Keeping your dog safe and comfortable should be your number one concern when you find out your furry friend might be affected by hip dysplasia. Often seen in larger dogs, hip dysplasia affects more dogs than we’d like to admit. However, there are individual dogs best available to you that will help your dog stay comfortable during difficult times. If this is your first time looking for a dog bed specifically for a dog with hip dysplasia or similar hip issues, we’ve got you covered.
Recommended Dog Beds for Dogs With Hip Dysplasia
Big Barker Orthopedic Dog Bed
One of the tried and tested best sellers with ridiculously good reviews is the Big Barker 7″ pillow top orthopedic dog bed which comes in at a pricey price-point but receives many praises on its comfort, durability and robust construction. Although this bed is not the cheapest on the market, it offers an unparalleled comfort level for your dog. This product is manufactured in the USA and is designed to not become “flat’ even with years of use. This bed also is backed by a 10-year warranty, which is pretty rare to find for dog beds.
Bark Box Memory Foam Dog Bed
Looking for a dog bed that has memory foam integrated? Look no further than the ever-popular Bark Box Memory Foam Dog bed. Due to the high level of craftsmanship and high-quality materials that comprise this bed, the product has received over 3,000 positive reviews. This dog bed is offered in several sizes and sizes. For those who worry aboutaccident-prone dogs dogs, note that this product is waterproof and machine washable, making it a wonderful product for dogs of all kinds.
PetFusion Ultimate Pet Bed
Less expensive options that still provide great support include the PetFusion Ultimate pet bed, which also provides a headrest for your pampered pooch. Note that this bed is offered in several sizes and colors, ensuring you find the perfect bed possible for your pup. This dog bed is designed from high-end materials and has nearly 6,000 positive reviews on Amazon (at the time of us writing this). One important note here is that this bed is straightforward to clean and is perfect for most dog sizes.
Other Notable Dog Beds
Shopping Guide: Dog Bed For Dogs With Hip Dysplasia
When shopping for a bed for your dog who suffers from hip dysplasia, you want to make sure your furry friend is as comfortable as possible, giving those moments of well-needed relief from this painful condition. There are many forms of dog beds available. Still, some are specifically designed to ensure dogs with this condition, or other conditions similar such as simple old age or arthritis, so that they can continue to lead a happy and full life.
Hip dysplasia is one of the more common skeletal diseases that occur in dogs and doesn’t affect anyone’s particular gender over another. It can occur in all dog breeds but is more common in larger breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Labradors, German Shepherds, and Saint Bernards. It is a disease of the hip in which the ball and socket joint does not meet adequately, resulting in a joint that grinds and rubs rather than sliding smoothly back and forth. This deformation can be extremely painful; however, steps can be taken by the owner to alleviate this pain.
Hip dysplasia occurs due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is generally inherited and can be identified in puppies from as young as four months of age. The hip joints fail to develop properly, resulting in gradual deterioration and loss of use. There are cases of hip dysplasia developing later in life, which is usually due to osteoarthritis, which is inflammation and degeneration of the joint cartilage.
There are many forms of treatment and control recommended for hip dysplasia, but unfortunately no cure. Depending on the size, age, and intended use of your dog, as many larger breeds are working dogs, surgery can be an option. Other forms of treatment include physiotherapy such as swimming, a great way of exercise as it encourages joint and muscle activity without adding stress to the body. Weight control is necessary to limit the amount of weight and resulting pressure put on your dog’s hips, especially when the dog has limited exercise due to pain or after surgery. There are special diets that can help lessen the severity of hip dysplasia in fast-growing large breed puppies.
Anti-inflammatory and pain medication may also be prescribed to your dog as a form of management to the pain. The choice of dog bed also becomes crucial at this stage to help relieve and lessen that inflammation.
Types of Foams
When choosing a dog bed that can help with the pain associated with hip dysplasia, it looks for the many styles of orthopedic foam mattresses on the marketto give your dog the best support and comfort for those joints. You are best to avoid any beds that are pure canvas or similar material, as they do not correctly cushion the body, instead adding to further pressure on the hip joints, especially the raised canvas beds that act as a hammock. These may be great to keep your dog off the ground and warmer, but provide no benefits to the position of the hips and spine. Orthopedic foam mattresses do correct your dog’s body alignment and can come in either two types of foam, egg-crate foam, and memory foam.
Egg Crate Foam
This form of mattress is designed to have lumps and bumps that mimic an egg crate’s look. You have probably seen them before in hospitals as they are used for people who have had spinal surgery. The design helps with airflow, shock resistance, and reduces the burden on pressure points.
Memory Foam
Memory foam is a common occurrence in dogs and human mattresses alike, and for great reason. It allows one to sink into the mattress while supporting the joints, correcting the spine’s alignment and hips until one is in the correct position. It is comfortable and durable. You can consider buying a dog bed with a layer of gel memory foam, which helps with heat regulation, keeping body temperatures down while relieving those aching joints.
When choosing a foam mattress, look for other factors that turn an excellent bed into a great one—loom for the following additional factors that will make life easier and cleaner for you.
Other Features to Look For
Waterproof layers mean that if your dog has an accident or is a dribbler in their sleep,, you do not have to worry about the rest of the mattress’s integrity.
Removable and washable covers a tremendous additional, lengthening the lifetime of your dog bed considerably. As with any dog bed, bacteria, fleas, and mites like to make an appearance, so frequent washing can help prevent this. If your dog is like mine and tries to sneak treats into their bed, then a removable and washable outer layer is invaluable.
Some of the best orthopedic dog beds boast anywhere in the range of 1 to 4 layers of foam, with each segment from 2 to 6 inches deep. This is certainly enough to cushion your resting dog and have them feel like they are floating on air.
Conclusion
No price can be put on the comfort of man’s best friend, but it is good to get an idea of pricing when you look at dog beds specifically designed for dogs with hip dysplasia.