climbing the stairs at just 14 weeks. IVDD occurs when the outer layers of these discs begin to harden prematurely As a result, both bed ramps come with reversible and removable safety railings The disc has an inner soft jelly-like part and an outer donut-like part Use positive reinforcement Positive reinforcement is a great way to train your Frenchie to use the stairs and revolves around using nothing but praise and encouragement .

Early spaying or neutering can have health benefits, but if done too early, it can stunt their growth and put them at risk of bone cancer, hip dysplasia, and IVDD Solid Black French Bulldog Puppies Early spaying or neutering can have health benefits, but if done too early, it can stunt their growth and put them at risk of bone cancer, hip dysplasia, and IVDD. As a result, more and more French Bulldog owners are introducing their pups to dog ramps in order to provide them with an impact-free way of getting on and off furniture As free-spirited dogs with outgoing personalities, many French Bulldogs are also known for getting bursts of energy where they often end up running and goofing around

What can you expect? We actually have to carry her down the staircase in the house

One of our puppies, Olive, who lives in Fairfax, CA It has nothing to do with the Frenchie's age, the height, the stairs, it's because of the breed itself and their built

However, he now strictly uses his DoggoRamps to access the couch and bed Going up and down stairs requires balance To understand the dangers of stairs on your Frenchies, what you need to do about it, and how you can mitigate these risks and keep your Frenchie safe at all ages, keep on reading… Stairs Problems and Dangers for French Bulldogs Yes, stairs can indeed be dangerous to French Bulldogs — puppies and adults alike This has to be due to the weight distribution in their body, and you can see that in the video I placed higher up the page I would recommend waiting until they are around 5 months When Claude was 10 weeks old he was too young to start stairs climbing This can make the dog unable to walk completely Make their training a life-long process A dog ramp is the only solution that is entirely impact-free I tried to make it sound like I was having so much fun doing it myself .

French Bulldogs also have broad shoulders, which means their center of gravity is relatively high compared to their bodies, which makes them more prone to toppling over Frenchies are small and not very flexible dogs, which makes them fall risk, and with all the health problems French Bulldogs have, falling off the stairs is a very dangerous thing for them Our Frenchie was happy to go upstairs with no problem, but we have steep stairs so was very reluctant to go back down again Non-genetic factors can lead to the development of Hip Dysplasia too, such as excessive growth, certain types of exercise, injury, and improper nutrition Your Frenchie could also tip and fall when coming down the steps While Hip Dysplasia is usually associated with large breeds, such as German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers, Frenchies are prone to the condition as well Here is what you can do to to train them: Clear the steps of any ostacles Distract your puppy with playful actions Start with a small flight of stairs Keep the session short Use treat and positive reinforcement treats act as a reward for your Frenchie's efforts and a source of motivation Practice a few times a week As they get better at it, start to get further away Teach them to pace themselves French Bulldogs with these problems will also find it hard to run or simply get around the house without assistance, and climbing up surfaces or simply walking on slippery surfaces can cause them great pain French Bulldogs have short legs, broad shoulders, and stocky bodies which makes them more prone to falling while going up and downstairs These will include x-rays, a neurological exam, CT scan or MRI in order to locate the source of the spinal injury For Senior Frenchies, they will also start losing their vision and hearing, which means they are going to stumble and fall over more You could introduce a ramp or doggie stairs and train your French bulldog to only use that specifically She was scared about climbing the stairs in our house and she had to be carried up and down .

Also, it is adjustable to the height of our bed and the low incline design allows him to walk safely up to our bed as opposed to before when he would run up the stairs His paws would sink into the foam because of his weight

He has regained control of his hind legs and is back to enjoying his daily walks outdoors

In , the 4-year-old Frenchie was not only diagnosed with IVDD but underwent two spinal surgeries due to the condition Dog ramps can provide them with the opportunity to easily and safely enjoy some of their favourite activities, such as snuggling up with their human on the couch or bed Control their diet Keep an eye on their weight as well and check with your vet if needed After undergoing yet another spinal surgery, weeks of rest, and physical rehabilitation, Winston is in the process of making another amazing recovery He quickly started displaying signs of discomfort and experienced trouble holding himself up with his front legs Handy hint: When Claude is going down stairs without being carried, I will always place my palm over the back half of his body just as precautionary measure in case he topples forward French Bulldogs have short legs which makes their steps small and not enough to give them the required balancet o shift their weights from one step to another We Have the Information You Need to provide your Frenchie a long and healthy life When it comes to all round care of your Frenchie, we have all the information you need We decided to switch to a bed ramp instead because it is more secure especially with the safety rails and the soft, rubbery anti-slip surface .

