Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Building Simple Bed Stairs For Dogs With Arthritis

Face it, old dogs love to cozy up in their
master's bed. However, older canines often have a
very difficult time jumping onto and off the bed
as they age. Many senior dogs suffer the painful
effects of arthritis. When osteoarthritis
progresses in the joints of dogs, they become
stiff and far less agile. Jumping onto the bed
can become all but impossible.

One option is to go online and search for "bed
steps". There are many options available in both
functional and/or decorative styles. The prices
range between $50 to $200. The higher range
includes fancy wooden models that are quite
attractive.

All the purchased models of bed stairs will serve
the purpose so long as they are sturdy and heavy
enough to provide the required stability for the
canine's size. The steps should always be covered
in non-slip material such as carpet.

There are cheaper alternatives though! It's
possible to make a very functional substitute to
commercial bed stairs. In most cases dogs to not
need multiple steps to enter the bed. Most dogs
only need a small boost where one step will
suffice. Here's a method for easily constructing
a substitute for expensive stairs for older
canines.

You will need a piece of half-inch plywood about
40 inches by 24 inches. This flat piece of
plywood is slid between the mattress and box
springs about 12 inches or so. This leaves about
28 inches sticking out. Next you'll need another
piece of plywood 24 inches wide and as long as
the distance is between the floor and the bottom
of the larger piece of plywood sticking out from
below the mattress.

This piece will be fastened to the horizontal
piece at the end with screws or small nails. If
nails are used, place some glue along the joint
before nailing. Once this L shaped piece is
constructed, glue or staple a piece of carpet to
the top side of the long piece.

Once completed, this simple project makes a
simply step for dogs with arthritis to assist in
jumping onto the bed with.

Keep in mind if you have a larger sized dog with
arthritis, you may need to increase the size of
the step to accommodate their larger size.

It may take some time and effort to teach your
dog to use the step initially. Food rewards are
always a great option for luring them onto the
step the first time. Likewise, you will have to
teach them to use the step for jumping off the
bed too. Of course this training is required for
any type of dog bed stairs.

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Visit Cactus Canyon and learn more about how you
can help your older canine who is suffering the
effects of dog arthritis:
http://www.cactuscanyon.com

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