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If your dog has joint issues, has trouble getting up in the morning, or is simply feeling the effects of old age, it’s a wise idea to get them a quality orthopedic bed for a good night’s sleep.
When buying an orthopedic bed for your dog, it helps to know what makes a dog bed orthopedic in the first place. It’s essentially a bed that provides good support for a dog’s bones and joints and doesn’t allow the dog to feel the floor underneath when lying on it.
Large individual dogs and large dog breeds are inherently more likely to need an orthopedic bed at some point in their life, but whatever the circumstances of your dog, you’ll want to get them a quality bed that will serve them well for a long time. Your dog deserves the best in practical comfort.
Choosing an orthopedic dog bed might seem like a simple enough task. But there are a ton of options out there, many of which are not marketed as being orthopedic even though they are, so how do you narrow them down to the best picks?
Don’t worry — this article is just what you need. We’ll review and compare our picks for the best orthopedic dog beds across a range of different budgets.
We have tested all of these beds, and all give excellent value for the cost.
Our Top Orthopedic Dog Bed Picks
Based on our own testing, research, and experience, here are our top selections:
- FurHaven Plush & Suede Sofa Pet Bed
- Majestic Pet Memory Foam Rectangle Dog Bed
- FurHaven Deluxe Chaise Lounge Dog Bed
- Bedsure Orthopedic Memory Foam Bed For Large Dogs
- FurHaven Ultra-Plush Deluxe Mattress Bed
1. FurHaven Plush & Suede Sofa Pet Bed
The Plush & Suede Sofa Bed by FurHaven makes the top of our list for two main reasons.
First, it has hundreds of thousands of sales with a very high average customer rating on the FurHaven website, and it’s a best-selling orthopedic dog bed.
Second, you can get the Plush & Suede Soda bed in four different types of foam: memory foam, solid orthopedic foam, convolute orthopedic foam, and cooling gel foam. It’s easy to find an orthopedic option that’s perfect for your dog.
The sleep surface is made of plush faux fur that gives your dog a warm and cozy rest. The bed has suede bolsters on three sides, providing a great deal of additional support.
Features
This bed offers several different mattress and filling types. In addition to the types listed above, you can also get high-loft fiber filling, but if you’re looking for an orthopedic bed, this obviously isn’t recommended.
It’s up to you to determine which orthopedic foam you think would be best for your dog; you can discuss it with customer support here. We suggest memory foam because it tends to be both comfortable and supportive.
Note that FurHaven uses CertiPUR-US foam, made in the USA and without harmful heavy metals, flame retardants, or other potentially harmful chemicals.
The Plush & Suede Sofa Bed is available in five different colours, and in size small, medium, large, jumbo, and jumbo plus. It has, of course, a machine washable cover, and clear wash instructions are provided. The bolsters should not be washed.
The great thing about this bed is that it can accommodate just about any sleeping position, thanks to its ample surface area and bolsters. This includes nesters and sprawlers.
2. Majestic Pet Memory Foam Rectangle Dog Bed
Majestic Pet, based in the US state of California, is one of the top dog bed brands on the market today. They don’t have many beds that are advertised as orthopedic, but the ones that are are excellent.
Their Memory Foam Rectangle Dog Bed, in particular, contains shredded memory foam filling that is orthopedic, comfortable, supportive, and soft — ideal for ailing joints. The bed is also easy to get on and off of, making it ideal for senior dogs.
The bed pulls out all the stops and it can support practically any sleeping position. It has a quality build that will last many years.
This memory foam rectangle bed comes in small (20″x27″), medium (36″x29″) and large (36″x44″) sizes. The small size is suitable for dogs weighing up to 25 lbs, medium up to 45 lbs, and large up to 110 lbs.
Additional Info
In addition to the bed being filled with shredded memory foam, the base of this bed is made of heavy-duty 300/600 Denier fabric that is water-resistant.
The zippered slipcover of this bed, which is easily removed, is woven from outdoor-treated polyester that is durable, resistant to chewing, water and stains, and provides 1000 hours of UV protection.
The bed can be used both indoors and outdoors, and the slipcover is machine-washable.
What’s great about this bed is that it not only comes in an array of different colours, but also over 25 different patterns, meaning it’s easy to find the perfect aesthetic for you and your dog.
