Dog Steps and Stairs Help Prevent Injuries

harley Dog Steps and Stairs Help Prevent InjuriesMeet Harley. Harley is just a little sad because he broke a front and back leg from jumping off his owners bed. Luckily, he is still a puppy and the fractures could be set with a splint and healed well.

Most people don’t think about their pets breaking their legs from jumping off the bed, but in same month that Harley broke his leg, I had two other puppies also break their leg from jumping of the bed, and one puppy from jumping out of her owners arms. The injuries are not just limited to the puppies, older dogs get injured, also.

In the older dogs, especially the chihuahuas, jumping from the furniture can cause undo stress on their joints, especially their knees resulting in rupturing their anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL). These injuries can’t heal with a simple splint but usually requires TPLO surgery from an orthopedic veterinary specialist.

(See previous post on ACL injuries.)

In Dachshunds, jumping from the furniture may aggravate their back and cause a ruptured or herniated disc. (See post on back injuries)

So, how can you prevent these injuries. Well, you can train the dog not to jump on the furniture, and don’t let them sleep with you or your kids. But, if you are like a lot of pet owners, the dog is where you are, you can put stairs or a ramp by the bed or furniture so your pet can get up and down without help from you. There are several to choose from and they are relatively inexpensive when compared to a bill from a veterinary surgeon.

Check out dog steps and stairs here.

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Dog Ramps – Send Your Dog To New Heights

Dog ramps are the ideal way for your injured, overweight, or elderly dogs to get in and out of your truck without your assistance.  Often when our pets get older or overweight, they are unable to jump as high as they once could and often sustain an injury when they try. Now we can help our pets easily reach new heights with a ramp. The Junior Smart Ramp is a wonderful choice for all sizes of pets, from the smallest to the largest. This ramp weighs very little, so it is easy to use and is extremely portable with secure built in hand holds.  Featuring a non-slip tread surface, the Jr. Smart Ramp is safe even when wet.

The Smart Ramp, though a little heavier than the Junior Smart Ramp, is another good choice for helping your favorite pooch get into the back of the truck. The Half STEP II Multi Purpose ramp has a one of a kind rubberized coating with ribbing to provide a non-slip surface. This ramp is easily portable and, weighing only eleven pounds, will also float in water. When pets use a ramp to get in and out of our trucks, it reduces the pain they may feel from arthritis or hip dysplasia.  If your dog loves to swim, the Super Skamper-Ramp makes it very easy for your pet to get out of the water. Using a dog ramp is easier on both dogs and their owners by reducing back and joint strain.

Skamper-Ramp

 Skamper Ramp

Pets are often trained to find the pool steps but this becomes difficult when they are under stress or if it is dark outside. Dogs can't see the steps because they are under water and likely (unknowingly) self-trained toward a landmark outside of the water. The Skamper Ramp is white because that is the only color that all living creatures can see making it easy to find–even at night.* For bigger dogs please see our Related Items for "Skamper-Ramp Big Dog" designed for dogs over 45 pounds.When properly installed pets will be able to see it breaking the water surface putting it at eye-level. Use with a pool wall pond and even some boats.When a pet or other animal jumps or falls in the water they can swim for awhile (some more than others) but without a way out they can drown from exhaustion brought on by panic or fatigue. The fact is that pools are perilous for pets. Though some drownings occur by day they occur most often at night leaving the pool owner or lakefront resident with that cruel surprise of a dead pet or animal floating in their pool or pond. That's exactly why Skamper-Ramps were invented.This patented proven and award-winning (and deceptively simple looking!) device is attractive affordable lightweight and most importantly works–even when no one is there to help! 100% made in North America with pride!Did you know?In the United States 71% of households own at least one pet. That means almost 75 million pet dogs 88+ million pet cats and 24+ million various small pets totaling approximately 183 million pets! These pets are family members and they rely on their owners to keep them safe. According to the American Pet Association the odds of a pet drowning are approximately one in 1028 each year in the US alone and over 53% of pet owners have a pool and/or spa!The problem is very real but equally preventable.

