The two main components of therapeutic dog beds are the supportive materials used for the bedding and the utilization of hot and cold. Looking for reviews of other types of dog beds? See the following dog bed review categories…
- Standard Dog Beds:
- Dog Air Beds & Dog Travel Beds
- Indestructible Dog Beds
- Chew Resistant Dog Bed
- Corner Dog Bed
- Raised Dog Beds
- Therapeutic Dog Beds (this page)
- Heated Dog Bed Reviews
So, why do they work and which dogs will benefit the most? This page covers these questions for both types of therapeutic beds.
First, a quick note about the beds’ materials…
Here at Organic Pet Digest we constantly strive to provide you with natural and organic options for you and your dog, but unfortunately not all of our dogs’ needs can currently be met using strictly natural options.
Many of the therapeutic dog beds on the market are made with memory foam, a non-organic substance that can have great benefits for your aging dog. Despite the fact that many of the recommendations on this page are not organic, we feel their benefits out weigh the negatives and make an essential addition to this site and the well being of your dog.
Now on to the two types of therapeutic beds and our recommendations for each…
Heated Orthopedic Dog Bed & Cold Therapy
A heated orthopedic dog bed has many benefits for sore muscles and joints. When heat is applied, it causes the blood vessels to expand and increases circulation to an affected area. Heat helps to relax tight muscles and restore flexibility.
Heat can benefit an aging or arthritic dog that suffers from chronic pain. It can also benefit a dog who has suffered from an injury and needs more specific relief.
Cold therapy, as used in therapeutic dog beds, is mainly to control the body temperature of the dog in the hot summer months. Many of our very furry dogs can get overheated in the summer, so having a dog bed that provides a cool sleeping surface is beneficial to the overall wellbeing of the dog.
Here are the heated orthopedic dog bed and cold therapy options that we recommend…
K&H Pet Products’ Lectro Soft bed ($48 – $63 depending on size, pictured right) is both heated and weather-resistant, making it an ideal therapeutic indoor/outdoor bed. It can be deflated and rolled up, making it good for travel or for moving from one location to another around your home. Plus the comfy fleece cover is machine-washable
For a less expensive non-electric alternative, try the K&H Self-Warming Pet Crate Pad ($20 – $38 depending on size, pictured right). Instead of using electricity, this bed captures your dog’s body heat and radiates it back… it’s not as warm as the electric alternative, but it does a surprisingly good job at keeping things toasty.
While it’s not waterproof, it is machine-washable. Just throw the entire bed in the wash and you’re good to go.
On the higher end there’s the Dolce Vita Duotemp dog bed ($249; pictured right), a high quality therapeutic dog bed that runs on a very low power electrical system and has an even design which eliminates hot or cold spots through uniform distribution of air flow.
While it carries a more expensive price tag, it is the first dog bed that can be either cooled or heated depending on the situation.
Memory Foam Therapeutic Dog Beds
Most of us are familiar with the innovative memory foam technology, and millions of us are now laying our heads down to sleep on memory foam pillows and mattresses.
But what exactly is memory foam, and how can it help your arthritic or aging dog?
Memory foam is an insulating material that responds to changes in temperature. As the foam comes into contact with an increase in temperature, it realigns to provide a cushion by softening at the points where the body increases the temperature of the foam.
When this foam is used in therapeutic dog beds, it provides excellent support to the pressure points like the spine, hips, shoulders and legs. For an aging or arthritic dog, this can provide much support and pain relief.
Orvis is a quality manufacturer of dog beds and has a fantastic selection of memory foam beds. Check out their website and click on the dog bed option of the left to view all of their beds.
The Orvis Therapeutic Bolster bed ($149 – $249, depending on size, pictured right) is one of our favorites for therapeutic comfort and support.
L.L. Bean takes a different approach. The concept of their memory foam insert ($40 – $140, depending on size) is quite simple (and less expensive) – you insert it into your existing bed with similar dimensions and it adds support and comfort for your dog.
These inserts are made specifically to fit L.L. Bean dog beds made after 2006, but if your current dog bed has closely matching dimensions, then it should fit just fine.
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Also see…
- Best Heated Dog Bed Choices
- Dog Snuggle Bed Recommendations – includes reviews and recommendations for mattress-style beds, bolster beds along with mats and pads