Can my 11-week-old puppy climb stairs? Is it bad for their hips?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! In general, I'm not concerned about an otherwise healthy puppy doing stairs and small jumps. If the couch is particularly high, try to discourage this but otherwise I'm not terribly worried. That being said, I do occasionally see puppies who land too hard from a jump and are now limping with an apparent strain or sprain. Usually, a few days of rest and pain medication is all that is needed but it can still be scary. Of course, if there is an underlying problem, Coco would need to be more careful. Hope this sets your mind at ease. Best of luck to you and Coco!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Hip dysplasia is a genetic disease. Some dogs are born with that problem and they are prone to show discomfort or difficulties to walk even from young age. Walking up and down the stairs does not cause dysplasia, but dogs with dysplastic hips should avoid stairs.

The biggest concern we have with puppies is repetitive pounding on concrete, so I don't recommend any running on concrete until their growth plates are closed (around 12-18 monhts). Walks are fine on any surface, so you can walk Pharah for as long as she is able to walk as she is growing without any concerns. And running on soft grassy areas is fine. I have not seen any studies on stairs with growing puppies, but it certainly can't hurt to train her to go down the stairs slowly to minimize the repetitive pounding on her joints as she goes down the stairs. I wouldn't worry about going up the stairs, or jumping off the couch or out of the car. We don't know if any of these things affect hips, but we do know that keeping a dog lean is very protective of hip problems, so keep Pharah thin. Congrats on your new baby! I hope that helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Winton is adorable! I have heard this recommendation about the stairs as well. That being said, I have not seen significant research backing up the recommendation. I think it is reasonable to limit stair use as it is practical for you. I feel it is more important to limit hard running while the bones and joints are developing. If your dog is going to be your running partner, it is best to wait to until 15-18 months before allowing running on concrete sidewalks. Keeping your puppy lean as he grows is very important in protecting the joints as well. It sounds like you and Winston are off to a great start!

Her hips are not that bad but that one knee is pretty advanced. It is best to let her keep walking and climbing stairs to keep the joints in motion and prevent her from getting stiff. I would add a glucosamine and chondrotin supplement to help her joints and omega 3 fatty acids also. I would consider adding an anti inflammatory so she doesn’t get painful and can still fetch without paying for it the next day. From there they make other medicines to add but if she is getting around well with no lameness then I would wait until signs develop further

Small, long bodied dogs like Luna may be prone to more back and knee issues. Generally stairs are fine. Try to limit the jumping though. Try to train them to use doggie stairs to get on the furniture. Sometimes this is easier said than done :) Big things are to make sure they don't get heavy and to have them examined regularly for any signs of joint disease. Eventually they will likely go on a joint supplement as well to support good health. Hope this answers you question!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. If her mobility is back to normal, then it is fine for her to go up and down stairs. If this exercise seems to cause her any discomfort, then I would avoid it. However, it should not cause her any problems. I hope this information helps!