Stair Elevator For Pets Could Give Obese Dogs A Lift

With pet obesity on the rise in the U.S. and the U.K., perhaps it was only a matter of time before someone came up with an elevator targeted at obese pets.

Dubbed "Stair of the Dog 2022," the prototype was created by U.K. pet insurance company More Than as a way to publicize the rising need for costly medical care for obese pets.

Once the dog sits in the basket big enough for their chubby derriere, the system initiates, bringing the pup up to the second level or back down to the first. The proposed design even includes a paw recognition button.

Excess fat can put pressure on an animal's back and lead to bone, respiratory and skin conditions that can make it impossible for a dog to climb stairs, according to the Daily Mail.

So far, two retailers have already expressed interest in manufacturing and selling the $8,000 dog lift, according to a press release from the company.

But huge sales aren't exactly what they're is after with this prototype.

“It's extremely worrying to think that 52 per cent of all dogs in the UK could be obese in 10 years time," John Ellenger of More Than Pet Insurance said in the media release. “A stair lift for dogs is a vision of the future we really don’t want to see become a reality.”

Overweight pets suffer from a number of health issues including diabetes, kidney failure, and cancer.

In 2010, U.S. pets owners using one particular insurance company paid vets $25 million to treat obesity-related conditions such as asthma, according to the Wall Street Journal.