Dog Stairs and Ramps for Your Aging puppy
By Johnathan Livingston | September 25, 2008
Your dog may be old or disabled. Or getting that way. Or maybe you just don't have any good place to put the dog door. The solution may be either dog stairs or a ramp. Dogs and cats are relatively small so dog stairs or a pet ramp can allow them access to areas an old or disabled pet otherwise couldn't access.
There are a number of questions you will need to consider when choosing dog stairs or a pet ramp for your pet.
Choosing: Dog Stairs or Pet Ramp?
There are a number of things you must consider when attempting to give your pet access to the places you want to give your pet access to. Firstly, You must consider whether you would prefer dog stairs or a pet ramp.
Dog stairs are a good choice for pets familiar with human steps. Be aware, however, that your dog must be agile enough to use them easily, so they may not be ideal for old dogs. In that case, you should consider a pet ramp.
Dog Stairs
When you go shopping pay attention to the height (rise) of each step. Stairs used by people usually have a rise of 6.5" to 7.5" . Your pet's stairs shouldn't b higher than that.
Depth of the dog stairs also matters. Not to belabor the obvious but your dog has four legs, not two, and may have difficulties with less depth. A good depth would be ten to twelve inches.
Dog stairs take up less floor space than ramps that reach the same height. The compactness may be an advantage.
If installing stairs outdoors, choose stairs made of strong, weatherproof materials. Dog stairs can be used to give your dog access to a dog door or a dog house, and a higher dog door might confuse wild animals.
If you are considering dog stairs for an old dog, consider not only their agility right now but their likely health and agility problems in the future. Very old dogs (eleven or more years) or very old cats (seventeen or more years) may not enjoy climbing stairs and may quickly reach a point where they can't do it at all.
Old pets might be better off with a ramp than with dog stairs. You could always switch to a ramp later but it is better to get your dog or cat comfortable using the ramp while they are still agile and healthy enough to do as they please.
Pet Ramps, Some Considerations
Ramps are the best option for older, arthritic or disabled dogs as they are gentler than steps and easier to use. They are also great for dogs or cats that are used to single story homes and don't trust steps.
The key consideration in choosing a pet ramp is the length of the ramp. The higher you are trying to reach, the longer the ramp needs to be. The combination of ramp length and height will determine the slope (incline) of the ramp. Too steep an incline will be discouraging for your dog or cat, especially if they are old. Too shallow an incline and the ramp will take up a lot of space. This can be problematic, especially indoors.
Dog Owners: Special Considerations
Cats generally won't need steps or ramps until they get quite old and stiff or arthritic. Even obese cats tend to have reasonable leaping ability. Dogs, on the other hand, are not naturally gifted leapers, generally.
Small to medium dogs will benefit from dog stairs and will be less likely to incur neck, back and leg injuries they may otherwise be prone to jumping on and off furniture. Larger dogs will appreciate the dog stairs for getting in and out of vehicles as well as getting onto and off their grooming tables.
Topics: Pets |
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