We decided to switch to a bed ramp instead because it is more secure especially with the safety rails and the soft, rubbery anti-slip surface

Stairs are just bad news for Bulldogs in general, but especially so for French Bulldogs So, even if your French Bulldog has been able to climb the stairs all their lives, there will come a moment when you will find out they can no longer do it just as easily as before Symptoms of a slipped disk in the back include: Crying out, especially when picked up Reluctant or refusal to jump Back pain Walking wobbly or drunk in the rear limbs They may scuff their toes or criss-corss their limbs Unable to move rear limbs, dragging them around as they move Unfortunately, if this training is done earlier than it should or in the wrong way, it can lead the dog to develop going and hip deformities that may be permanent and impossible to heal later in their lives These health issues could become exacerbated by stair climbing To conclude on a more hopeful note, here is a Story of a French Bulldog that was diagnosed with IVDD and was able to walk again: beware, there are some scenes from the surgical operation itself, which some can find difficult How amazing was it that despite that his case was considered severe that he was not only walking by the end of the video, but he was actually playing around and jumping? Use a harness instead of a collar Repeat the training process every 6 months to a year to keep it fresh in their minds The ideal body shape for your Frenchie is one where the waist is visible and the ribs can be easily felt

Frenchies are lower to the ground and it affects their ability

More on that later in the article Use treats as a reward Place some tasty doggy snacks on every other step The idea is to limit their movements and stop any sudden movements Notice how he exhibits some swaying and shifting of weight on his hind legs and bottom a lot of the time I will carry him back down He was initially terrified, but I spoke to him and an encouraging tone of voice and praised him with every step The incline is just perfect for my bulldogs to go up and down the ramp easily, its quite grippy so they almost never slip on it, and it stays clean The condition can cause dogs to experience discomfort, pain, decreased mobility, and lameness in their hind legs X-rays can not diagnose IVDD alone, but they can help your vet look for other causes such as bony tumors or broken bones If your French Bulldog likes spending time on your couch or bed, indoor dog ramps can give your pup an easier and safer way of enjoying his or her favorite hangout spots I would recommend having one person in front, and one person behind your Frenchie if possible Unfortunately, just a handful of months later, he experienced another disc extrusion - this time in his lumbar spine, where he lost function in his back legs However, our own personal experiences should not be viewed as a general answer, as not all Frenchies are the same Most of them learn to climb upstairs but find it difficult to go downstairs To learn more about choosing a DoggoRamp for your French Bulldog, check out: In between each pair of vertebrae is an intervertebral disc that is kind of looks like a jelly donut .

Reversible and Removable Safety Rails on Taller Dog Ramps DoggoRamps Bed Ramps feature a wide range of adjustable height settings so that they can work with virtually any bed - including tall beds Introduce your dog to stairs gradually and slowly, and don't forget — always supervise them when they're trying to climb to stop them from falling over or slipping However, dog ramps can provide French Bulldogs with an impact-free means of accessing couches, beds, and other pieces of furniture Use a harness instead of a collar: You should only use a harness when walking your French bulldog Thank you so much for making the ramps Ramps are easier for your Frenchie to climb up or down and they make it less likely to fall or slip than stairs Reduced appetite and activity level Loss of bladder or bowel control Paralysis Treatment of IVDD in Frenchie dogs When you get to the vet, they will conduct a series of examinations In order to operate on his cervical spine, his veterinary team had to make an incision along the upper part of his chest They shared: "We've previously bought pet stairs for our French Bulldog puppy, Mochi, but felt that the stairs were not durable and stable In fact, you can see a video of him going up and down the stairs in our house that I shot on my iPhone below in more recent times

However, to keep balance while moving in any direction, the imaginary vertical line you draw from your center of gravity to the ground should fall between your feet