Think about your senior dog which has uncomfortable sleep due to its bad bed or pain in joints, what can he do? complain? no, he just tries to sleep with pain. Being a responsible owner, we need to take a few steps to get our dog a better sleep and alleviate pain.

What is an orthopedic dog bed?

Orthopedic dog beds can help relieve pain in elderly or injured dogs as well as help mitigate the causes of muscle and joint pain in younger pups. Make sure your canine has a comfortable night’s sleep in all stages of life.

Why are Orthopedic dog beds Needed?

When do we need to consider Orthopedic Dog bed is always a question which we receive. The simple answer is as dog’s age they are more prone to certain canine conditions like

Arthritis (from mild to severe).
Other joint problems.
Hip dysplasia.
Generalized muscle loss associated with old age.
Dogs that have had orthopedic or neurological surgeries or conditions.
Bone injuries (fractures, luxation)
Soft tissue injuries (tendons, ligaments)

In order to alleviate pain, the orthopedic bed is used. These beds take away painful pressure points your dog experiences.

The best orthopedic beds for dogs are stuffed with memory foam to help relieve pressure points and provide extra support for deteriorating bones and joints. Every orthopedic dog bed stuffing offers different benefits, so it is important to consult your vet to see what kind of foam your pup’s needs.

Older pets with joint pain or arthritis need thickly padded beds that provide push back as opposed to regular bedding which sinks and redistributes stuffing under your pup’s weight. The bedding should be thick enough to support their weight in order to ensure your pup gets the most out of their orthopedic dog bed.

Best Orthopedic dog bed for crate

Orthopedic 4″ Dog Crate Pad by Big Barker
I have never spent this much money on a crate pad before. But after only having it for a few days, my aging Border Collie sleeps on it more than she does on her couch. It’s a wonderful product and I couldn’t be happier with the results. My girl loves her new crate pad and I can see a difference in her already.

The crate pad comforts her aching joints and I swear she’s sleeping better too! If you have any doubts about spending a lot of money on the Big Barker Crate Pad, don’t! It’s worth every penny. It has absolutely met my expectations. I love that my girl can’t tear a hole it. It’s durable and is working wonders for her. check the price on Amazon

Best Orthopedic dog bed for arthritis

Big Barker 7″ Pillow Top Orthopedic Dog Bed for Large and Extra Large Breed Dogs
We purchased the Big Barker Dog Bed with headrest for our dog Apollo a 10- year-old German Shepard mix. In his older age, he has started to slow down and has difficulties with joint pain. We noticed that when he got off of the couch or bed, he would limp more and more.

This is when I started to do some research into specialty beds for him. I heard about the Big Barker bed from a rescue Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary. The Big Barker bed has helped Apollo rest and relax more while keeping the pressure off of these tender joints.

We have noticed that he has a little more spring in his step, and definitely has more restful naps. While we purchased this bed with our big dog in mind, our other two fur babies (including a cat) have also taken many restful naps on the bed. The bed currently sits in the middle of our living room, and the animals often all sleep on the bed at the same time.
The bed comes well packaged and quickly! It is made of high-quality materials and the cover is easy to take on and off. The bed was easy to register and comes with an outstanding 10-year warranty. Check Price on Amazon.

Best Orthopedic dog bed for hip dysplasia

PetFusion Ultimate Dog Lounge. Premium Edition with Solid Memory Foam
I have an 80 lb lab mix who absolutely loves this bed – as soon as I got the foam cushion in and put it on the floor, he trotted right over and laid down.
Very simple to put together, I definitely recommend following the suggestion on the directions and putting the foam cushion in right away before it has a chance to fully inflate. The cover fits snug around the cushion and “headrests”, so there is little chance for snagging/tearing on the dog’s nails.

As you can see in the picture, my large dog has more than enough room – he is a taller lab mix and still has plenty of room when his legs are fully extended.
As with all memory foam pads, there was an odor when it was first opened. I would say the odor dissipated over about 2-3 days and is not noticeable anymore.
Buddy is 12.5 years old, so he is a napping connoisseur and he fully approves of his new bed. Check the price on Amazon.

