Urban Animal

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Dear UrbanAnimal,

My 11-year-old husky-lab mix has become weak in the hind legs and I'm planning to build a ramp to cover a staircase leading to my backyard. Do you have any experience with ramps and can you recommend an environmentally friendly de-icer that won't harm my dog's feet?

Rena B., Toronto

Ramps can be made to help a dog navigate just about any type of staircase, vehicle or furniture. There are many pre-made ramps available but with the right tools and materials, you should have no trouble building one to your own specifications.

My husband and I built a ramp to cover six steps from our deck to our yard. As they say in the building trades: measure twice and cut once. Get out your measuring tape.

You'll want to make sure the pitch (angle) is shallow as opposed to steep. You don't want your dog barreling down a structure that rivals Mount Everest. Have an assistant set the measuring tape at the top step and draw it out to ground level while you stand back and yell "Stop!" when the angle looks comfortable but doesn't run into plantings or other permanent fixtures.

That will be the measurement that decides the length of your ramp.

The ramp's width depends on the width of the staircase and your dog's preferences. Some dogs are happy with 12 inches to 16 inches wide while others (like mine) feel safer with the ramp covering the entire staircase with no side gaps. Side rails can be added for extra safety according to your dog's height and level of confidence. A small dog would probably be pleased with just six inches while a visually challenged, insecure or long-legged dog may prefer 12 inches or more.

We used 3�4-inch plywood as suggested by our local building centre. It's sturdy enough to hold our two big dogs but it also bears the weight of all the humans who also use it.

There are several coverings you can apply to the surface such as indoor/outdoor carpet, anti-slip rubber material or sisal, which is often used for outdoor matting. We used indoor/outdoor carpeting to cover the entire ramp then affixed a ready-made anti-slip rubber runner down the center and attached wood strips horizontally every six inches to add grip and hold the carpets in place. Pressure-treated lattice or "grip tape" are alternatives to wood strips but snow and ice removal may be difficult.

Use nails or staples to attach the cover materials and bend back or cover sharp nail and staple points to avoid paw injuries. Your local building store can recommend metal or wood braces to hold the ramp in place.

Your quest to locate an environmentally and pet-safe ice melting product is timely but, unfortunately, there are few options. Salt and salt-based products contain sodium or potassium chlorides that can burn paws and digestive systems and cause eye irritation in animals and people. Residue can also damage wooden decks, carpets and lawns and may contaminate groundwater.

Some people use kitty litter, sand or gravel, which aren't necessarily harmful to a pet's health but, if used in large quantities, can be messy to clean up in the spring and can have negative environmental impact.

A heated traction mat is available for outdoor use in sizes from three to 25 feet, which may be perfect for your dog ramp. It plugs into a standard household outlet and maintains a 50 F temperature to create a non-slip surface. Visit www.discountramps.com for more information.

I've been trying to locate two new products that are readily available in the U.S. but I'm unable to find in Canada. "Paw Safe Ice Melt" and "Safe Pet Ice Melter" both contain a crystalline amide core infused with glycols that, according to the manufacturers, are safe for pets and the environment.

If any readers have other suggestions for a safe ice-melting product, please let me know so I can pass the information along.

E-mail jacque-newman@rogers.com with a question, comment or suggestion.