Is it possible to hire dog ramps/steps for elderly dogs?

[PermanentlyDizzy]

My boy is almost 16. He’s a big lad and also has vestibular disorder so can be a bit wobbly, as well as having arthritis in his back legs (although that is well managed) so can’t be lifted in and out of the car. (On the few occasions he’s had to be lifted to get him to the vet it has triggered a vestibular attack.)

We have been searching for a decent ramp or set of steps to help him get in and out of the car, but they have very mixed reviews and are so expensive.

I would really like to be able to take him further than the short local walks he is able to do while he is still able and was wondering if there is anywhere that hires these things out? I’ve had a quick Google and nothing has come up - maybe I’ve spotted a gap in the market?

Look on your local FB market place, there are always some for sale on ours.

Join a local FB dog walking group. Someone might lend you one.

16 is a good age - you must have looked after him well. Have you tried a sling like this to lift him into your car? I used one for my old Labrador when she could no longer walk very far. One arm holding the sling under the tummy and other arm under chest meant I could lift her straight up and then across into the boot without too much difficulty. I was certain she wouldn't have co-operated with a ramp!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Approved-Upgraded-Adjustable-Arthritis-Disabled/dp/B07W56CW8Z/ref=ascdff_B07W56CW8Z/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=375466893587&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14725053977966208073&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045347&hvtargid=pla-812902998135&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=79395905920&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=375466893587&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14725053977966208073&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045347&hvtargid=pla-81290299813

Thank you. Unfortunately, there’s nothing available locally on our FB at the moment. Same with Ebay. I was hoping we could trial it first, as he’s not confident on his pins, so I don’t want to spend a fortune buying a succession of different ones he isn’t happy to use.

Post on your local Facebook groups asking if anyone can lend you one.

If you do get a ramp, I saw a great idea yesterday. The ramp had artificial grass stuck on it, I think that might encourage the dog to walk up it.

@Medievalist, thank you, he’s awesome.

We keep thinking the end is near, then he surprises us all. Still loves his walks, albeit shorter ones these days, has his daft moments and a geriatric version of zoomies every evening. Enjoys his brain training games and snuffle mat and we get roundly told off if we are late getting them out. He’s thoroughly spoiled and our whole life revolves around looking after him and making sure his days are as comfortable and happy as we can make them.

Unfortunately, lifting him triggers vestibular episodes. Dh can lift him fairly easily, but we daren’t risk it.

He’s loved and happy, but his world has shrunk dramatically and I would really like to be able to take him to a few of his favourite places while we still can.

@SoosanCarter, that’s a a good idea. The one I’ve seen that I think he’d take to the best is actually a wooden one, that looks nice and wide and has carpet up it. We have a large estate car, but I can’t see how we’d fit that and him in the boot.

Ah - I sympathise. My old girl couldn't walk very far so we used to drive the short distance to some of her favourite places so she could reserve her energy for snuffling around them rather than walking on pavements and being exhausted when she got there.

He sounds like he's had a wonderful life - and has got you extremely well-trained!

OP - where are you? (Generally, you don't have to be too specific). I may be able to help you if not too far from me.

That’s a great idea to put artificial grass on it.
I was wondering if caravan steps would suit him. They’re much cheaper than specialist ramps. What made me think was our old girl who we recently lost had mobility problems from arthritis. She was too heavy for me to lift though DH could. I struggled to get her into my car but she had no trouble at all getting into our motorhome which has retractable drop down steps.

@PennyRoyal We’re central, near Warwickshire.

@Darklane he won’t use our caravan steps. Well he wouldn’t last time we had it on the drive which, thinking about it, was probably 2019.

He struggles more with steps than slopes though, which is the opposite of what I’d expect with vestibular disorder, but I suppose it’s more to do with the issues with his back legs than his balance. He makes it up our single back door step ok, but only because he does a little run up and bunny hops up, rather than pushing up with his back legs.

What about this?

www.aldi.co.uk/pet-collection-grey-dog-ramp/p/710057435927400?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjeipkOiA8QIV2YBQBh0atQDcEAQYBCABEgLb4PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

That Aldi one looks good.

Reviews for the Aldi one aren't great - not good for big dogs and slippery.

With these things, hire usually works out more expensive than purchase if you want it for more than a week.

If one doesn't suit it's likely you'll be able to resell it on Facebook, so not a total loss.

I've just got rid of a ramp after asking around my local community if anyone needed one!

We had a golden retriever who wouldn't jump into the car and hated being picked up.

We used to park against a bank or slope so he could walk in or out. You have to be sure there is a similar bank/slope at the other end though!

Aw OP @PermanentlyDizzy We're not close, I have a couple of ramps that my Dad made that I'm not using (yet!). I'll take some photos tomorrow if I can and you may be able to make something similar.

@PennyRoyal Thank you. That’s very kind of you.