Pet gate for dog with hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia changes everything about gate choice — a standard bar at the base can be genuinely painful for a dog who struggles to lift their legs, so you're right to prioritise this. Gate selection generally comes down to three things: the dog's size and jumping ability, the opening width, and whether you need a pressure-mounted or wall-mounted option (pressure-mounted gates are never safe at the top of stairs, just so you know). To point you to the right gate, can you tell me where you're installing it — stairs, a doorway, or blocking off a room — and is drilling into the wall a possibility for you?

A Basset Hound is a medium, low-slung, heavy dog — they're not jumpers, so gate height isn't your concern here. What matters entirely is that step-over bar. Most pressure-mounted gates have a bottom bar of 8–15cm, which is a real ask for a dysplastic dog. Can I ask how mobile he is day-to-day — is he managing stairs at all, or are flat surfaces the limit now? That'll help me decide whether you need a gate with a very low bar or genuinely zero bar at the base.

That tells me you need zero bar at the base, full stop — don't compromise on that given the bad days. For a 75cm kitchen doorway with a dog who can't be trusted to clear even a low obstacle comfortably, I'd go with the Safetots Wide Hinged Wooden Pet Gate. It has no bottom bar at all — completely flush with the floor — and it's pressure-mounted so no drilling required. It fits openings from around 63cm to 106cm, so your 75cm doorway is well within range, and the door panel swings open both ways, which means you're not stepping over anything either. It's sturdy enough for a Basset — they're not going to barge through it — and the all-timber construction means no sharp metal edges near a dog who might be moving slowly and leaning on it. It's widely available on Amazon UK and consistently well-reviewed for exactly this use case.

Yes — the latch mechanism is a simple one-handed push-down release at the top, so you can open it while carrying a bag or a pot. It does take a small amount of practice to get slick with it, but most people find it natural within a day or two. One thing worth knowing: because it's pressure-mounted, check the tension every couple of weeks — Bassets are solid dogs and will lean on it, and pressure gates can work loose over time. Tighten the wall cups if you notice any give. That's the only real maintenance it needs.

Good choice — it's genuinely one of the better options out there for dogs with mobility issues. Your boy will be able to walk up to it and through it without any hesitation. Hope his bad days ease up.