Plastic Dog Cages VS Metal Dog Cages

ermini2 Level 1

November 6, 2016, 8:51 pm

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So with our pup recently breaking her leg, our vet ordered her to be caged except for trips to the bathroom. Our friends let us borrow a plastic dog cage that they weren't using so we could follow these rules as best as we could! I'm wondering now what kind of cage would be better for her or any dog really, a plastic or metal one. All of my dogs that I have ever had, have only been in plastic cages so I have never personally tried this theory out.

There are many different brands of plastic cages and they seem to look more comfortable than the metal ones. The problem with the plastic cages though, is if your dog is a chewer or even a puppy like ours, wont they try to chew the plastic, in turn ruining the cage. I also read a few days ago that most dogs are actually allergic to plastic ( i don't believe it is a severe allergy though), so would this be a good idea to constantly keep your dog in a plastic cage? Would the plastic allergy over time worsen?

As for the metal cages, they seem to probably hold up a lot better than the plastic cages. Dogs aren't allergic to metal, but is this comfortable for them to lay in with metal bars pressing up against them? Maybe a blanket could help prevent that discomfort, I even lay a blanket in with Bailey in the plastic cage!

Both plastic and metal cages are easy to wipe and spray clean and they are easy to set up and operate. I'm just not sure what we should do when we have to return the plastic cage. Should we eventually buy a plastic or metal cage for Bailey?

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Lynne

Lynne

OH I am so sorry to hear about your dog Ermini2, that is so sad and I am sure very frustrating, especially at such a young age. I can only imagine she just wants to get up and run around.

I have no experience of this, I have never put one of our dogs in a cage and it is completely new to me that dogs are very often allergic to plastic.

I certainly agree with all the points you have made here. Looking at it from the point of view of preserving the cage, metal must be better and will lost longer. However I am sure metal is not very comfortable.

What about putting cardboard on the bottom of the cage and cover it with lots of blankets to make it nice and comfy?

If it is true about dogs being allergic to plastic I would go with a metal cage.

10 years ago

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ermini2

ermini2

thanks, it sure is very frustrating for us all...lol mostly poor Bailey. she just wants to play with everyone, especially our little dog! she loves chasing him around, but doesn't enjoy it very much! although he has figured out that now she is too big and cant follow him into every hiding place!!! LOL

completely new to me too, i had no idea dogs were allergic to plastic! and you right the metal cages are probably not comfortable at all, but i also don't want the allergy to plastic to heighten because shes exposed to it every single day.

that cardboard and blanket idea sounds like a really good idea! thanks for your feedback Lynne! much appreciated!

10 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

It is a pleasure to try and help. I hope your Bailey recovers soon!

10 years ago

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ermini2

ermini2

thank you! Me too!! LOL =]

10 years ago

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CryptoGuru

CryptoGuru

I remember when we had our other smaller dog he would always find a way to escape out of almost any cage we got for him. They tend to chew into Plastic cages and who knows what the plastic will do to them when they digest it. I also find that plastic cages are easier to flip over because they bend when the dog leans up against the side. I actually had no idea that dogs had a natural allergic reaction to plastic so that is something new for me. I think that the metal cage is going to be the way we will go because they are safer. Lynne also mentioned durability and that makes sense to me. Thanks for sharing!

10 years ago

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ermini2

ermini2

totally agree here about the metal being more durable and we can always make her a little bed in there like Lynne suggested because you have to face it...a metal cage is probably not going to be comfortable for her!! thanks for responding!!!

10 years ago

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lerryrian

lerryrian

If you want to choose between the palstic and metal cages you need to know the advantages and dis advantages of the two and its depend on the breed of the dog that you have.If you have a dog or puppy with a short coat go for plastic cages because it can retain its body heat unlike metal in the metal cages.Plastic cages has more privacy because it has much fewer opening than the metal cage.If you are a traveler and you want your dog or puppy to come with you plastic cages is only allowed in airport.But there is a bad sides or disadvantage of plastic cage,unlike the wire cage the plastic cage can catch the odor of your dog because of the fewer opening,the vintalation of air is much lesser beacause of that.

A dog or puppy's crate can be a great way to give your dog or puppy's his own space to call home. When considering what kind of crate to buy, think about your dog’s or puppy's needs and what would best suit him.

9 years ago

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betty01

betty01

Plastic cage is easy to clean, but in the metal cage, the dirt still holds on!
But if you still wanted to try metal cage, you should make it sure it's always clean and not always wet because it will be rusty, and when there's rust, dogs will be prone to infection, especially when they have an open wound or sometime biting the rusty metal cage, this may cause infection and diseases that soon resulting to their death.

9 years ago

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Heatman6190

Heatman6190

I think it's a bit of the both. Why do I recommend both plastic and metal cages? Well I will say it should be dependent on the stage of the dog. When they are still little they tend to get messy, careless and too playful, so plastic cage would be best suited for them. It will prevent them from getting hurt in the cage, be easy to clean for the owner and easily moved about if the need be.

But when they are grown up, they are more aggressive and hostile depending on how you trained yours to be. Personally, I prefer my dog to be mean and very aggressive and less playful. The best housing material for dogs at this stage would be metal cage in order to avoid any unnecessary attacks on strangers.

9 years ago

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gelotologist

gelotologist

I agree both would actually work depending on the situations needed or have. Both have probably pros and cons and some might be actually helpful and some might not, so having both would probably make you think and decide more on which is good or which is bad.

9 years ago

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Judas2018

Judas2018

Might wanna stick with metal cages as dogs can chew their way through or into the plastic bars. Cage would be worthless and horrible looking after that. Metal may press up against their skin or fur but I think that's an issue of size. I've seen cages that the owners know are too small for their dogs. If you get a proper sized metal-barred cage, the bars shouldn't bother, irritate or harm your pet at all.

9 years ago

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Blank629

Blank629

Metal dog cages are better than plastic dog cages. If you want your dog to be safe, metal cages are the best. They may destroy that plastic cages and easily escape. But I suggest that you must free your dog out of the cages sometimes. Because it can affect dog if they are imprison in metal cages for a long time. A bought before plastic cages but my dog just destroy it. So I recomment to have metal dog cages.

9 years ago

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