Important Considerations in a Dog Ramp for Your IVDD Dog
If you own a Dachshund, French Bulldog (Frenchie), or another dog breed prone to Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), you know how risky everyday activities like jumping off the couch or bed can be.
IVDD is a serious spinal condition that can cause pain, mobility issues, and even paralysis, and it’s especially common in long-backed breeds. Surgery for IVDD can cost upwards of over $10,000.
As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So fortunately, simple changes at home can make a big difference in protecting your dog’s spine.
One of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent IVDD is avoid injuries and strain from jumping on/off furniture and doing stairs - meaning, dog ramps and gates!
But what are some important considerations for a dog ramp? And specifically for an IVDD dog?
1. Stability = Confidence
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a ramp for an IVDD-prone dog is sturdiness and stability.
A ramp that wobbles or is too soft like foam can shift or flex under a dog’s weight, disrupting their balance and increasing the risk of missteps, falls, or even just affect their confidence - which in turns, affects their willingness to use the ramp.
Just look at Bentley here on the right using our Large Dog Bed Ramp. It's strong & stable under his 75lbs body weight, and he uses it confidently.
We make all of our ramps out of furniture-grade solid Maple hardwood. And as you likely know, hardwood is strong and weighty - more so than softwood/pine, MDF, or foam ramps, and because of that, are absolutely strong, sturdy, and solid under your dog's weight - and won't flex, bend, or wobble.
For our bed ramps, we even include our innovative Anchor Rope system, which secures, or "anchors", the ramp to the bed. This is just an extra safety measure to ensure rock solid stability even if your dog is being a little rambunctious.
2. No-Slipping is CRUCIAL
Another essential dog ramp feature for IVDD-prone breeds is traction. A ramp without proper grip can cause paws to slide, leading to excess leg strain which in turn puts strain on the back as it overcompensates, and even muscular micro-tears.
Many other ramps out there will use carpet, which in our original material testing, we found to be one the most slippery surface types!
What we found worked best for surface grip, was a proprietary material we call PAWGRIP, which is a soft, rubbery, grippy material that gives incredible traction to dogs of all abilities.
As you can see, this pup doesn't even slip at all even on the highest height setting.
PAWGRIP consistently provides exceptional traction so dogs of all sizes can safely walk up and down the ramp without hesitation, which in turn means:
- It helps prevent slips, falls, microtears, and excess strain.
- Soft texture is comfortable for everyday use
- Provides significantly better traction than carpet
- Easy and quick to clean
3. Safety Side Rails
Dogs who are prone to IVDD, or have IVDD - and especially if they have any degree of neurologic deficit - can really benefit from the added safety of side rails, for two main reasons.
1) Side rails help prevent dogs falling if they take a misstep. Dogs with some neuro deficit don't always place their feet exactly as they should, and if they take a step too close to the edge, you want a strong and sturdy side rail to help keep them on the ramp.
2) Side rails also block and discourage dogs from jumping over or off the ramp before they should, thus helping to prevent jumping injuries. So they are effective at keeping a dog on the ramp from top to bottom.
All our dog ramp side rails are designed to be:
- Two-tier, bolt-on side rails that are strong and sturdy enough to counteract a dog's body weight
- Minimal spacing between rails so there's no gaps a dog can squeeze/fall through
- Tall enough to discourage shortcuts (ie. jumps over the rails or off the ramp).
4. Versatility in Setup & Orientation
All these features aside, at the end of the day, you need a dog ramp that works for your home and layout. If you can't configure a dog ramp to work properly at your couch height, in your living room layout, and inline with your dog's natural habits and directions, there's not much point.
That's why we really focus on making dog ramps that are versatile in the following ways:
Adjustable height settings: every full ramp has multiple height settings, making DoggoRamps compatible with virtually any couch or bed. Our bed ramps even go up to 37" high beds.
Reversible and removable safety rails: safety rails can be installed on either side of the ramp to fit your room’s layout. The DoggoRamps Couch Ramp even supports a double side rail setup.
Versatile placement: Couch Ramps work whether placed parallel or perpendicular to a sofa. Bed Ramps can be positioned along the foot or sides of a bed.
