Doggy Ramp

My dog was kind of spoiled in the first place...but when he got sick toward the end well I did go overboard....as far as others were concerned....to me I just tried to make him comfortable......like giving him ibuprofen when it got difficult for him to walk...his bed was lamb's wool.....etc....

Yes, we had a big dog and as he aged we had to elevate his food so he could eat and swallow easier...we used cement blocks to set his bowls on....animals are a part of the family and I feel should be treated as such....

Awww. that is very nice. My Pomeranian is having alot of problems with his back legs. He is aging also. He has to go down steps also to use the bathroom. We have been carrying him in and out so he does not have to use the steps right now. We need a ramp also but he can barely walk anyway.

I bet your dog loves you for thinking of him when he has troubles with steps. I did something similar for my dog Shady when he was aging. He so loved sleeping in bed with me and one night, try as he did, he just couldn't jump up on the bed so I helped him up on it but the very next day I built him a few steps so he could get up on his own. Not that easy lifting a 75lb dog up onto the bed. Eventually, he couldn't even navigate the steps so I made myself a bed on the floor every night and built a ramp for him so he could come in/out on his own.

Baby will be my first old animal. So far, he's doing well. Most of my rescues didn't live to be old.

We all have to adapt when age creeps up on us even for our dogs or pets. My mom had a Mini Schnauzer that was up in age , his problem wasn't going down stairs, it was going up the stairs that gave him trouble.My mom was carring him up and down the stairs. When he was done his business he would bark for my mom to go out to get him. He trained her very well. My mom was tired of being his lil servant so we built a ramp with a little railing on the outside edge with indoor/outdoor carpet, it was a cadilac of ramps. When we first set it up he was a little confused. My mom got his leash and we walked him up and down a few times and he was off to the races using it all the time. now n then he would call my mom when he was out, I think it was to get her attension. When she would go out in the yard to get he would run up the ramp before she would give him a talking to..HaHa.

That was really nice of him to build that for the dog. What a super idea! So many dogs get hip problems when they get older. It's hard to watch them age, so I think a lot of us adapt to make them more comfy in their daily routines. My one ancient kitty can't get up on the bed anymore. She's like 18 and a huge cat to begin with (Not fat, just really huge. About 25 pounds.) She can get down ok, just not up anymore lol. So winter before last I built her steps for the one side of my bed. She goes up the 3 steps and then sleeps on the foot of the bed almost all the time. Guess it's cozy for her there, plus it's cushiony and warm. She used to lay under the bed, but in the winter there's sometimes a draft there. Now that I have the steps she's acting a whole lot more energetic too. We thought she was not going to make it much longer when I built the steps, but it's like she's got renewed energy now, so maybe she has a touch of arthritis in her old age. (Heck, I know I do lol)

That is so nice of your son in law to build that for your dog. I have a friend that's dog is getting really old and it is hard for him to get up by himself some days. He always needs to be helped up the 3 steps of the deck to come back in the house. He has arthritis really bad, he doesn't suffer with pain he is just so big he can't support his back end to climb up or like I said to sometimes even just get up from laying down. I am going to call him tomorrow and suggest that his teenage son build a ramp for the dog. It shouldn't be too difficult as it's only 3 steps up. Thanks for sharing I didn't even think of that while dog sitting for a week this month...lol Brightest blessings, Mari

Oh that is so wonderful that your son-in-law did this. I've only ever had one dog that was aging and he managed the couple stairs from our house outside until his last day. My oldest son did build a stairs though for my bedroom - so our little dog could get up on my bed, she would sit on the floor next to my bed and cry until someone would lift her up - she loved the 3 steps to the bed.

Hi carolbee, That is a very good idea and the poor little cove can go outside when ever he wants, I have two cats and there are bot about ten years old now but still acts as if they are five, lol!!! Tamara

Yes it's always good to make the animals comfortable,and they will thank u for the effort.This is important as they depend upon you for everything,we need to understand the animals,the simple reason that they cannot talk.

Hi carolbee, I'm sure that your elderly dog loves his new doggy ramp and is more comfortable now going in and out of the house. My family has an aging dog, Milo, and also made comprimises for him as he got older. Normally, my mom never let any of the dogs sleep with us. However, Milo has developed anxiety as he aged and does not like to be in his crate anymore, especially not alone at night. We couldn't take the barking and whining after about a week of working with him. He was just so unhappy! :( So my mom finally gave in and now Milo sleeps with one of us kids, usually my brother or sister, every night. He is a lot happier dog and we get to sleep at night! :)

With my pups, it was in reverse: When we first got Hera and Hephaestus, two American Pitbull Terriers, littermates, they were just 3 months old, and underfed, and soo small they couldn't make it onto the love seat that was theirs. My husband, who plays guitar and owns a beautiful burled ash, jumbo-body Ibanez acoustic which resides in a leather-covered steel case, actually put his guitar case down on the floor as a step, so the puppies could get onto the couch. The pups are now 10 months old, and their little paw prints are still on his guitar case. I hope he never cleans it.