Top 5 Best Dog Ramps for Older Dogs and Buying Guide

The best dog ramps for older dogs are important to ensure that your pet can always get into and out of the vehicle with ease. When the dog gets older, then it would have problems with mobility. You would now want to make this whole process simple and painless as much as possible.

With multiple dog ramps in the market, sometimes you can get overwhelmed with options. That should not be a problem when you have a guide to get you going. Below is a table of the top models in the market and how they compare with each other.

RampBrandExpert RatingCheck Price
PetSafe Happy Ride Extra Long Telescoping Dog Ramp Check Price
PetSTEP Original Folding Pet Ramp Check Price
BBBuy 62-Inch Foldable Pet Ramp for Dogs Check Price
WeatherTech PetRamp Folding Dog Ramp for Large Dogs Check Price
PawHunt 96” Portable Bi-Fold Folding Pet Ramp Check Price

How to Choose the Best Dog Ramps for Older Dogs

Materials

The first thing you have to consider is the material used to make the best dog ramps for older dogs.

Most ramps would be made of PVC or metallic materials. The PVC material is the most common and easily available. This is because it is waterproof, long lasting, and cheap too. This makes such a ramp good for outdoor use. You will also find that PVC material will be easy to clean and disinfect.

However, the PVC material tends to be less solid compared to the metallic ramps. As such, they are mostly ideal for small to medium dogs.

If you want more sturdiness and durability then go for the metallic dog ramps. Because of their construction, they can still be heavy. The best part is that they will be more stable and durable. You are not likely to replace them any time soon.

Folding or Telescoping

You are likely to get a ramp either being folding-type or telescoping when it comes to storage. The telescoping models are often liked for being able to compress into a small factor for storage. They would also have safety locks to hold them in place to avoid accidental opening.

There is also the folding mechanism to consider. They do have fewer moving parts, so they are likely to last longer. Also, they will be cheaper and easy to operate. Depending on the design, you can get bi-fold and tri-fold dog ramps.

Slope, Height, and Length

These three are important features to always keep in mind. The height, slope, and length will determine where best you can use the dog ramp. Because of these features, some models would be ideal for car use, while others would not be great for SUVs because they can be too steep. As a result, these are three important things to always keep in mind depending on where you want to use the ramp.

Non-slip Surface

If the dog is using a ramp, then it might be having mobility issues. It is why you would want the surfaces of the best dog ramps for older dogs to be the non-slip surfaces. Such a surface will prevent the dog from easily slipping and probably hurt its hip or limbs.

Weight Capacity

Depending on the material used to make the ramp, the weight capacity is likely to vary from one model to another. Some can have a weight capacity of 150 lbs. while others will be over 300 lbs. Take the time to find the correct ramp depending on your needs. It is crucial to end up with the best ramp for the money.

Top 5 Best Dog Ramps for Older Dogs

Our Top Pick

Our Top Pick: PetSafe Happy Ride Extra Long Telescoping Dog Ramp

Product Name: PetSafe Happy Ride Extra Long Telescoping Dog Ramp

Product Description: You can now take the dog to different places with this type of ramp. The telescoping ramp will get your best friend in and out for the truck, car, minivan, and any other type of vehicle. Many people enjoy using it because of its size. We find it being extra-long and wide. Since it is telescoping, then it is easy to tailor it to your car size. It measures 47 to 87 inches. This should make it great for various applications. The ramp has also been tested independently for durability and safety. The test shows that this ramp can hold pets up to 300 pounds. On overall, it is going to suit any dog that you own. At 18 pounds, it stands out for being lightweight. You can easily carry it around or lift it into and out of the car.

Offer price: 20

Currency: usd

Availability: InStock

  • Easy to Fold
  • Build Quality
  • Maintenance
  • Durability
  • Sturdiness
Overall
4.8

Summary

If you are in the market for the best dog ramps for older dogs, then this is a nice choice. Since it is telescoping, you can always adjust it to fit your car height. Also, it is extra long to work great even for the raised vehicles such as SUVs.

The manufacturer made it to have a high traction surface. Such a surface is good for improving traction and eliminate slipping. Your dog should not slip even in its old age.

Pros

✔️It is extra long for versatility

✔️It is simple to store as it is a telescoping ramp

✔️The model is non-slip

Cons

❌It can get dirty easily

Runner’s Up

PetSTEP Original Folding Pet Ramp

This model stands out for having a unique soft non-slip rubberized walking surface. The reason is to give your pet enough traction so that it does not end up slipping. As a result, the pet experiences superior traction whether it is wet or dry outdoors.

The model is one of the best dog ramps for older dogs because it allows you to transport it around with ease. Looking at its design, it can easily fold in half for ease of storage. The best part is that it is also lightweight. Once folded, you simply throw it into the car and you are good to go.