Best Orthopedic dog bed with bolster

K9 Ballistics LUXURY Orthopedic Memory Foam Bolstered Dog Bed with Waterproof Liner

I can’t say enough praise to this bed… Our large dog became partially paralyzed due to osteosarcoma metastasis to his spine; he had difficulty getting up and turning around and in the end, needed help to change sides — but the bed kept his really comfortable, especially when he was staying on one side for a long time.

Best Orthopedic dog bed with cooling gel and removable cover

Stella Beds Elevated Memory Foam Orthopedic Dog Bed with Removable Cover

I just received this bed a couple of days ago for our 120 lb 9-year-old Lab with bad Arthritis. He has three other beds and he uses all of them but none are Orthopedic and the draw for me was the cooling gel. Being a Black Lab the heat bothers him terribly and he tends to go lay on the hard tile floor because it’s cool but now has a terrible time getting up.

This bed is very well made, was perfect out of the box and the cooling top is really cool to the touch. He loves this bed so much I am now moving it to our main room in the daytime and back to our bedroom at night. The bed is huge and he can totally stretch out with lots of room to spare. Check on Amazon.

Quick tips on the selection of Orthopedic dog bed

Large lounger beds are great for bigger canines to lie on.
For pups consider the covered comforters. Keeps them warm and snuggle.
consider getting a bolster orthopedic for larger older dogs, so that it can rest against its walls. Giving them a good nap time.
Consider a dipped entrance, so your dog can get in and get out at ease.

How to Buy an Orthopedic Dog Bed

Orthopedic dog beds are not cheap. When you are buying a bed your dog should be satisfied and you should feel relaxed when your dog is happy sleeping. There are a number of things to keep in mind like the size of the bed, thickness, memory foam, washable or water resistance, durable.

Most important ones are Cost and return policy(in case if your dog doesn’t like it). I will make your life easy by giving complete information to choose the right orthopedic dog bed.

1 . Memory foam
The orthopedic dog bed should have memory foam especially if you have an elderly dog.
“[Memory foam] will contour to all of the nooks and crannies that are different for all dogs,” Klimovitz says. “Some have more muscle retention, some have muscle atrophy, but memory foam will account for all of that. Memory foam is soft but doesn’t ‘wear out’ to [the point] wherewith continued use they end up actually feeling the floor surface through the worn cotton padding.”

2 . Thickness and Size
For senior dogs consider the thickness around 5inch, normally 3 inches thickness of the pad is enough.
Experts suggest: For small dogs, it’s safe to stick with 2 to 3 inches and a maximum height of 6 to 8 inches for larger dogs.
When it comes to size, measure him while the dog is lying down. In a few cases, sizes are not standardized across brands. So look out for return policy if you’re not sure about the size.
“Typically dogs with orthopedic or neurological conditions prefer beds that are appropriately sized for them, meaning that they do not have to excessively curl up to fit into the bed as this puts more pressure on their joints and soft tissues,” Carr says.
Memory foam is a popular orthopedic material and is graded by pounds. The lowest quality memory foam is 3-pound memory foam. The highest quality memory foam available on the market today is 5-pound memory foam. Choosing a higher quality memory foam will ensure your dog’s support and comfort.

3 . General guidelines for selecting the size of bed :
If your dog is 1 – 10 lbs, the bed should be about 18″ x 13″
If your dog is 11 – 25 lbs, the bed should be about 24″ x 18″
If your dog is 26 – 40 lbs, the bed should be about 30″ x 20″
If your dog is 41 – 70 lbs, the bed should be about 36″ x 23″
If your dog is 71 – 90 lbs, the bed should be about 42″ x 28″
If your dog is 91 – 110 lbs, the bed should be about 48″ x 30″

4 . washable or water resistance
Some beds have removable covers that you can wash to reduce those stinky smells. Most of the beds are water-resistant property, so it will be easier to clean
Some cases cover can’t be removed. In these cases consider using a blanket on top that can be washed as often as necessary.

5 . Durable
An orthopedic bed is comparably expensive but going for quality in your initial purchase may prove to be a bargain in the long run.
But I would request you to try with a normal bed initially. If your dog loves to sleep on the mattress then invest in an Orthopedic bed.
Buying an orthopedic dog bed with a higher-quality orthopedic foam will not only last longer and typically be more cost-effective, but it will also keep your dog more comfortable.