 

3 Step Bear Cub Mini Pet Stairs

 3 Step Bear Cub Mini Pet Stairs

Assembled with wood construction and plush pile commercial carpet the 3-Step Bear Cub Pet Stairs enable your small dogs to reach their favorite places and navigate furniture with ease. These steps help prevent back and neck injuries that can occur when pets jump to and from high places. Ideal for aged infirm or overweight dogs. Each step is 5 inches in depth and height and supports up to 21 lbs.

 

Cocoa Easy Step III Pet Stairs

 Cocoa Easy Step III Pet Stairs

The Cocoa Easy Step III Pet Stairs makes it simple for your pet to reach the top of the bed. Fast to assemble and even faster to clean these low-maintenance pet stairs are ideal for your pet to get around without limitation. Each step gets wider and deeper so every landing is easier and easier. Made of polypropylene. Nice and lightweight!

 

Ultra-Lite Pet Stairs

5 50926 Ultra Lite Pet Stairs

Features: Portable light weight design. One year manufacturer’s warranty. Overall dimensions: 19"H x 16"W x 24"D. Supports over 250 pounds for any size dog or pet. Attractive design with neutral colors blends in almost anywhere. Gives access to the back seat of an automobile which is difficult to do with ramps. Durable indoor/outdoor carpet and plastic construction can be cleaned with soap and water. Constructed from high density polyethylene and indoor / outdoor carpet. Unique sloping treads are easier for small dogs to climb. 19″ height works well with most couches and beds. Step height 6 1/4″; Step depth 8″. Made in the USA.

 
$118.49 | Read more...

Petstep II Ramp Legs

2 50919 Petstep II Ramp Legs

Features: Kit contains four 24.5″ aircraft aluminum legs and twelve fiddle screws for easy installation. Ideal for grooming, utility table, picnic table, potting table, or any other use.

 

PetSTEP II Multi-Purpose Ramp

 PetSTEP II Multi Purpose Ramp

The PetSTEP II Multi-Purpose Ramp is the perfect solution for pet owners who travel often or have older animals that need help getting in and out of vehicles. It is created to ease the pain of arthritis and dysplasia so that our best friends can still go with us to our favorite places. Owners will love its easy-open easy-close design which makes it incredibly easy to use and store. Two balanced ergonomic handles and its lightweight are meant to make portability simple.Crafted from high-quality materials that won’t trap odors the ramp will neither rust nor corrode and washes quickly with just soap and water. You can even use it in lakes and pools because it floats in water and won’t sink. A ribbed non-slip surface with unique rubberized coating ensures the ultimate in safety for both dogs and humans.If you are using the PetSTEP II Multi-Purpose Ramp for the back door of a standard four door sedan the back door may not open wide enough to accommodate its 17-inch width. The back doors generally will not open fully such as a front door which will open wide enough to accommodate our ramps. Before ordering one of our ramps for back door entrance of your four door sedan we suggest you measure the opening to determine if the back door will open wide enough. Please remember that the ramp fits all front doors.

 
$149.99 | Read more...

5 Step Bear Cub Mini Pet Stairs

 5 Step Bear Cub Mini Pet Stairs

Assembled with wood construction and plush pile commercial carpet the 5-Step Bear Cub Pet Stairs enable your small dogs to reach their favorite places and navigate furniture with ease. These steps help prevent back and neck injuries that can occur when pets jump to and from high places. Ideal for aged infirm or overweight dogs. Each step is 5 inches in height and supports up to 12 lbs.

 
$159.99 | Read more...

Petstep Pool Legs

5 50922 Petstep Pool Legs

Features: Will not rust or corrode. Allows your dog to walk out of the water unassisted. Simply attach the optional legs and place in the pool. Rubber feet keeps ramp in place and protects the surface of the pool. Legs are hollow, allowing them to fill with water, which holds the ramp in place. Contains two 24.5″ aircraft aluminum legs with rubber feet and 4 fiddle screws for easy installation.