Forum Discussion

Explorer

Apr 14, 2016

Dog Ramps

Our 8 yr old mix suddenly became really weak in the hind legs last weekend, could barely get up the stairs, and found it impossible to jump onto the rear seat of our Avalanche as he's done easily for years. Obviously I was really worried but his vet says it has nothing to do with his diabetes but is just age, maybe a bit of a joint issue, perhaps some arthritis. In any case he prescribed a NSAID called Metacam for the alleviation of inflammation & pain and in just three days it seems to have made all the difference in the world. Nonetheless I decided that him having to leap 3 feet into our Avalanche was perhaps not a good idea any longer so I bought a Pet Gear dog ramp. Little did I know though that no way, no how is he going to use it and will do anything to avoid stepping on that ramp, no matter what we do to encourage him. Arrgghh! However, now that he seems to be back to "normal" and is once again negotiating stairs with no difficulty it occurred to me that if I just lay down some sort of a platform by the Av's rear door that would reduce the height to the seat. Bingo, he has no hesitation at all so I bought this inexpensive plastic "strong box" at Home Depot that I can just keep in the back of the Avalanche and pull out whenever needed to use as a step. My question - have others found their dog will just not use a ramp? :@

13 Replies

Murphsmom
Explorer
Apr 14, 2016
We found that when we started out with the ramp going up into the truck or the trailer, our dogs didn't want to use it. We put it down flat on the living room floor, next to the wall and started having them get used to it by heeling next to us on the flat floor. It took a bit of time, but both our 13 year old Golden and our three-legged Lab/Chessie were able to negotiate the ramp. Now that they are both gone, we are planning to train our new two year old rescue Lab to use it, too. No sense in causing undue stress on those joints when we don't have to.

They also make a set of foldable steps for dogs to use (Petloader is one) and also a couple of companies (Otto Loader, etc.) that make a step that fits into the receiver hitch of an SUV.
MNGeeks61
Explorer
Apr 14, 2016
We have a mini dachshund - they are predisposed to having back issues - when he was 6 or 7 he suffered a minor injury. Couldn't go up and down stairs so I built a ramp from our back deck to the ground (about 2 feet, 3 steps). He refused to use it. Now he's diabetic and blind (he's almost 11) and still won't use ramps. Although he is darn good at navigating the house.

edit: I should have added that was with both of us coaxing him with food, treats, etc. he would not go up nor down the ramp which was about 7 feet long.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Apr 14, 2016
my daughter has had meney labs there all show dogs ,some go right up and into there traveling pen, other won,t set foot on it, just the nature of the beast.