Pet Ramps And Steps For Your Dog

Pet ramps and steps should become part of your dog's necessities from an early age for spinal health. When dogs walk on all four legs, any jarring forces are normally applied at a right angle to the spinal column. When a dog jumps down instead of using portable steps or a dog ramp, the impact pressure is absorbed into the front legs. The line of force is directed down the length of the spinal column, causing compression of the individual discs. This increases the risk that a disc may rupture or become herniated, causing a portion of the disc to protrude and pressure the spinal cord, which in turn typically inhibits nerve transmission. This can lead to pain, weakness, and major paralysis in the hind legs, and can affect abdominal organs from the resulting spinal cord damage.

Training your dog to use ramps and portable steps can prevent spinal damage.

A dog ramp or steps can avoid such trauma. This is especially true with the smaller breeds and dogs with very long backs, such as Dachshunds and Basset Hounds. Ramps or steps are more imperative for these breeds. You will want your miniature or "teacup" dog to use a ramp from the time you bring it home.

Often the miniature dog is too tiny for indoor steps to be considered a good option.

Smaller dogs, or breeds that are lower to the ground, may find it hard to climb stairs, or get out of a pool or onto a boat from the water. That's where a dog ramp can be a help, and also for larger dogs where reaching and lifting can be injurious to both you and the dog.

It's not the jumping up but the jumping down that causes the damage.

Puppies should not be allowed to jump up on people, run up and down stairs, jump up to high places where they are likely to jump off, jump off furniture, beds and in and out of cars. They should be lifted down from these places or, better, be taught to use dog ramps or steps. Puppies and adult dogs should be kept at the correct weight, and not allowed to become fat or obese, to alleviate pressure on the spine. Your pet ideally should be trained to wait to be lifted out of a car or given access to one of the many available ramp systems. Your canine's age and physical condition will help determine the correct ramp slope.

Portable steps are fine for pets familiar with, and physically agile enough to use, standard people stairs. Portable steps for healthy young and middle-age pets of any size provide a great way to get up and down safely from sofas, chairs, beds or most any spot in the house.

Restricting jumping activities is very important in preventing immediate and future cartilage and spinal disc damage. A dog ramp will not only make life more comfortable for your dog, but can help your loved pet remain more active and involved in your life, especially in its later years.

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