In this article you will learn how to choose the best orthopaedic bed for your dog
- You will learn the 5 key criteria for choosing an orthopaedic dog bed
- You will find out which fillings work best
- We will help you to choose the perfect bed for your dog
We tested 46 different orthopaedic beds over a period of 40 days. The tests involved dogs of different breeds and sizes (30-90 lbs), including dogs with arthritis and after orthopaedic surgery, as well as young and healthy dogs.
As a result, we have created a comprehensive guide to help you choose the best dog bed for your pet.
Our Experts
Dr Andrew Wilkinson – a veterinarian with over 30 years’ experience, specialising in veterinary orthopaedics.
In his clinic, he treats joint problems in dogs and has been observing the impact of the quality of dog beds on their health for years.
The author of the text is Frank Wesson, a dog lover and owner of Ben, an 8-year-old labrador.
His practical experience with a number of dog beds and his collaboration with experts has helped to create this comprehensive guide.
Why is a good dog bed so important?
Because dogs sleep between 12 and 14 hours a night. That’s more than half of their lives. For puppies and older dogs, this time increases to up to 20 hours a day.
Renowned veterinarian Dr Andrew Wilkinson explains, “A poorly designed dog bed can contribute to joint problems. Movement is essential for health, and if the bed is too soft, it can significantly restrict it”.
The problem of choosing the right dog bed
With thousands of companies offering orthopaedic dog beds, choosing the right one can be challenging. So, which bed is best for your dog?
Contrary to popular belief, not all orthopaedic beds are good for a dog’s joints. The wrong firmness can cause your dog’s paws to sink too deeply into the bed, leading to discomfort and potential joint issues.
Have you noticed this issue with your dog’s bed?
Which dogs need an orthopaedic bed?
- Large breeds (over 50 lbs)
- Older dogs
- Dogs with bad joints
- Dogs after orthopaedic surgeries
- Active dogs subject to high joint strain
Joint problems most commonly affect large dogs and from a young age. This is due to their greater weight, which leads to joint degeneration, including dysplasia.
If you are the owner of a dog over 30 lbs, it’s worth investing in a good bed to prevent problems in the future.
Benefits of an Orthopaedic Dog Bed
1. Scientifically proven to improve joint health
A study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania confirmed that orthopaedic dog beds can indeed prevent joint disease.
After just 28 days of use, significant improvements were observed:
- 17.6% of dogs experienced increased joint mobility
- 21.6% of dogs had less joint pain
- 12.5% of dogs experienced reduced stiffness in their joints
- 50% of dogs slept better, with less fidgeting at night.
2. Evenly distributed weight – healthy joints in the future
Evenly distributing your dog’s weight ensures that their joints are protected while lying down.
This is crucial for their recovery, and the sooner you invest in a good dog bed, the longer your dog’s joints will remain healthy.
3. Easy change of position – better sleep
Older dogs may find it difficult to change position on a regular bed. The greater firmness of orthopaedic beds makes it easier for them to turn over.
This is important because sudden movements during sleep can be uncomfortable for joints that lack proper support.
5 Most Important Criteria When Choosing an Orthopaedic Dog Bed
1. The more elastic the material, the better the joint support
“Our tests showed a surprising fact: 67% of dogs have difficulty changing position on traditional memory foam beds,” notes Dr Wilkinson.
Why is this important? During our tests with pressure sensors, we observed that:
- Dogs change position an average of 20 times during the night
- Each change of position on a material that is too soft requires 43% more effort
- Sudden movement on a non-elastic material can cause micro-injuries to joints
In summary, the more resilient the bed, the easier it is for the dog to change position and get up from the bedding.
2. Firmness adapted to the dog’s weight
This discovery surprised even our experts – almost all orthopaedic dog beds use the same filling material for all sizes.
‘This is a fundamental mistake’ – explains Dr Agatha Hall, physiotherapist. ‘A 10 lbs pug and a 90 lbs labrador need a completely different degree of support.’
Tests on 46 dog beds showed that:
- 30-90 lbs dogs sink too deeply in standard beds
- excessive sinking increases joint stress by 26%
- too firm dog bed for a small dog puts too much pressure on the dog’s elbows and knees
If the manufacturer does not explicitly inform us that, depending on the size, the beds have a different hardness, we can be sure that this is not the case.
