There are many kinds of pet ramps on the market and you will want to spend some time researching them before you purchase one. Some of the issues that you will need to pay attention to are:
Will the pet ramp attach to your porch solidly?
Will the pet ramp support your pet's weight?
Is the pet ramp easy to move, should you need to move it?
Because there are so many different types of pet ramps, you simply must investigate to find the proper pet ramp for you, your home, and your pet .
Some ramps come with side rails to help prevent your pet from falling off the side. This is a very good add on for ramps that need to be steep or very high, such as those you plan to use to get your pet into the back of pickup truck. The last thing any pet owner wants is for his beloved pet to get too excited about taking a trip only to be injured while getting into the vehicle.
There are smaller, in-home use, pet ramps that will allow your pet to go up and down from, say, the floor to the sofa, or from floor to bed. These can be very helpful for older pets and pets with arthritis.
Another issue is skidding. Make sure the ramp you purchase will not skid away from the landing area should your pet jump or lunge onto it. These types of falls can be very serious. But they can be prevented as well with a little research on your part.
Pet ramps come in different price ranges as well. Some are very affordable, while others can be a bit pricey. The price you pay should be dependent on how much ramp you need and the safety features that you simply must have on the pet ramp. Not everyone needs side rails on their pet ramp. But if you do, then make sure you get a brand that has them.
Now while many pet ramps are made for home use, there are many others that are made especially for use with cars, trucks, and SUV's. These too, come in a variety of sizes and price ranges. There are some that even telescope in and out, making their use very simple and easy. There can be issues with installation, however, so, check on that before you buy. You would also want to make sure that your pets weight isn't too much for the particular style of pet ramp that you want to install to your vehicle. Manufacturers almost always include this information in their sales data, so be safe and check it out first.
Lastly, regardless of the type of pet ramp you need, make sure the ramp part of it has a good, solid traction surface that will keep its grip whether it is dry or wet.
