Adapting the House for Dog With Mobility Issues

When Lilly’s brain and spinal cord went kerplewy with inflammation, it greatly affected her ability to move her once-agile body. Her cognitive responses to things like verbal dog training cues are also impaired (for now), but we’ve made a few adaptations around the house to help her be where she wants to be and do what she wants to do … on her own.

For example, Lilly LOVES to nest on our bed in the master bedroom. BUT, it’s quite high off the ground. We worry about her trying (and likely failing) to jump up or jump down from the bed, so for now … we’ve moved the footrest from the reading chair.

best dog blog, champion of my heart, border collie climbing onto a bed
Step 1: Climb onto the footrest.

 

best dog blog, champion of my heart, border collie climbing onto a bed
Step 2: Use the footrest as a platform to climb onto the bed.

 

best dog blog, champion of my heart, border collie climbing onto a bed
Step 3: Relax.

You can see in both step 2 and step 3 that Lilly still doesn’t feel great. The tension in her face and the blankness behind her eyes tell a story all their own. Also, you can see here (in photos taken Friday, February 17, 2012) that her nose is still pretty crusty from the nosebleeds. Poor sweetie.

BUT, she can climb up on the bed and down by herself when she wants. That’s a huge step from a girl who was mostly confined to crate rest for her own safety much of last week.