Orthopedic dog beds – test & purchase advice

Orthopedic dog beds in comparison. The best recommendations for different dog breeds and sizes as well as tips for choosing the right sleeping aid for your four-legged friend.

The dog is man’s best friend and has been a loyal companion on all routes for thousands of years.

  • Of course, you want to make sure that your dog is at least as well as you are.
  • Just like us humans, animals also need healthy sleep – and this is where orthopedic dog beds come into play.

They prevent tension and chronic diseases and help your four-legged friend to gather new strength – even with existing complaints.

In this article you can find helpful information about what to consider when buying such an orthopedic sleep aid for your dog.

Then I’ll show you which beds are best for your pet – I’ve arranged my product recommendations according to the size of the animals, because that’s extremely important when choosing.

With this article, I want to remind all dog owners that they should consider medical aid products such as orthopedic dog beds for their own pet.

  • Make your dog’s sleeping area as ergonomic as possible
  • Orthopedic dog beds are real all-rounders
  • Good quality is already available at affordable prices

Here we go:

Why should I buy an orthopedic dog pillow?

 

Perhaps you got a little skeptical when you started this article. Does my dog ​​even need an orthopedic dog pillow?

First I would like to explain to you the effect of an orthopedic dog pillow and the resulting benefits.

Does your dog sleep in a basket with a pillow?

A dog sleeps an average of 12-14 hours a day. During this long phase he of course also wants to be as comfortable as possible and is looking for a soft surface.

In many households a dog is not allowed to go on the couch and especially not to bed. This means that the two most comfortable sleeping places are no longer available.

  • Annoying for four-legged friends, good for cleanliness, hygiene and durability of the seating furniture.
  • Many dog ​​owners buy a basket and pillow for their dog. The well-tried classic.

The dog likes to make friends with it. After all, he gets a place to sleep just for himself!

Just think of this solution as the standard solution for all dogs. However, when it comes to a product from the supermarket or discounter, the dog’s individual needs fall by the wayside.

Many dogs have individual sleeping requirements

You can use it to set up a sleeping place for your dog.

However, this may not meet the health requirements of an old, sick or injured dog. Because all those dogs need special attention and care.

 

There are many breeds of dogs that are more easily susceptible to ailments due to their breed or genetics. And many diagnoses are familiar from human medicine. A dog can suffer from diseases similar to humans.

  • Osteoarthritis
  • disc prolapse
  • Patellar luxation (kneecap exposed)
  • Spondylosis (abnormal changes in the skeleton)

But these are just a few of the many diseases that four-legged friends have . These diseases and signs of wear and tear can cause severe pain.

They ensure that your dog limps, pulls its paws and can only move around with a slight hop.

  • In that case, you should see a veterinarian so they can give your dog a thorough check-up and diagnose. Sometimes only an operation will help, in other special cases it is therapy with sports programs or an orthosis.
  • Of course, you would like to alleviate your old, sick or injured dog’s health problems. Orthopedic dog beds are a very welcome and targeted support for the time of healing and regeneration.

At the same time, these comfortable beds, developed to meet the individual needs of the dog, also serve as a preventive measure. Look at it purely pragmatically and from a precautionary perspective:

If your dog has to sleep for a full 12-14 hours a day on an uneven and uncomfortable pillow or even on the bare and cold surface, this will at some point have an impact on posture and health. Orthopedic dog pillows prevent possible damage to your dog’s body system.

 

Which orthopedic dog bed is right for my dog?

The longer your dog spends his sleep phases on a surface that has been optimized for him, the lower the risk of suffering from an orthopedic disease.

Orthopedic dog beds are very suitable for targeted therapy purposes and for health prevention.

What do I have to look out for when buying orthopedic dog beds?

An orthopedic dog bed is not only based on the height of your dog.

 

Much more important is the weight of your four-legged friend, because it is based on the degree of hardness and ultimately the resilience of the material.

  • I also advise you to give preference to products with memory foam technology (also: visco foam, e.g. in mattresses ).
  • These are breathable and prevent bad odors from germs and bacteria. With the right cover they are also water-repellent / waterproof.
  • You know this material from shoe soles and your own mattresses. What is good and beneficial for your own joints will also help the dogs.