If you need to set it up, just unfold it and you are good to go. This is because there is no need for any hardware to set it up. The molded handles on both sides will also help in setting it up properly.

As for the weight capacity, we find that the model can handle weights of up to 500 pounds. Keep in mind it is only for animal use.

Being made of plastic, it will not corrode and cleaning should be easy. With soap and water, it can be cleaned in a snap.

Pros
  • Folds in half for storage
  • Cleaning is easy
  • It has a non-slip grip
Cons
  • The plastic might start to fade with time

BBBuy 62-Inch Foldable Pet Ramp for Dogs

This is a nice consideration for anyone looking for the best dog ramps for older dogs. This is because it is made of high-quality plastic material. This material is strong and durable. As such, the ramp can be used by the dogs for years down the line.

You have to keep in mind that the weight capacity of this ramp is 150 lbs. It is then suitable for medium-sized dogs. The ramp will not wobble or get damaged when the dog uses it more often.

It stands out for having a non-slip textured walking surface. This type of surface will provide your pet with the extra traction that it needs when it is wet. Even in dry conditions, the pet will have the best grip to get into the car with ease.

Looking at its length, we find it being easy to customize depending on the car design. It is why you can even use the same for the trucks and much more. Since it also folds into half its size, it is then great to travel around with.

The convenient cut-out handles make it easier for you to enjoy carrying the model around. There are also the rubber grips that offer more stability when loading or unloading the pet.

Pros
  • It is made of high quality plastic
  • It folds into a smaller size for storage
  • The model has a non-slip surface
Cons
  • Some people wish it had more weight capacity

WeatherTech PetRamp Folding Dog Ramp for Large Dogs

This is still a great choice among the best dog ramps for older dogs. The model is designed to be highly versatile. This is because it can work for dogs, cats, or any other animal. If you have any pet that needs getting into the car, then this ramp will come in handy.

It is loved for being easy and simple to use. Deploying it should not take long so you can have the animal in or out of the car in a minute.

The model is also light and strong. That is a nice combination as the model is light to easily carry it around and still strong enough to handle the weight of the pet. Talking of weight, this model comes with a weight capacity of 300 pounds. This should be able to hold any pet’s weight without wobbling.

The soft rubber is good as it is soft on the pet’s feet. There are the feet end grips to hold the ramp in position when in use. As a result, this dog ramp is great to avoid slipping of any kind.

If you have to store the ramp, it will quickly fold into half its size. The result is that it can now fit into any car with ease.

Pros
  • It can work with all large pets getting into the car
  • The ramp can be folded to further improve the portability and storage
  • The feet-end grips keep the ramp in position
Cons
  • It is seen as too steep for an SUV

PawHunt 96” Portable Bi-Fold Folding Pet Ramp

To be among the best dog ramps for older dogs, this model comes made of high quality material. This type of material will make it easier for your dog to keep using the ramp for a long time to come. The dogs would use the ramp when they have injuries or they are just old.

Looking at its material, we find it is made of high quality aluminum alloy. We all know that aluminum is lightweight. It is then easy to carry the ramp in your car without feeling that you are pulling around too much weight. Other than being lightweight, the ramp is also durable thanks to the aluminum material.

The manufacturer made it also to have the high traction surface. Such a material is good for keeping the ramp non-slip. The last thing you want for your old dog is to slip when walking down or up the ramp.

There is a safety release latch that locks the pet ramp in its position so that it does not open accidentally. As such, you can now safely transport it to different places in your car. Having the carrying handle will allow for ease of transportation to from the car or truck.

Pros
  • It is easy to walk on by the pet
  • The quality material is good for durability
  • It has a carrying handle for transportation
Cons
  • Some users feel it is too narrow for the large breeds

FAQs

Does a dog need training to use a ramp?

It might need a bit of training to get it used to using the ramp getting into the car or onto the couch. After a few passes on the ramp, it becomes memory to the dog. It should not be hard to get the dog used to using a ramp.

Are dog ramps expensive?

If you are looking for the best dog ramps for older dogs, just know it does not have to be expensive always. You can spend anywhere from $50 to $150 and get yourself the best ramp for the job. Always look at the features of the ramp to get the right one for the money.

Can ramps handle big dogs?

Before buying the best ramp, look at its weight capacity. If you have a large dog breed, then go for a model with the best weight capacity to handle your dog’s weight. With the right weight capacity, you will not worry that the ramp might wobble when using it.

Conclusion

In case you had any trouble getting the best dog ramps for older dogs, then you now have the top options in the market. Always go for value for money rather than a fancy name. It is amazing how sometimes you can get a cheaper model with great features too. It is why we have reviewed models for different budgets. Once you check out their features, it should be easy to make your decision now.