Posts Tagged ‘pet stairs’
Maybe you love adorable toy breeds that fit in a handbag. Perhaps you prefer to romp around with a sturdy big breed. Maybe your beloved longtime companion has grown old and frail. Whatever your dog’s size and situation, finding the right dog steps matters to you and your pet.
Dog stairs can be a terrific solution to many disabilities or conditions that ail dogs of all breeds and ages, such as dysplasia, obesity, and arthritis. Dog steps can enable your pet a level of freedom you both will have thought long gone.
First, be careful about the dimensions of the stairs. Just as there’s no one-size-fits-all dog, there’s no one-size-fits-all style of dog steps. If you have a small breed of dog weighing less than 20 pounds, get steps that measure 12 inches wide. For medium-sized dogs (those weighing under 35 pounds), choose steps 14 inches wide. Dogs larger than 35 pounds can use steps that are 16 inches wide. Many sites sell both small dog steps and large dog steps.
The next item to take into consideration is the height of the steps. Smaller dogs generally have shorter legs, therefore each step’s height should be shorter, but the overall height of the stairs should be tall enough to reach your bed, couch, or other desired furniture. Larger dogs should have stairs whose steps are a bit taller so they don’t trip over small, more frequent steps.
When getting your dog into bed, however, you’ll need dog steps ranging from 17 to 29 inches high, depending again on the size of your pet.
Last, but certainly not least, you’ll want to make sure the steps you buy are made of good quality materials. While plastic steps can work okay for smaller dogs, they are partial to damage caused by both hot and cold temperatures and usually degrade in quality a lot faster than wooden or metal steps. You can also choose a style of finish which matches your décor, such as mahogany wood or specific color of carpet.
Investing in a good set of pet stairs will give both you and your pet a new lease on mobility!
Your dog loves to sleep at the foot of your bed, and you love having it there. But what happens when your furry companion can’t get up to your level? Do you risk injuring yourself by lifting your pet onto the bed? No, a much better answer is dog steps for beds.
Dog steps for beds are important for small breeds, which can easily break a leg bone jumping down from a bed. They’re also helpful for older dogs with health conditions such as arthritis, blindness or hip displacement. Some owners start their dogs using steps at a fairly young age to reduce repetitive stress on the joints that could lead to arthritis later in life.
However, choosing dog stairs is different from choosing other types of pet furniture, as many people prefer both practicality and pleasant appearance in their steps.
First, you probably want to consider how well dog steps will match the decor of your bedroom.. Unlike dog steps for vehicles, for instance, it’s unlikely that you’re going to be moving your dog’s bed steps. That means you can choose steps in more stable styles and materials, such as a wood that complements your bedroom suite. Some dog steps for beds have compartments in the treads, so you can keep your dog’s favorite toys or blankets close by.
Pet stairs specially intended for beside use are going to need to match up to the height of your bed. Having steps higher than your bed could result in your dog tripping and hurting himself, yet steps which are too small will end up in him still needing to jump onto the bed, which defeats the purpose of the steps altogether.
Aside from these factors, choosing dog steps for beds is the same as selecting steps for other purposes. You’ll need to know your dog’s size in order to choose the right kind of bed steps for it in width, height and the steps’ ability to hold the dog’s weight. These qualities are typically explained on the product label.
It’s safe to say that most pet owners are cautious about their pet’s health, be it physical activity, what they eat, their teeth and ears, etc. This article is going to address the role that bed pet steps can play in your pet’s health.
It is often assumed that pet steps are particularly for sick or old pets that are no longer capable of jumping up onto the bed on their own. While it is completely true that older pets will need steps to protect their joints and muscles, this is true of younger pets as well. The strain of constantly jumping up and down can put pressure on your pet’s body with time.
It is quite common for injuries to pets as well as owners to happen when a pet has to jump up and down from a high bed. To avoid broken bones or collisions with your pet, you will need steps so they can crawl up in a more orderly fashion.
Pet steps are also a necessity if you want to get a good night of sleep. Especially if you own larger sized dogs that can really make a lot of noise and shake the bed when they jump up, you will not be able to sleep peacefully with a pet climbing up and down the mattress during the night.
You could compare the jostle of a pet on your bed to the same situation involving another person. If your partner tosses and turns throughout the night, you are more apt to take precaution by purchasing a mattress that minimizes motion transfer. In the case of your pet, you can easily minimize his excess movement by keeping pet stairs nearby.
Bed side pet steps are absolutely essential if you want your pet to stay healthy and injury free. It is common courtesy to think of them much as you would your own safety and comfort. Also, there is no need to worry about an ugly, intrusive piece of furniture sticking out. Pet steps are available in many fashions, one of the most popular being wooden pet stairs and carpeted pet stairs.