Does anyone have experience with installing a ramp in-addition-to or instead-of
house stairs for a senior pooch who is having trouble negotiating stairs?

I belong to little brick bungalow in a midwest US city, built in 1954.
The ordinary access to the back yard for potty is from the kitchen:
a.) 5 steps down to a landing by the back door.
b.) 90 degree turn, then 7 more steps to the basement where dog feeds, crates, etc.

12-year-old, 30 lb. Brittany. She has hip displasia but hasn't shown any
symptoms for about 8 years. She still manages the stairs, but she's arthritic
and won't be able to for much longer.

Thanks,
Puddin'

"Law Without Equity Is No Law At All. It Is A Form Of Jungle Rule."

12-year-old, 30 lb. Brittany. She has hip displasia but hasn't shown any
symptoms for about 8 years. She still manages the stairs, but she's
arthritic
and won't be able to for much longer.

A ramp would be helpful. A gradual grade with attached indoor/outdoor
carpeting for traction and heat resistence would also help. (The steel ones
get awfully hot in the sun)

We put a ramp up for Bubba 2 years ago.

We have 5 steps from the porch to the drive way. We took a 1/2 piece of
plywood, split it and half lengthwise. Nailed it to two 8 ft 2x4's and
had our ramp. We attached it to the porch to stabilize it. I bought
those recycled porch mats to cover it with. They are made out of
recycled tires and have deep grooves in them for tractions. We cut them
to fit and nailed them to the ramp. I found them at Home Depot for
about $10 each

Celeste

In article ,
Puddin' Man wrote:

Does anyone have experience with installing a ramp in-addition-to or
instead-of
house stairs for a senior pooch who is having trouble negotiating stairs?

I belong to little brick bungalow in a midwest US city, built in 1954.
The ordinary access to the back yard for potty is from the kitchen:
a.) 5 steps down to a landing by the back door.
b.) 90 degree turn, then 7 more steps to the basement where dog feeds,
crates, etc.

12-year-old, 30 lb. Brittany. She has hip displasia but hasn't shown any
symptoms for about 8 years. She still manages the stairs, but she's arthritic
and won't be able to for much longer.

Is your basement a finished room? Not sure I'd want a dysplastic,
arthritic dog (ok, any dog really) in a cold/damp concrete area or
confined to a crate (why is she?). I'd want her in a warmer area, as
few steps as possible, ortho dog bed. My 12 yo dog is not doing
stairs as easily these days, although how well varies depending on other
activity. She spends her days hanging out with me, wrestling with the
young dogs, fetching balls, and then sleeping on beds. Confinement
would lead to more stiffness IMO.

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

On Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:08:08 -0400, Janet Boss wrote:

Is your basement a finished room?

There's 1 finished room, but 80% of basement is combination of
workshop, storage, laundry, etc.

Not sure I'd want a dysplastic,
arthritic dog (ok, any dog really) in a cold/damp concrete area or
confined to a crate (why is she?).

No confinement to speak of. She has a doggy door, spends about 14
waking hours/day with me, takes meals down there.

She has to negotiate the first 5 steps to get to the doggy door
which she uses many, many times each day.

I'd want her in a warmer area, as
few steps as possible, ortho dog bed. My 12 yo dog is not doing
stairs as easily these days, although how well varies depending on other
activity. She spends her days hanging out with me, wrestling with the
young dogs, fetching balls, and then sleeping on beds. Confinement
would lead to more stiffness IMO.

Confinement is not an issue. She looks fine on walks ("hunts" to her).
I can see some pain in her face when she ascends the stairs, and she
always hesitates before descending. She used to virtually leap up/down
the stairs.

It's wonderfully cool in the basement. I sometimes go down there to
read, work on things, etc. Rather hot summer here.

P

"Law Without Equity Is No Law At All. It Is A Form Of Jungle Rule."

On Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:09:37 GMT, spot wrote:

We put a ramp up for Bubba 2 years ago.

We have 5 steps from the porch to the drive way. We took a 1/2 piece of
plywood, split it and half lengthwise. Nailed it to two 8 ft 2x4's and
had our ramp. We attached it to the porch to stabilize it. I bought
those recycled porch mats to cover it with. They are made out of
recycled tires and have deep grooves in them for tractions. We cut them
to fit and nailed them to the ramp. I found them at Home Depot for
about $10 each

Thanks.

I searched for "mats" at www.homedepot.com but found nothing about recycled. Do you
recall what HD called the mats?

P

"Law Without Equity Is No Law At All. It Is A Form Of Jungle Rule."