Orthopedic Dog Bed

Most dogs are fine on a cushion. Some are not, and the ones who are not tend to tell you slowly: taking a run-up to the couch, stiff for the first few minutes after a nap, circling for ages before settling, or sleeping on the cold tiles because the bed no longer helps. An orthopaedic bed is for those dogs.

What makes a bed orthopaedic

The word is not regulated, so plenty of beds use it for what is really a thick pillow. The thing that matters is a single slab of high-density memory foam that compresses under the dog and springs back, rather than shredded foam or polyfill that packs down into a flat pad within a few months. Press it with your thumb. Good foam dents and recovers slowly. Filling that stays dented, or bounces straight back, is not doing the job.

Depth matters as much as density. A heavy dog on a thin mat still bottoms out onto the floor, which defeats the point entirely.

Which dogs actually need one

Older dogs with arthritis are the obvious group. So are large and giant breeds, who carry more weight through fewer contact points, and deep chested breeds prone to hip and elbow trouble. A dog recovering from surgery or an injury benefits for as long as the recovery lasts. Thin dogs with little natural padding, greyhounds especially, feel a hard floor far more than a stocky dog does.

If your dog is showing stiffness, limping or struggling with stairs, a bed is a comfort measure and not a treatment. Get the cause looked at by your vet.

What is in the range

Washable soft support beds start at around $44 and suit dogs who need cushioning rather than genuine orthopaedic support. Crate beds with 3D washable foam run from around $31 and fit inside an existing crate. Memory foam mattresses from around $70 are the practical middle of the range. Full orthopaedic sofa beds with bolsters run from around $120 up to $330 depending on size, and a dedicated small orthopaedic bed sits at around $210.

If your dog sleeps curled rather than stretched out, or the issue is settling rather than joints, a bolstered donut from the calming and donut beds may suit better.

Sizing and washing

Measure your dog stretched out on their side, nose to base of tail, and add roughly 15cm. A dog who cannot straighten out will curl instead, which is exactly what you are trying to avoid with a sore hip. Bolsters are useful for dogs who like a headrest and wasted space for dogs who sprawl.

Buy one with a removable, machine washable cover and a waterproof inner liner. Older dogs are the main users of these beds and older dogs have accidents, so a bed you cannot strip and wash becomes a bed you throw out.

Put it somewhere warm and out of the traffic. A bed in a hallway will not get slept in no matter what it cost.