Many of us are unaware of jumping pitfalls until it is too late. We realize we should have been proactive training our dogs from early on to not to jump up and down from beds, sofas, cars, etc.
Whether you permit your dog to share the bed, sofa or any spot that requires jumping you should seriously consider investing in stairs or ramps. Just like us humans, a dog's body has a skeletal system that has muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and bones. These structures can be injured at any time while running, jumping, or playing. Some injuries, such as soft tissue, can be resolved over time on their own. Other times injuries are far more serious and require a visit to the Dogtor, and as we all know can be very expensive.
Common injuries are:
- Luxated Patella (knee cap dislocation)
- Broken paws
- Fractured bones
- Sprains (soft tissue)
- Supraspinatus tendinopathy (shoulder tendon)
- Bicipital tendinopathy (arm tendon injury)
- Achilles tendon rupture (heel tendon injury)
- Carpal hyperextension (ligament injury above paws)
- Cranial cruciate ligament (injury to knees)
- Neck and Spine injuries (herniated discs)
- Onset of early arthritis and inflammation of joints
No matter the breed dog you have, from the smallest to the largest, preventing injuries by investing in step, ramps or others will go a long way to avoiding that costly emergency room visit.
It is wise to invest in your pets' health proactively before it is too late.