One day, during a regular check-up, the vet said Buddy had a luxating patella. My chest constricted and I felt faint. “A what?” The vet said, “A patella is a knee cap. Luxate means dislocate—it moves easily out of position.” He mentioned the prospect of surgery.

I was horrified. “Buddy is fine now and we’re talking about a future maybe. Is there a way to avoid an operation?”

“Don’t let him jump up and down,” the vet said. “Landing from a jump causes extreme stress on the joints which can lead to arthritis.”

 
At home, I began picking up Buddy from the bed or couch and placing him gently on the floor. But he mistook this as a game and would wriggle free, run around in circles chasing his tail, and resume jumping on and off the bed.

One night I saw a TV commercial for Doggy Steps and called the toll free number. When I found out the Steps only cost $24.95, I was pleased and ordered one set, but thanks to a promotion received two sets for the price of one. I was excited when the two sets of stairs arrived, but disappointed that they were made of flimsy plastic and had to be assembled. The cover was made of cheap carpeting and it was white, which I knew would get filthy in a week. Determined to be a good mom I assembled the pieces and propped one staircase in front of the couch and one in front of the bed. Problem solved, right?

No.

Buddy was fine walking up and down from the couch but the steps weren’t high enough for him to reach the bed. He tried scrambling up from the too-short top step to the mattress but he’d stumble and I’d catch him mid-fall. He couldn’t figure it out and quit trying. Instead he avoided it all together.

Dismayed, I talked to neighbors who owned dogs. Some had steps, some didn’t, but nobody could remember where they’d gotten them. I turned to Google.

I wanted to upgrade. Aside from the TV steps being less than adequate, they looked cheap. I wanted high quality, attractive, long-lasting doggy steps that would be made of wood to match my décor.

What I Bought

I spent days searching all of the options. My research paid off. The Uncommon Dog sells elegant cherry wood decorative two, three and four-step doggy stairs with carpet pads on each step. It is a solid piece of furniture, sturdy enough to hold more than 200 pounds. The cost was the best $188 I ever spent, and shipping was free. The piece arrived assembled within a week and, after one day of training him with treats, Buddy took to the stairs with ease. He hasn’t jumped off the furniture since. He is now 10 years old and still has a luxating patella, but he is not limping and shows no signs of needing surgery. Seeing him trot up and down the steps with abandon is all the confirmation I need.

Here are a more products I found online to protect your pets, or help them if they are post-surgical or have joint problems.

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