In these tough economic times, pet owners who want to help their dogs get up to human level are looking for cheap dog steps. Fortunately, there are two options: buy dog steps economically, or make them.
Some may believe pet steps to be a bit frivolous when cash is tight, however pet steps could save your dog from painful (and expensive) health problems later on in life. It’s really more of a preventative for early arthritis and painful joints.
For instance, dog steps can be especially important if you have one of the smaller breeds of dogs weighing less than 20 pounds. Toy or teacup poodles, Chihuahuas, Pekineses, Pomeranians and other small dog breeds can actually fracture or break their legs jumping down from a couch or bed. Dog steps can reduce or eliminate this hazard.
Older dogs with arthritis or larger dogs with conditions such as hip displacement also benefit from dog steps suitable for their size and weight. The trick to buying cheap dog steps is to know what size and materials are right for your dog.
You can easily purchase an inexpensive set of pet stairs for around $20, which are usually made from foam and covered in carpet of a similar substance. These can be purchased online or at some retail shops.
If you fancy yourself a craft project, you may attempt to build your own pet steps. However, this can be a great deal more expensive than purchasing one online, especially if you require large dog steps.
Whether you buy your dog steps or make them yourself, one very important thing you will need to take into consideration is the size of your dog. If you have a large dog, he will require steps that are at least 16 inches wide. Medium-sized dogs (around 35 pounds) need a maximum step width of 14 inches, and for smaller dogs the step width should be no more than about 12 inches.
The height of your dog is also another thing to consider. Dog stairs that have very tall steps aren’t going to work very well for a short-legged dog, yet very short steps could trip a long-legged dog.
Last but not least, no matter where you get your dog stairs from, but sure that they are made of durable materials that will withstand the weight of your dog. You can easily check the weight restrictions on the stair’s packaging or on the website you wish to buy the stairs from. For more durable materials such as mahogany, you can expect that the price will go up quite a bit.
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