3. Easy cleaning = no mould inside
Accidents happen even to adult dogs, so it is a good idea to have a mattress that is easy to wash and dries quickly.
If your dog pees on the mattress and the filling doesn’t dry, mould can develop inside the bed.
Mold spores can trigger respiratory issues and other health problems, making it crucial to maintain a hygienic sleeping environment for your pet.
4. Durable replaceable cover
It’s common to discard a dog bed when holes appear in the cover. Investing in a dog bed with a cover that is resistant to claws and teeth (though this can be challenging) or one that offers replacement covers is a wise choice.
Even if holes do appear over time, you can simply replace the cover, and the dog bed will look like new.
5. Expert and user reviews
Before buying a bed, it is a good idea to read the opinions of experts and users. This way you can then find out all the weaknesses of each bed.
Where can you find these opinions? In addition to Google reviews, there are also independent portals such as Trusted Shops and Trust Pilot, which verify the opinions given by people and remove false ones.
We hope you find our opinions valuable too 😉
How did we test the beds?
We created a ranking based on our criteria and other benefits that the bedding offers. We tested over 46 beds and selected the top 5.
Our tests included:
- 14 days of use of each dog bed
- Tests with dogs of different breeds and sizes (30-90 lbs)
- Cleaning and washing trials
- Consultations with 3 veterinarians
- Analysis of feedback from real users
Top 5 best orthopaedic beds in 2024
The Petformed mattress is one of the best-selling orthopaedic beds in Europe, and for good reasons.
It’s the only bed that uses Oxymesh® instead of memory foam. This new technology is patent-pending and 100% made in Europe.
The mattress is 10 cm thick, comes in 2 sizes with different firmness levels, and has many unique benefits:
It makes getting up easier
Why is Oxymesh better than memory foam? Because it distributes the weight of the dog just as well, but getting up from it is much easier.
Tests have shown that filling with Oxymesh® technology is more than 10 times more resilient than memory foam.
This means that it is much easier for your dog to get up from such a bed and will not put any strain on his joints and muscles. This is especially important for older dogs.
Firmness adapted to the weight of the dog
This is the only orthopaedic bed in Europe whose filling has a different density depending on the size. This ensures that your dog’s paws will not sink into the bed.
Other beds use the same density of foam for all sizes – both small and large dogs sleep on the same firm bed. This is not the best solution.
Each size of Petformed bed has had its firmness specially adjusted by vets, so it will never collapse and will support your dog’s joints properly.
Washable filling
The remaining 10% of the Oxymesh® filling consists of polymer threads that don’t absorb water.
This makes the mattress easy to clean: simply rinse the filling in the shower with cold water and wash the cover in the washing machine.
After washing, the mattress dries very quickly. We tested it ourselves, and it dried in about 3 hours.
Dog bed recommended by vets
Source: Petformed.com/en
Interestingly, we first came across the Petformed bed at a veterinary clinic.
It turns out that Petformed cooperate with more than 30 veterinary clinics and many doctors use Petformed beds on a daily basis – both in their clinics and privately.
Source: Petformed.com/en
In addition, you can read hundreds of positive comments about these Petformed beds and mattresses online. On the Trusted Shops website , Petformed has more than 230 reviews and a rating of 4.74/5.
Durable cover
The removable cover, equipped with a zipper, is made from a thick 330 g/m² woven fabric, making it durable and washable.
You can also purchase an additional cover, so if the original one tears, there’s no need to buy a whole new bed.
Additional unique advantages
Does not absorb odours
The Oxymesh® filling doesn’t absorb odors, thanks to the non-porous polymer threads that prevent foreign particles from sticking. This means the filling will stay fresh and odor-free.
Hypoallergenic
The polymeric filling prevents the growth of allergens, bacteria, and mold inside the mattress.
Even dogs with allergies can enjoy a comfortable and healthy sleep.
Lasts up to 5 times longer than other beds
Source: Website Petformed.com/en
Studies show that Oxymesh® filling lasts 5 times longer than normal foam and 4 times longer than memory foam.
