Dog Steps and Ramp Stairs
If you have a small, sick, or elderly dog, you might consider adding dog steps or ramps to your pet care supplies. Dog steps and ramp stairs help to avoid unnecessary injury resulting from high jumps and make maneuvering from one surface to another more simple for your four-legged friend. A wide range of dog steps and ramps are available in a variety of materials, including plastic, wood and aluminum.
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Why Dog Steps and Ramps?
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Small dogs, and those who are sick or elderly, may have trouble jumping onto high surfaces such furniture and into vehicles. Rather than struggling with lifting your pet onto these surfaces, consider investing in dog steps or ramps to ease your animal's transition from the ground to higher surfaces. Steps and ramps save time and energy and help to preserve the integrity of your dog's bones and joints, as the shock from jumping can lead to arthritis and joint pain, and are also useful to dogs who do not see well.
About Steps and Ramps
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Dog steps are often used inside the home and help animals reach higher ground, such as beds and sofas. Dog steps are generally crafted from foam, plastic or wood and covered in carpet or fabric material, making them soft and slip resistant. Dog ramps are normally designed to help dogs into and out of vehicles, where jumping is particularly difficult. Ramps are available in aluminum, wood or plastic and are available in folding and telescoping ramp-types. They are covered in wet/dry slip-resistant materials.
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Specialty Steps and Ramps
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Specialty pet steps are available for those with particularly active lifestyles or space considerations. These specialty ramps and steps include pool stairs and ramps, toy box ramps and dock and boat ladders. Most pool stairs and boat ladders are waterproof, mold- and slip-resistant plastic material. Toy box ramps are normally wood and have a hollow space for storage of small items, such as pet toys. Pet owners who have dogs with special needs should consult their vets or seek out services to have steps or ramps custom-built.
Safety
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Be aware that ramps must be securely anchored to nonslip surfaces and steps should be positioned as closely to the furniture as possible to ensure your dog's safety. Dogs should never be left unattended to maneuver ramps and visually impaired or injured dogs should be led up ramps with additional care to guarantee the animal's security. Dogs should never be forced to use ramps and care should be taken to teach dogs to use ramps properly. Dog ramps are absolutely not for use by humans.
Additional Considerations
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Before purchasing dog steps or ramp stairs for your pet, thoroughly research what's available---ramps and steps can cost up to $250, so choosing a product with care is important. Check product safety ratings, read reviews and learn exactly what the product is made of. Make certain the steps or ramp you choose is adequate for your pet's weight and size. Dog steps and ramps come in a variety of heights and lengths, so purchase a product sufficient to your dogs needs.
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References
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- Photo Credit dog photo image by sonya etchison from Fotolia.com
