26/02/2026
Does this look familiar? 🚗🐶
Jump in.
Jump out.
Repeat… every single trip 👏🏻
It might seem harmless — but for many dogs, that’s repeated high-impact loading on their joints 😣
⬆️ On the way up:
Powerful drive from the hind limbs loads the hips, stifles and lower back 🦴💥
⬇️ On the way down:
Significant force travels through the forelimbs — especially the elbows and wrists 🐾⚡
For young, fit dogs this may be well tolerated.
But for dogs living with:
🦴 Elbow dysplasia
🦴 Hip dysplasia
🦴 Arthritis
🦴 Previous cruciate injury
🦴 Back pain
🦴 Larger or heavier body types
…those repeated impacts can quietly add up over time and even cause injury to an otherwise healthy joint 😞
📚 Studies show that landing from height can generate forces through the forelimbs equivalent to several times a dog’s bodyweight! 🤯
👀‼️ I’ve even seen dogs sustain fractures — including broken legs and elbow fractures — from jumping out of cars. While uncommon, it does happen, particularly with awkward landings or slippery surfaces ‼️
🏋️ And while lifting them might feel like the solution… your back may disagree 😅
💡 Using a ramp can:
✅ Reduce high-impact landing forces
✅ Decrease hip strain
✅ Encourage more controlled, balanced movement
✅ Protect joints — and your back! 🙏🏻
🌟 A ramp isn’t just for “old dogs” — it’s a simple, joint-friendly way to support long-term comfort and mobility.
Does your dog jump in and out of the car — or use a ramp? 💭🐕
📚 Reference: Lee DV et al. Ground reaction forces and joint loading in dogs during landing tasks. Journal of Experimental Biology
