Dog Steps For People On A Budget
It’s no surprise with the financial crunch we’re all living in, that many of us pet owners are on the hunt for cheaper pet accessories. When hunting for cheap dog steps, we have two options, which are to buy them or make them ourselves.
Some may believe pet steps to be a bit frivolous when cash is tight, however pet steps could save your dog from painful (and expensive) health problems later on in life. It’s really more of a preventative for early arthritis and painful joints.
For instance, dog steps can be especially important if you have one of the smaller breeds of dogs weighing less than 20 pounds. Some breeds of dog, particularly the teacup and miniature breeds can have extremely fragile bones, and have been known to actually break their legs by leaping from furniture. Dog steps can reduce or eliminate this hazard.
Older and larger breeds of dogs can also benefit from pet steps. As older dogs tend to have trouble ascending and descending, a good quality set of steps could mean a world of difference in and older dog’s comfort. As with larger breeds of dog, they can easily develop conditions such as arthritis, which is quite common, but can be very painful and expensive to treat. A set of dog stairs would easily allow them to maneuver from furniture.
You can easily purchase an inexpensive set of pet stairs for around $20, which are usually made from foam and covered in carpet of a similar substance. These can be purchased online or at some retail shops.
Those with a knack for hobby projects may want to try building cheap dog steps. Once again, most of these projects are made from foam and covered with carpet or other suitable fabric. One pet owner even reported he covered his dog’s homemade steps with artificial turf. However, this can be expensive depending on the materials you use for the dog stairs.
Whether you buy your dog steps or make them yourself, one very important thing you will need to take into consideration is the size of your dog. If you have a large dog, he will require steps that are at least 16 inches wide. Medium-sized dogs (around 35 pounds) need a maximum step width of 14 inches, and for smaller dogs the step width should be no more than about 12 inches.
Height is also a factor. Dog steps work inversely according to your dog’s size. That means that smaller dogs may need higher steps, while larger dogs can ascend with shorter steps.
Finally, be sure your cheap dog steps are sturdy enough to support your dog’s weight. Test your dog on a sample of the steps if possible. If not, be sure to check any weight information on the product label. The last thing you want is for your precious pet to fall through a step and hurt itself.
