The Best Orthopedic Dog Bed Models of 2020
Some pet owners think that any soft material can make for a satisfactory dog bed, but substandard bedding can actually do damage to your pet’s body over time. The best orthopedic dog bed is specifically designed to support a dog’s body and joints, and provide the comfort the dog needs to rest.
Orthopedic pet beds are specifically made to withstand the weight of a dog for years without going flat. Typically, an orthopedic dog bed is made with high quality memory foam. The purpose of these beds is to relieve the stress on pressure points when dogs are lying down.
There are many different dog beds on the market. Over the years, we’ve tested a number of them and for this round-up, we’ve ranked and reviewed seven of the best orthopedic dog beds we’ve liked in the past.
Choosing and Using Orthopedic Dog Beds
Unnecessary pressure on your dog’s joints will cause the dog to shift around a lot while sleeping, which means he won’t get the good quality sleep he needs to restore his energy. While it may look like he’s sleeping for many hours each day, he’s actually too busy tossing and turning to get the quality rest you think he is.
So, what does this tell us?
Many owners don’t start thinking about orthopedic beds until their dog begins to show signs of aging or joint discomfort, and subsequently – pain. Dogs that are more at risk of these problems will generally need a good orthopedic dog bed to prevent further and more significant problems.
As your pet ages, watch out for signs of arthritis. At that point, the sooner you get your pet an appropriate bed, which fits your dog’s needs, the less stress and pressure will be put on your pet’s joints. Think of how much damage that will save on his joints over the course of a year, and subsequently, save you money in vet bills.
Sometimes, it may be a good idea to buy these beds even for puppies. Just because your young dog isn’t showing signs of arthritis or hip dysplasia just yet, he likely will be in the future since arthritis is extremely common in dogs. Giving your pooch an orthopedic dog bed to sleep on may help to postpone hip and joint issues for a few more years.
The Best Orthopedic Dog Bed Models
1 Big Barker 7″ Pillow Top Orthopedic Bed
As mentioned in our original review, when it comes to orthopedic dog beds for large dogs, nothing comes close to Big Barker’s 7” Pillow Top Orthopedic Dog Bed. It’s available in three sizes – large, extra large, and giant – and three color choices.
The large size is 48”x30”x7”. Big Barker uses a patented 3-stage foam engineering process that makes it possible for a heavy dog to be fully supported by three layers of foam and protected from the joint-damaging pressure from the floor.
The Big Barker 7″ Pillow Top Orthopedic Dog Bed – Headrest Addition comes covered by a 10-year guarantee that it will not flatten or lose its shape in 10 years. You’d like this best orthopedic dog bed for its solid and clean-line look, and you’ll love how much it makes your senior or arthritic dog feel happier waking up. The bed won’t sink to weight, so your dog’s body remains aligned and his or her joints will not be suffer.
The cover is machine washable and washes well, though it would be a little struggle to put it back with its tight fit. The foam can be hand-washed with soap and water if washing becomes necessary. If your dog does not drool so much, this bed would get by beautifully with a good wipe and vacuuming every now and then.
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2 Brentwood Memory Foam Orthopedic Dog Bed
This 4-inch Gel Memory Foam Orthopedic Dog Bed from Brentwood would be a less expensive choice than the Big Barker bed. The extra-large size is quite big at 54”x35”x4”, with three other smaller sizes and six colors for you to choose from.
The top half of the bed’s thickness is made of gel-infused memory foam which has a cooling and soothing effect to a dog suffering from joint issues and general body aches. The lower half layer is orthopedic foam which provides therapeutic support.
If you live in warmer climets and find your dog loving the tiled floor because it’s cooler, then you should consider the Brentwood 4-Inch Gel Memory Foam Orthopedic Dog Bed. This orthopedic bed would be kinder to your dog’s joints, and its gel layer makes it cooler than regular foam beds.
This bed has a waterproof lining and non-slip bottom, which makes it a great outdoor bed, on the patio or terrace. Should the bed get soiled, the cover is completely washable. The microfiber cover can be machine-washed and tumble-dried, but the foam has to be hand-washed and it can take a long time to dry. At any rate, the lining and cover are more than adequate to keep the foam clean and dry so that washing won’t be necessary.
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3 Sealy Lux Orthopedic Dog Bed with Cooling Gel
The Sealy Lux Quad Layer Orthopedic Dog Bed uses the Quad Layer technology to come up with an orthopedic bed with four special features. The top Cooling Energy Gel layer cools and removes stress, while another layer – the Pet Rest Memory Foam – conforms to the pet’s body.
Another layer below is Bio-green Orthopedic Foam which distributes weight, and the bottom layer is Pro-charcoal HD Foam which neutralizes odor. There are four sizes and two colors to choose from. This is the large size and it is 42”x32”x8” including the bolster height.
Just what every orthopedic bed should be, this will not bottom down to the floor and it will be firm to weight. The real edge is the cooling layer, which for some dogs is a must-have for medical reasons. The bolster is nice – not too high or low. The base of the Sealy Lux Quad Layer Orthopedic Dog Bed with Cooling Gel has a good grip especially for wooden floors.