3. FurHaven Deluxe Chaise Lounge Dog Bed
The Deluxe Chaise Lounge Bed by FurHaven provides an excellent orthopedic opportunity for your dog because of its special mattress options. The style is another top seller with an enormous amount of customer reviews and a high average rating.
This particular bed is made of plush, flecked faux fur on the sleep surface, with suede-covered bolsters and gussets, ensuring that your dog gets a cozy, snuggly rest. The two-tone design does a better job at hiding dander and dirt than traditional plush sleep surfaces.
Small, medium, large, jumbo and jumbo plus sizes are available, so you’ll surely be able to find the ideal size for your dog.
Features
Here are some great benefits of the L-shaped, raised, rounded bolsters on this bed:
- they provide back and hip support for your dog
- they provide an ideal nook for dogs that like to nest
- your dog can lay its paws or neck on the bolsters, helping align its spine and neck
The bed offers several orthopedic foam options (excluding fiber filling) that are very similar to those of FurHaven’s Sofa Bed reviewed above. They are memory foam, orthopedic foam, and cooling gel foam.
Again, we recommend memory foam, but the regular orthopedic foam is a very good option and the cooling gel foam can work well if your dog tends to overheat. It’s up to you to determine which you think would be best; you can discuss it with customer support.
The Deluxe Chaise Lounge Dog Bed is available in four different colours. It has a zippered and machine-washable cover, and clear wash instructions are provided. The bolsters should not be washed.
This lounge bed has pretty much the same benefits as the sofa bed, but it’s a little easier to get on and off because of the extra open side.
4. Bedsure Orthopedic Memory Foam Bed For Large Dogs
The Bedsure Orthopedic Memory Foam Bed is another popular bed. If you want a no-frills, mattress-like orthopedic bed for your dog, this should be at the top of your consideration list.
This bed consists of CertiPUR-US memory foam and provides a large, flat sleeping surface for your dog. There is ample space to curl up, stretch out, or settle into any other sleeping position.
Bedsure offers other orthopedic dog beds as well, but we chose to feature the one meant for large dogs since large dogs are most likely to need orthopedic support.
The bed can be purchased in medium (30″x20″x3″), large (36″x27″x3.5″), and XL (42″x32″x4″) sizes. Availability may vary depending on the source.
Features
The top layer of this bed is made of quilted, ultra-plush velour, in a design that can gel with many different home decors.
The rectangle shape of the bed is simple and straightforward for a dog to rest on, and it also fits easily inside most dog crates, rooms, and car trunks.
The inner mattress consists of two layers: 35D orthopedic memory foam on top, and 40D high-density support foam on the bottom. This gives your dog comfort and a conforming surface, but also firm support that ensures even heavy dogs don’t feel the floor through the bed.
The inner layers of the bed are waterproof to protect from spills, and sliding is prevented with a non-slip bottom.
The cover is, of course, machine-washable. More than that, it has a double pull zipper that makes the process of removing and putting the cover back on very easy.
This bed just rocks. Pet owners love its affordability and how comfortable it is for other animals (or even people!) to lay on. Keep in mind that the memory foam may feel firm initially, but it will quickly soften up nicely.
5. FurHaven Ultra-Plush Deluxe Mattress Bed
Want another choice for an orthopedic mattress bed? No problem. The Deluxe Ultra-Plush Mattress Bed by FurHaven has a straightforward rectangular shape and a near perfect average customer rating.
This “step-on” mat design is easy for older dogs and dogs with mobility issues to jump onto. The bed is made of very soft faux fur, with a suedine gusset that is dyed to match. Unlike most other beds, both the core and cover are washable.
The bed comes in small (20″x15″x3″), medium (30″x20″x3″), large (36″x27″x3″), jumbo (44″x35″x4″), and jumbo plus (53″x42″x5″) sizes.
Features
In addition to high-loft fiber filling (not recommended for orthopedic purposes), this bed offers a grand total of four different mattress types: convoluted orthopedic, full-support foam, memory foam, and cooling gel foam.
For the most support, we recommend either memory foam or full-support foam. Convoluted foam, also known as “egg crate foam”, is a cheaper type of foam that isn’t the best orthopedic choice.
Clear wash instructions are provided. The cover, which has a two-sided zipper, can be machine-washed with cold water, and line dried or tumble dried on low. Shake off any loose debris before washing.
The Ultra-Plush Deluxe Mattress Bed is an open canvas that can accommodate just about any sleeping position for your dog or puppy, and it’s great for lounging too. Your dog is sure to find it very comfortable.