No more buying a new dog bed every six months. A bed with Oxymesh® will never collapse.
The manufacturer offers up to a one-year guarantee on the entire bedding, i.e. the filling and the cover.
Summary
Pros:
- Good for the joints
- Prevents your dog from overheating
- Washable filling
- Durable removable cover
- Firmness adapted to the dog’s weight
- Additional cover available for purchase
- Does not absorb odours
- Hypoallergenic
- Available in 3 colors
- Ships within 24 hours
- 30-day trial period
Cons:
- Only 2 sizes of beds (have more mattresses)
- Some colours and sizes sell out quickly
- The zipper sometimes jams against the filling
We think the PETFORMED orthopaedic bed is the best option.
Dr Wilkinson was very impressed: ‘Finally a dog bed that dogs can easily get up from. In ordinary beds, the dogs’ paws sink into the filling. Here it’s completely different – the material springs back and helps the dog to get up. I have seen with my own eyes how older dogs, who have joint problems, get up effortlessly. I already know which dog bed I’ll buy for my daughter’s dog.’
The Knuffelwuff bed is a bed made of memory foam. The cover of the bed is made of hand-woven velour. It is a good solution for very large dogs, as the largest size is as large as 155×125 cm (the internal dimension for the dog is 120×90 cm).
Memory foam filling
The memory foam adapts to your dog’s anatomy under pressure and body temperature, preventing circulatory disorders and pressure on the joints.
This means that the memory foam filling distributes your dog’s weight evenly during sleep, but it is not as easy to stand up as the springy Oxymesh.
No adjustment for the dog’s weight
Nowhere on the manufacturer’s website did we find any mention of matching the firmness of the foam to the size of the bed. It looks like they use the same filling for all the beds, which is not the best solution.
Really easy to wash
The cover on the Knuffelwuff Yukon bed is waterproof, making it very easy to keep clean.
Because it is waterproof, we don’t have to worry about moisture seeping inside the bedding and we can clean all dirt with a wet cloth.
In case of very heavy soiling, the coating can be easily removed and washed in the washing machine. The manufacturer has not written anything about washing the filling, so we assume that this is impossible.
Durable cover
The velour of which the cover is made seems very strong. The underside of the mattress has a non-slip material.
You can’t see your dog’s claw marks on it even after a month of use, and the stitching is strong and doesn’t look like it will rip.
User reviews
Unlike the Petformed bed, the Knuffelwuff is not recomended by vets, but it has very good reviews online.
On Amazon it has been rated 4.5/5 through 39 reviews, and on Google we can read that many users are happy with it.
Summary
Pros:
- Memory foam filling
- Made of hand-woven velour
- Has side supports
- Waterproof cover
- The cover is machine washable
- Highly rated by owners
Cons:
- The filling is not elastic
- Same firmness across all sizes
- The filling cannot be washed
- Dog hair can get between the sides and the bottom of the bed
- Absorbs odours
- The material gets dusty, which means there is a risk of fungal, bacterial and dust mite growth
The Knuffelwuff Yukon orthopaedic bed is a good choice for larger dogs, but we feel that the lack of a size-matched firmness makes it not the best choice.
The Funny Fuzzy thick removable orthopaedic waterproof dog bed is a model of a bed in the form of a mattress. Thanks to the polyester cloth, the top layer retains water and is resistant to mud, sand and the remains of dog treats.
High density foam filling
This type of insert adapts to the dog’s body. As a result, our four-legged friend receives adequate support for his entire body, which promotes healthy sleep.
No adjustment for the dog’s weight
We could’t find on the manufacturer’s website any information of matching the firmness of the foam to the size of the bed.
It can only mean one thing: they use the same filling for all the beds, which is not the best.
Really easy to wash
For dust or typical dirt, a hoover or wet cloth is sufficient to wash the cover. An added bonus is that the fabric is machine washable.
The filling is not washable, unfortunately.
Durable cover
Cover is pretty durable, but not as much as with Petformed and Knuffelwuff. If your dog is a real dog bed destroyer, don’t pick this bed.