From the home care point of view, you’d be happy that it’s easy to take apart for washing and equally easy to put back together. The cover is thick and nice, and underneath is a lining which saves the day when something spills on it or when your dog accidentally wets the bed.
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4 PetFusion Ultimate Pet Bed & Lounge
The Ultimate Pet Bed & Lounge from PetFusion, like the Sealy bed, comes with bolsters. The main bed is made of 4-inch solid memory foam while the bolsters are filled with polyfill materials.
This is the large size and it is 36”x28”x4” excluding the bolster height. The cover is made of polyester and cotton twill which is durable and water-resistant. The bed’s underside is non-skid. This size only comes in brown color, but replacement covers can also be bought separately. Three other sizes are available.
The inner area of this bed is noticeably more spacious than other beds with bolsters of similar dimensions. The reason could be that the bolster in the PetFusion Ultimate Pet Bed & Lounge is log-shaped, not squared at the bottom. That part that touches the base bed curves in this design and takes less space compared to square-type bolsters. This is a dense memory bed, and while the bolsters are not made of the same material but polyfill, they’ll be nice and soft to your dog’s neck and head.
You may place this best orthopedic dog bed directly on the floor or fitted in a bed frame of compatible dimensions. Most beds only come with water-resistant liners – not water-resistant covers – so that’s another plus for this PetFusion bed because its cover is water-resistant.
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5 KOPEKS Deluxe Orthopedic Memory Foam Sofa
This best orthopedic dog bed is actually made of two separate parts. There’s the 33.5”x43.5”x7” orthopedic memory foam, which is the part where the dog sleeps on. The other part of this bed from KOPEKS is the raised perimeter 8.5” high, also made of orthopedic memory foam
It rests on a flat material made of rubber and occupies an area of 40”x 56”. The bed part is fitted inside the perimeter part and the outcome is a bed with bolsters. Each of these parts has a zippered waterproof lining and zippered suede outer cover.
If you want a smaller bed and considering this Kopeks bed, then think twice because this is one huge bed. Two adult labs would be comfortable on the KOPEKS Deluxe Orthopedic Memory Foam Sofa Lounge Dog Bed and have room to spare for a small poodle. Make sure you measure correctly because this thing expands upon opening like any memory foam. Should you decide later to return it for another size, it would then be too big for its original box.
This bed is firm and comfortable. The bolster is just the right height for the head – it’s actually less than 2”. You’ll see that dogs don’t really want it any higher because they seem to want their head to hang over the bolster, instead of just on it. You’ll find two removable parts easier to move around, too, than if it was one huge whole.
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6 BarksBar Gray Orthopedic Dog Bed
This dog bed is a much more affordable option when it comes to orthopedic foam beds. There are two sizes of this best orthopedic dog bed from BarksBar, medium and large, and they’re quite spacious.
The medium size measures 32”x22”x10” with a sleeping area of 26”x16” and carrying capacity of 50 lb. The top layer is made of extra-soft cotton padding which is well-supported below by a 4-inch solid and grooved orthopedic memory foam. The bolsters are made of the same soft cottony material as the top layer of the bed.
This bed comes with a zippered cover made of durable fabric with quilt print on the sides and plush material on the sleeping area and bolsters. If there’s one word to say about this bed, it’s cozy. Its comfort level is high and truly a great find for dogs that need a comfortable bed with enough orthopedic support but not too stiff and flat-out solid. You’d find your highly-active dogs nestling in the BarksBar Gray Orthopedic Dog Bed – Snuggly Sleeper much the same way they do in your homely couch after a tiring day.
The covers are removable and machine washable. Owing to the thickness and length of the bolsters, however, it would not be quite easy to remove and put back the foam when you need to wash the cover. Aside from that inconvenience, we score this bed high in terms of price, comfort level to the dog, and quality of materials and construction.
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7 Brindle 4 Inch Memory Foam Orthopedic Dog Bed
The Brindle 4-inch Solid Memory Foam Orthopedic Dog Bed comes with a removable velour cover and waterproof polyurethane liner. This is no-fuss solid orthopedic foam.
The top half of its 4-inch thickness is comfort orthopedic memory foam, while the bottom half is high-density support foam. It has a water-resistant cover and a zippered velour cover. The medium size measures 34”x22”4” and is designed for dogs weighing less than 50 lb.
We find this bed adequate for supporting dogs with achy limbs and joints. This orthopedic support foam will be firm without being stiff and will not sag to weight for many years. The cover is water-resistant, not completely waterproof. To protect it from moisture, dirt, and stains, we recommend using a thick sheet, or blanket, or large towel over the Brindle 4 Inch Solid Memory Foam Orthopedic Dog Bed.
Maintaining this bed is simple. By regularly using a top sheet or cover, frequency of washing will be significantly reduced. And if you do need to wash it, removing and putting back the cover would be very easy unlike the BarksBar bed. With proper use, this bed would provide your dog many years of comfort and would even last longer than more expensive beds.
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