Because DoggoRamps are a true piece of furniture and work with various room configurations, they don’t feel like an obstacle or inconvenience in your space. This makes it far more likely you’ll keep them out - ensuring your dog always has a safe way up and down from their favorite spots.
5. Designed by a Dachshund Owner who knows IVDD
When Crusoe the Dachshund suffered a blown spinal disc that required emergency surgery, it was a heartbreaking experience for his owner, Ryan, and also a pivotal turning point.
Like many Dachshunds, Crusoe lives with Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD). Determined to give Crusoe safe access to the couch and bed without risking further injury, Ryan got to work.
After months of rigorous testing and development, Ryan finally developed the very first DoggoRamp. Crusoe tested it for a couple of years too before Ryan decided it was truly ready for other dog owners to use with their pups.
(Obviously they've come a long way!)
This personal mission to create the safest, most reliable, and most comfortable ramp for IVDD-prone dogs has shaped the design of every new DoggoRamps model since 2018. This means DoggoRamps aren’t just another pet accessory—they’re rooted in a real-life necessity and built with genuine care.
Let's Review The Most Common Questions on Dog Ramps and IVDD
Q: Can ramps prevent IVDD?
IVDD is usually genetic, so if the disease is there, it's there. The point of a dog ramp is you can help prevent and reduce the risk of those degenerated and vulnerable discs from rupturing - which is most often caused by jumping (but not always), and which is what leads to the outward signs of IVDD, being pain, neurologic impairment, surgery, etc.
Q: Are dog ramps better than pet stairs/steps for IVDD-prone dogs?
Yes, and not enough people know this. While stairs are better than jumping, they still subject a dog's back and joints to small, repeated impacts over time.
A ramp on the other hand, is entirely impact-free so is much gentler on a dog’s back and joints, and is definitively the safest long-term choice for reducing your dog's risk of IVDD injury.
Learn more about dog ramps vs. pet steps here.
Q: Should I just keep my IVDD dog off all furniture entirely?
If IVDD is of serious concern for your dog, or they're in a recovery period from surgery or crate rest, you probably want to avoid all risk by eliminating all furniture use.
However - the caveat is that you must 100% ensure they do not get access to the couch or bed or stairs, etc. Because a dog with IVDD attempting to get on or off the couch without a ramp could be detrimental.
That's why, if your dog is used to being on the couch and thus is going to be attempting to get on the couch whether there's a ramp there or not, just use a ramp. At a point our dogs have to live and enjoy life, too...
Q: Is it ok if my dog jumps up but not down?
You may be inclined to think it's ok if your dog jumps up onto the couch, or goes up stairs - as long as you carry them down. Because the "impact" is on the jump down, right?
Well actually, jumping up should be just as avoided as jumping down. While impacts create compression to the disc, jumping up often involves quick & fast strain, and can lead to a disc "slipping" as you've probably heard.
Thus, although it may take "one jump" for a disc to rupture and a dog to "go down", this can actually be the result of multiple micro-traumas where the disc is being progressively slipped or shifted until an impact is the final tipping point.
Q: Are DoggoRamps suitable for dogs of all sizes?
DoggoRamps currently has 4 different ramp styles available to accommodate tiny pups and dogs up to 200lbs. Learn more below!
For dogs prone to IVDD, every jump off the couch or bed carries a risk. Thankfully, a well-designed dog ramp can help make a big difference - protecting your pup’s spine, preserving their independence, and giving you confidence that they’re safe.
With their sturdy solid hardwood construction, unique anti-slip surface, customizable design, and more, DoggoRamps are built with IVDD-prone dogs in mind.
You’re not just making life easier for your dog with a ramp, you’re giving them a safer, happier, and healthier future!
To find the perfect dog ramp for your pup and space, check out:
- The DoggoRamps Couch Ramp (supports dogs up to 150 lbs.)
- The DoggoRamps Small Bed Ramp (supports dogs up to 50 lbs.)
- The DoggoRamps Large Bed Ramp (supports dogs up to 200 lbs.)
- The DoggoRamps Step-Ramp (supports dogs up to 200 lbs.)
- The DoggoRamps Team
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