User reviews
On Amazon Funny Fuzzy has been rated 4.1/5 through 69 reviews, however on google they have much lower rating.
When you order Funny Fuzzy dog beds outside of Amazon, beware that returning the product might cause you some issues.
Summary
Pros:
- Headrest for added comfort
- Pleasant to the touch fabric
- Durable cover
- The cover can be washed in the washing machine
- Water-resistant cover material
- 4 sizes available
Cons:
- The mattress is not breathable
- Same firmness across all sizes
- No possibility to wash the filling
- Absorbs odours
- Not hypoallergenic
The Funny Fuzzy orthopaedic bed is a good choice, but there are better options.
It’s the memory foam mattress for dogs with and interesting design inside. It is based on bed construction used in medical environments, including NHS hospitals, to prevent the development of pressure sores.
Memory Foam and Cooling Layer
The bed features a top layer made of memory foam that conforms to the shape of the dog’s body, offering good support.
Additionally, the base layer of the mattress includes cooling foam, which helps to dissipate heat and keep the dog comfortable.
No adaptation to dog’s weight
Despite the availability of multiple sizes, there is no information indicating that the firmness of the mattress varies between different sizes.
This means the same filling is used in all sizes, which may not be optimal for every dog.
Easy-to-Clean Cover
The cover is removable and machine-washable, making it easy to maintain, but the wet cloth is usually enough to keep the cover mostly clean.
The filling is not washable.
User Reviews
The Big Dog Bed Company is not recomended by vets like Petformed, but the online reviews are very good.
On Facebook it has been rated 4.2/5 through 12 reviews, and on Google we can read that many users are happy with it.
Summary
Pros:
- Clever orthopaedic design
- Cooling effect
- The cover material is easy to clean
- Cover is machine washable
- 8 sizes available
Cons:
- Dog hair can get into the cover
- Not very resilient
- The mattress is not breathable
- No possibility to wash the filling
- Absorbs odours
- Long waiting time for the ordered product
- Dog hair can get into the cover
- The material becomes dusty, which means there is a risk of fungal, bacterial and dust mite growth
Scruffs Harvard is notable for its understated design and waterproof memory foam filling, which helps prevent allergen buildup over time.
It is a good option for medium-sized dogs that enjoy curling up while resting.
Memory foam filling
The bed features a top layer made of memory foam that conforms to the shape of the dog’s body, offering good support.
Additionally, the base layer of the mattress includes cooling foam, which helps to dissipate heat and keep the dog comfortable.
No adaptation to dog’s weight
Despite the availability of multiple sizes, there is no information indicating that the firmness of the mattress varies between different sizes.
This means the same filling is used in all sizes, which may not be optimal for every dog.
Easy-to-Clean Cover
The cover is machine washable and nice to the touch. However stitching are not the best quality, and you can tell this dog bed is cheaper than the rest.
The filling is unfortunately not washable.
User Reviews
The Scruffs Harvard has a great rating and lots of reviews online.
Only on TrustPilot it has been rated 4.3/5 through 150 reviews and people are really pleased with this dog beds.
Summary
Pros:
- Waterproof removable memory foam cushion inside
- High sides for dogs to curl up against
- Water-resistant cover
- Machine-washable cover
Cons:
- Not very springy
- The mattress is not breathable
- Same firmness across all sizes
- No possibility to wash the filling
- Absorbs odours
- Available in only 2 sizes
- The material becomes dusty, which means there is a risk of fungal, bacterial and dust mite growth
Comparison of All Beds
After reviewing all the dog beds featured in this article, the Petformed mattress stands out as the best option.
It offers excellent support for joint regeneration, it’s firmness is adapted to the dog’s weight and is very easy to clean, with both the cover and filling being washable. The cover is also highly durable.
Additionally, the Petformed mattress doesn’t absorb odors and features hypoallergenic filling, making it a great choice for sensitive dogs.
It’s the only bed in our review that has firmness suited to the dog’s weight, ensuring optimal comfort and joint support.
The price is also quite reasonable, especially considering the manufacturer’s claim that the bed lasts 5 times longer than standard foam beds.
Overall, we find the Petformed mattress to be a top choice for any dog owner looking for a high-quality orthopaedic bed.