You might notice that your dog appears to put more effort into jumping to and from furniture and vehicles. We often believe that because dogs are animals, they can physically handle the simple act of jumping, but are you aware that repetitive leaping could result in the development of physical health issues later in your dog’s life? That’s why we aim to introduce you to the advantages of steps for dogs.
Jumping, while a very natural movement for dogs, can encourage bone and joint problems if performed in excess. How often does your dog jump on and off of your bed, a chair, or the car? Say he does this three times a day. In just one week you dog’s joints will have absorbed the shock of 21 impacts. Imagine the effect this has over a lifetime? It’s no wonder that many dogs develop health issues such as hip dysplasia (arthritis targeting the hip region) and even scoliosis or other back problems. Preventative maintenance is the best way to reduce your dog’s likelihood of suffering from one of these physical issues.
You may be wondering if you should simply aid your dog onto the furniture by lifting him. This is not advisable, as lifting a dog repetitively can also result in spinal issues. Carrying a dog while he is a puppy isn’t really an issue, but as your dog grows and his bones have matured into the position they will be for the rest of his life, his body can’t cope as well with repetitive “unnatural” positioning.
The best alternative is to purchase some sturdy steps for dogs. Pet stairs allow your dog to disperse his weight over a series of steps rather than one jolting movement. The impact of walking down stairs is only slightly more than that of normal walking, and a great deal less than jumping from the full height of the furniture or vehicle. You will find that a lot of dog steps have a carpeted finish. This is a huge advantage for a dog as it minimizes his risk of slipping, especially if the floor (which he would normally jump onto) has a hard or slick finish.
You may wonder why you should opt for “made-for-dogs” stairs, rather than a normal step-stool. Dog steps are specifically designed to accommodate the size of your dog both in terms of weight as well as his stride. Small dogs take smaller steps, therefore the width of their stair steps shouldn’t be any greater than 12 inches. Medium dogs should have a stair step width of 14 inches, and large dogs—with consider strides—should have at least 16 inch-wide steps. Providing your dog with steps that are either too large or too small could result in your dog tripping or falling off the stairs.
Some breeds of dog are especially prone to joint issues later in life, but that doesn’t mean that these breeds are the only ones needing preventative care. Young dogs whose bones are still developing as well as older or special-needs dogs can too benefit from pet stairs. While there are many factors that contribute to your dog’s bone and joint health, dog stairs can certainly play a major role in staving off joint problems in your dog’s future.
Mail this post