Buying Guide
There are many possible reasons why dogs would benefit from an orthopedic bed.
If you are looking for an orthopedic bed for your furry friend and you want to give it the best experience, here’s what you should keep in mind:
Benefits Of An Orthopedic Bed
An orthopedic bed is designed specifically to help support your dog’s joints.
This is especially important if your dog has a condition that affects its joints such as arthritis or dysplasia (which can affect the hip and elbow joints), because the bed will relieve pressure from those areas and help to relieve any pain.
But even if your dog doesn’t have any joint issues, an orthopedic bed could be beneficial for it. This is because studies show that orthopedic dog beds can help prevent joint problems for your dog in the future.
An orthopedic bed is also a wonderful choice if your dog is thinner, because the extra padding will cushion its boney joints nicely.
Lastly, orthopedic beds help your dog to get a better night’s sleep, which will help it to be well rested, energized, and ready for the day!
What To Look For In An Orthopedic Dog Bed
Sizing
As with any type of dog bed, it’s important to get your dog the correct size.
An orthopedic bed that is too small will not provide your dog with enough space and support, whereas a bed that is too big may make your dog feel insecure.
When looking at different sizes of orthopedic beds, keep in mind how your dog sleeps. Does your dog like to completely stretch out while it sleeps? Or does it like to curl up in a tiny ball?
In addition, if your dog is a puppy, consider how big it is expected to grow so that you can get it a bed that it can grow into.
Bolsters
Some orthopedic beds come with bolsters. Whether or not bolsters are a good idea depends on your dog’s preferences.
A bolster is simply an extra cushion that runs along the edge of the dog bed. It’s good if your dog likes to rest its head on an elevated surface while sleeping or if it likes to burrow or nest in its bed.
Quality Materials
When looking for an orthopedic dog bed, make sure that the bed is made out of high-quality materials. Some companies will advertise dog beds as orthopedic, but they may not be made out of good, strong materials.
Memory foam is the best type of foam for an orthopedic dog bed. This foam will conform to your dog’s body as it lays on it and its weight will be distributed evenly. Slow recovery memory foam provides the most support and is longer-lasting.
Look specifically for a bed with memory foam of at least two to three inches. Materials that tend to be of lower quality and should be avoided when looking for orthopedic support include high-density foam, hospital foam, batting, cedar fillings, and polyester fibers.
Washable Covers
Some orthopedic beds come with a washable cover, which is a very nice addition. A washable cover will help provide your dog with a clean place to sleep and it makes cleaning your dog’s bed so much easier for you.
It is recommended that you wash your dog’s bed or bed cover every two weeks (or more frequently depending on your dog) to keep the bed clean.
If your dog is younger and still being housebroken, or older and has incontinence issues, look for a washable cover that is also waterproof so that the bed is protected from any accidents.
Durability
Your dog’s bed should be durable, especially if your dog is bigger or on the more active side.
If your dog likes to dig, scratch, or chew its bed, look for a bed that is extra durable or chew-proof, so that it lasts longer.
Even if your dog is not too hard on its bed, orthopedic beds can be on the pricey side, so it is best that the bed you buy your pup will last long.
Firmness
A bed that is too firm may not be comfortable for your dog, but a bed that is not firm enough will not support your dog the way an orthopedic dog bed should.
That is why memory foam is such a great option — it is firm and offers your dog support, but it also has some give and will confirm to your dog’s body.
Conclusion
Any bed that provides good support for a dog’s bones and joints and doesn’t allow the dog to feel the floor underneath can be considered orthopedic. But of course, the material that is most associated with orthopedic beds is foam.
For long-lasting quality and performance, we recommend an orthopedic bed that uses a thick foam like memory foam, solid foam, or convoluted foam.
Beyond this, the best orthopedic bed for your dog will depend on its body type, habits, and individual needs. At the same time, it’s possible that your dog will like many or even all of the beds listed here, so don’t overthink finding the “perfect” bed.
When you decide to buy one, the dog beds reviewed above along with our buying guide will help you come to a great choice.
It’s also beneficial to read customer reviews of dog beds and/or get the opinion of experts, if possible. This can help you a great deal in the decision-making process.
Thanks for reading this guide. Which orthopedic dog bed are you interested in for your pup? Do you have any questions? Feel free to leave a comment below.
