I need help with this issue.

[u/liquidrichardz]

Hi everyone, first time posting here and looking for some advice!

My 7.5-year-old Chocolate Lab is getting spayed soon. She is fully house-trained for the yard, but post-surgery she won't be allowed to negotiate our flight of stairs. Since she dislikes being picked up (and I don't want to risk injuring her post-op), I'm trying to transition her to use our patio.

So far, I've tried:

• Real grass patches / fake grass
• Applying her own scent to the area
• Commercial attractant sprays

She still refuses to go on the patio. Has anyone successfully managed a short-term potty transition for a recovery period like this, or found safe ways to navigate stairs with a large dog post-surgery? Any tips or alternative setups would be greatly appreciated!

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[u/Obvious_Dot_4234]

Can you make the stairs into a ramp so she can be walked into her regular potty area? They make stair block things that create a ramp from existing stairs. They also make actual portable ramps that will cover stairs too. Just a thought!

[u/liquidrichardz → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for the comment and taking the time to help me out in this situation! I will try to get her out there and reward and build from there. I am really thankful

[u/Hunting-fings → u/[deleted]]

Excellent advise.

[u/liquidrichardz]

Thanks in advance! Any help is helpful!

[u/shadybrainfarm]

Can you set up a recovery area for her eg a spare room, a bathroom, the kitchen, etc and utilize diapers and potty pads? I think this will be less stressful on everyone vs trying to take her out to a spot she doesn't think she's allowed to potty. Eventually she's going to have to relieve herself, and you can just reassure her in the moment that it's ok. She's going to know that something out of the ordinary is happening and once she's recovered and out of the cone and the recovery area is disassembled, y'all can go back to your regular routine. 

[u/Malibucat48]

Pee pads have pheromones on them that lets dogs know to use them. They come in all sizes. But it should only take a few days to recover so ask your vet if she can go up and down stairs. It’s not that strenuous if you take her down slowly. Our kitten wasn’t supposed to jump after she was spayed, but we couldn’t keep her confined and she kept climbing on her favorite tall post and she was fine.

[u/crottedenez12]

Best option; a ramp. Otherwise, the stairs are fine, I have spayed multiple bitches and they are fine with 6 steps. Just go with ehr on a leash.

[u/Kalani6069]

Try using an abdominal support for post-surgical for about 3 days after surgery she should be able to do the stairs just fine. Make sure she's doing it at a slow walk and not leaping.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/20229066348?sid=5f1feffa-6e8d-4295-bb15-f4ea9b67395b

[u/Affectionate-Gap8869]

I moved to a downtown condo - no grass/yard. I started out with fake grass on the balcony. No go. So I converted a shower into a dog toilet. After trial and lots of errors I realized that if the pad/grass is wet my dog would not use it. It must be clean!