Due to hip problems, are there concerns about Berner's having to go up and down too many stairs. We live in a split level, so there are about 5 stairs between each of the 3 levels, we are constantly up and down them from kitchen to living room. Then the deck has stairs to go down too.

I am worried that we would wear out a dog prone to hip problems by having them walking on stairs that often.

Any thoughts from members?

We have 2 sets of stairs also. The only time the vet has ever mentioned keeping him off the stairs is when we had him neutered. Obviously with the stitches and all they didnt want him doing too much. Sometimes he does go WAY to fast to go downstairs, and I worry that he is going to hurt himself. And when he does that I do try to get him to slow down, but for the most part he just walks up and down them the way we do. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

Just had a "after thought" We had a chow that actually had hip dysplasia for the last 5 years or so before we lost him. ( he was 13 ) But up until probably the last 6 months or so he did fine with the stairs. Maybe not as fast as he would have liked to go, but he got around great. It was more of a problem for him to get up after he was laying down than it was for him to get around after he got up. The vet never mentioned anything to us then about keeping him off the stairs. Does anyone else have any experience with this??

I have a friend with a Golden retriever and he is very paranoid about "moose" getting hip dysplasia so I doesn't let him go up and down stairs, doesn't let him jump into or out of the vehicle. He basically doesn't let him do anything that involves climbing or jumping.

Well his vet actually told him that he may be hurting moose and not helping him by "babying" him this way. He said those activities put normal stress on the bones and joints which makes them stronger, and by not letting him experience this normal stress on his body he might be setting him up for problems down the road.

I am no vet, but I believe if a dog is going to have hip dysplasia he will get it and no babying or pampering will stop it from happening. I say let your dog be a dog and if he wants to go up and down steps let him.

Again, I am not a vet so don't take my opinion as veterinary advice.

We were careful with Ollie till he was 18 months old till then we had a stairgate on the stairs as his breeder said to be sensible about stairs and jumping in and out of the car. Now he goes up and down the stairs when he likes although he doesn't very often.

I believe if a dog is going to have hip dysplasia he will get it and no babying or pampering will stop it from happening. I say let your dog be a dog and if he wants to go up and down steps let him.
I agree with you!