Memory foam adapts to the contours of the body as the visco foam reacts to body heat and pressure.

If the fur nose lies on the orthopedic dog bed with memory foam, the body is positioned pressure-free and orthopedically correct. It sinks smoothly and evenly into the pillow.

However, it becomes difficult with the processing of natural materials. As an important exclusion criterion, a dog bed should be robust and durable. Your dog will love to hop on the bed, scratch it, and possibly bite and tear at it.

Most natural materials are no match for this animal stress test. So expect a lot of artificial leather, microfiber velor and polyester in the orthopedic dog pillow category.

How much does an orthopedic dog bed cost?

Orthopedic dog beds cost more than ordinary standard beds from the supermarket because of their additional benefits.

You should expect this before you go into the detailed price comparisons.

However, the price range between the two categories is relatively small and, in my opinion, justifiable.

  • Due to the differently processed materials, sizes, additional functions and brands, a price comparison is not very transparent here.
  • Allow about 20-30% additional costs. For a dog bed with additional orthopedic use, I consider this surcharge to be justifiable.

I mean to say that the higher quality of orthopedic dog beds is not too noticeable in the price. I would have expected a much higher purchase price for a medical animal product.

 

And if you use an orthopedic dog bed as a preventive measure to prevent future vet visits and expensive treatments, then this investment is more than worth it.

In my opinion, the low surcharges for orthopedic dog beds are not only worthwhile for reasons of cost. It is much more about the additional benefit that an ergonomic sleeping place brings to man’s best friend.

If your dog is fine, then you are fine too.

  • So if you feared an absurdly high price for orthopedic dog beds, I can reassure you.
  • In fact, during my research I noticed some outrageously high sales prices. Of course I would like to spare you these products.

So you won’t find any orthopedic dog beds that will cost several hundred euros in my recommendations listed below. Affordability and a balanced and justified price-performance ratio were more important criteria than brand and design.

Otherwise, in addition to the quality, the product research also focused more on the processed material, clever additional functions and sustainability.

I have divided the dogs into five different weight classes in order to recommend the most suitable orthopedic dog bed for you.

The best orthopedic dog bed in the test for the smallest dogs (S: <5.5 kilograms)

Even the smallest of the little ones can suffer from orthopedic complaints. Although it presses less of your own body weight on the skeleton and joints, you have to compensate for this with significantly more steps and movements.

The best news, however, is that prices are also small. Less material has to be processed, which is cost-effective for dog owners.

The following orthopedic dog bed is most suitable for the owners of …

  • Pekingese
  • Chihuahuas
  • Zwergschnauzer
  • Butterflies

This dog bed is particularly suitable for puppies and all other small dogs who like to curl up while they sleep.

Nervous and excited dogs also feel safe and familiar in this sensitive retreat.

  • The deep donut shape lets your dog sink into this orthopedic dog bed.
  • In this way, a particularly long and restful sleep should be made possible.

Good news, in case the round dog bed gets dirty and needs to be cleaned: It can be machine washed at 30 degrees with mild detergent.

The best orthopedic dog bed for small dogs (M: 5.5 – 12 KG)

It should be small and fine. This applies to both the dog’s sleeping place and the orthopedic dog bed in this weight class.

The following orthopedic dog bed is most suitable for the owners of …

  • Jack Russell Terriern
  • Scottish terriers
  • Whippet
  • Lhasa Apso
  • and the loyal dachshunds

According to the manufacturer’s description, the cover is water and animal hair resistant. I would be very interested in how they managed to do that. I have never heard of such a technology before.

  • After all, it is the dog beds in particular that your dog loves to snuggle into and that is full of hair. In that case, the cover is particularly durable and machine washable.
  • Not only the cover is water-resistant, the insert of the pillow is completely waterproof. In case you’ve always wanted to wash and care for your dog in its own bed.

And if you want to romp around with the dog, the manufacturer also advertises a scratch and tear-resistant surface.

That way the scraps cannot fly when you play with the dog. Fortunately, the quality is robust and durable enough for such activities.

