| If you need to give your dog access to his house-or | | | | your pet access to a dog door into your house, and |
| your house-you might consider either dog stairs or a | | | | are likely to confuse non-domesticated animals and |
| pet ramp to let them in. Dogs and cats are relatively | | | | thus decrease the likelihood your pet will be followed. |
| small, and dog stairs or a pet ramp can give them | | | | If you are considering stairs for an old pet, consider not |
| access to areas they would otherwise have to jump | | | | only their agility right now but their likely health and |
| to reach. | | | | agility problems in the future. Very old dogs (eleven or |
| There are a number of questions you will need to | | | | more years) or very old cats (seventeen or more |
| consider when choosing stairs or a ramp for your pet. | | | | years) may not enjoy climbing stairs and may quickly |
| Stairs or Ramp? | | | | reach a point where they can't do it at all. |
| There are a number of things you must consider when | | | | For your old pet you may be better off going with a |
| attempting to give your pet access to the places you | | | | ramp than buying stairs and having to switch to a |
| want to give your pet access to. Firstly, You must | | | | ramp at a later date. This would have the advantage |
| consider whether you would prefer dog stairs or a pet | | | | of getting your old dog used to the ramp while they |
| ramp. | | | | are still agile and healthy. |
| Stairs are a good choice for pets familiar with human | | | | Dog Ramps |
| steps. Be aware, however, that your dog must be | | | | Ramps are the best option for older, arthritic or |
| agile enough to use them easily. They may not be ideal | | | | disabled pets as they are gentler than steps and |
| for old pets. If you have an older pet then, you should | | | | easier to use. They are also great for dogs or cats |
| consider a pet ramp. | | | | that are used to single story homes and don't trust |
| Dog Stairs | | | | steps. |
| When you go shopping for stairs for your pet, pay | | | | The key consideration in choosing a pet ramp is the |
| particular attention to the height (rise) of each step. | | | | length of the ramp. The higher you are trying to reach, |
| Normal indoors and outdoors people stairs tend have a | | | | the longer the ramp needs to be. The combination of |
| rise of 6.5 Inches to 7.5 inches; pet steps shouldn't be | | | | ramp length and height will determine the slope (incline) |
| any higher than that as your pet is considerably | | | | of the ramp. Too steep an incline will be discouraging |
| shorter than a human and you should not force them | | | | for your dog or cat, especially if they are old. Too |
| to have to jump. | | | | shallow an incline and the ramp will take up a lot of |
| Depth of the dog stairs also matters. Not to belabor | | | | space. This can be problematic, especially indoors. |
| the obvious but your dog has four legs, not two, and | | | | Considerations for Dog Owners |
| may have difficulties with less depth. A good depth | | | | Cats generally won't need steps or ramps until they |
| would be ten to twelve inches. | | | | get quite old and stiff or arthritic. Even obese cats tend |
| Pet stairs have an advantage over a pet ramp in that | | | | to have reasonable leaping ability. Dogs, on the other |
| they take up less floor or ground space to reach the | | | | hand, are not naturally gifted leapers, generally. |
| same height. They can give your pet safe, compact | | | | Small to medium pets will benefit from stairs and will |
| and convenient access to wherever you want to let | | | | be less likely to incur neck, back and leg injuries they |
| them go. | | | | may otherwise be prone to jumping on and off |
| If you are planning to put your pet stairs outside, | | | | furniture. Larger pets will appreciate the pet stairs for |
| consider stairs made of sturdier materials than you | | | | getting in and out of vehicles as well as getting onto |
| would for interior use. Stairs are excellent for giving | | | | and off their grooming tables. |