The best orthopedic dog bed in medium size (L: 12 – 30 KG)

Your dog is exactly in the golden mean according to its size and weight class.

If you own a …

  • Cocker Spaniel
  • Border Collie
  • Wolfsspitz
  • Sibirischem Husky

… are the following orthopedic dog bed for you and your dog.

The product designers achieved a special highlight with the color. The orthopedic dog bed is divided horizontally into two different colored halves. In addition, the provider offers 7 different color combinations.

The manufacturer specifically points out the new filling made of foam flakes, which is particularly gentle on the joints and spine for dogs in the lying position.

Thus, the lying comfort should be particularly cozy and pleasant.

This dog bed is particularly easy to care for. The surface can be cleaned safely with a vacuum cleaner or a damp wipe.

You can also remove the zipper cover from the dog basket and wash it in the washing machine at 30 degrees.

The product material consists of nylon on the outside, is also water-repellent and has increased scratch resistance. This makes it particularly hard-wearing if your four-legged friend would like to put it to the test.

The best orthopedic dog bed for large dogs (XXL: 30 – 50 KG)

Slowly things are going up in terms of size, weight class and prices.

I recommend the following orthopedic dog bed to you as the owner of a …

  • Dobermannes
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback
  • Borsoi
  • or the typical German Shepherd

Even if your dog likes to sleep on its side and stretch out all fours, there is always enough space.

The rectangular shape and the lowered entrance allow older dogs to easily get into this orthopedic dog bed.

  • The total height of this bed is 9cm and is made of wadding, viscose foam and comfort foam.
  • I find it particularly helpful that you can easily take this mattress out of bed and roll it up.

This is of course perfect for all dogs who like to travel. The orthopedic dog bed is easy to stow in your luggage when you go on vacation.

The best orthopedic dog bed for giant dogs (XXXXL: 50-100 KG)

Dog owners of oversized or heavy dogs must now be very strong. The selection in this weight class is getting smaller and smaller and the prices are rising accordingly. As if you hadn’t already guessed …

This dog bed is suitable for all owners of …

  • Brazillian Mastiffs
  • Bernhardiner
  • Tibetan mastiffs
  • Great Danes
  • Newfoundland

In no other category do you have to shell out so much money for a good orthopedic dog pillow. But the bed is also huge and can be loaded up to 100 kilograms.

Three different layers of wadding or foam are specially designed to meet the needs of oversized dogs with joint problems. When it comes to the material properties, you can choose between high-tech velor, polyester or synthetic leather.

  • The fabric used reduces the absorption of moisture and dirt. All the effects described are perfect for dogs that spend all four seasons in the garden and stir up a lot of dust.
  • So your dogs can romp around outside without hesitation and get dirty and do not transfer the dirt to the dog bed. And if the dog bed is too dirty at some point, it can be cleaned very easily.

Thanks to the zippers, the cover can be removed and is easy to wash with a damp cloth.

The edge of this orthopedic dog bed is slightly raised and allows your dog to curl up comfortably there and rest his head comfortably elevated.

A conclusion at the end and an expert tip

You have now come to the end of this article. I hope I was able to inform you and help you a little further in deciding on the best dog bed.

 

Before buying a dog bed, ask yourself a few additional questions:

  • Is my dog ​​still growing?
  • Does my dog ​​belong to a breed particularly susceptible to joint and bone diseases?
  • Is the dog bed big enough for my dog?
  • Can the dog bed withstand the maximum load in kilograms?

Then you are sure to find a suitable dog bed with which you can promote your dog’s health or alleviate painful complaints.

By the way: I also have two dogs. A cocker spaniel and a mixed breed German shepherd. I take them for walks twice a day and take them with me on trips.

Every puddle of rain, puddle of mud and lawn is used as much as possible to romp around and get dirty.

At some point it starts to smell and transfer the smell to the house furniture. The two wretches cannot avoid a shower.

Use this spray to remove bad odors * and keep the dog bed clean. You can also use it if you have other pets.

It is completely biodegradable and reliably removes stains and odors.

I created Sleep Knowledge to share my interests and experiences on healthy sleeping with others. On this page I am therefore dealing with interesting questions about the optimal night’s sleep & everything else that goes with it.

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