Do Dog Beds Have a Potential Harmful Effect on Your Dog's Health?

Studies have shown that by having a loving pet in your home helps you to reduce stress, depression and also contributes to healthier living.

Your pet also has needs and they must remain healthy as well. Aside from a healthy diet and exercise, their needs include a warm, safe and comfortable place to sleep. According to one sleep expert, middle aged dogs sleep an average of about 14-16 hours a day.

How much consideration have we given to their specific needs and comforts? Regardless of dogs having fur to help keep them warm in winter, sometimes it's just not enough to keep them comfortable. Sleeping on a hard floor or on cold concrete only compounds their discomfort and brings about many aches, pains and illnesses. They deserve so much more than this. Their health and comfort all depends on getting a good night's sleep. A nice warm, clean and comfortable bed would certainly solve the problem and make them very happy as well!

In the past, our family dog would be considered very fortunate to have their own bed. This would usually consist of maybe some old rags, towels and an old blanket. To have their own comfortable cushion and basket to sleep in would of been a luxury to them.

Back then, dog beds weren't very popular. But they are now! In today's society, dog beds are very popular and by your dog having their own dog bed, it helps them to truly feel at home. All dogs are creatures of habit and have their own favorite place to sleep and to also call their own.

There are many different styles and types of dog beds available and when selecting a particular type, you may want to begin by keeping in mind their needs, habits and favorite places to sleep. Also, the breed, size, health and age (puppy, adult, or senior) of your dog should be of the utmost importance when deciding on how much you plan to spend when providing them with the proper bed. Beds that are to small will not be comfortable for your dog.

Prices will vary depending on the size and quality of the bed that you choose. By shopping around, you should be able to find a good, quality dog bed from around $80 to $200.

You can think of your dog's bed as an investment. A very good investment in fact, because a good quality bed will indeed last the lifetime of your dog, not to mention the many, many benefits that you both will receive from having a very healthy and happy dog.

For older dogs who suffer from stiffness and pain in their joints, a good quality dog bed would be most beneficial, because it will help to cushion and offer proper support for their skeletal structure. Dogs, just like humans, aren't immune to various aches and pains and if they demonstrate having these symptoms, they should most certainly not be subjected to laying, or sleeping on cold, hard floors as this will only worsen their symptoms.

Dogs who have very short legs should have flat beds so that they may be able to get in and out without any difficulty.

If your friend is a little pooch, a small, round pillow type of bed would be the best.

If they are an older dog, it is most important for them to have a very comfortable resting area. During a very fun and active day, they are more apt to pull a muscle or maybe experience a painful joint and therefore, it is essential that they sleep comfortably, so that they will wake up in the morning completely rested and ready for a new day to share with you.

Some older dogs, puppies, or dogs recovering from illnesses, may benefit greatly from having a heated, or thermal dog bed. This of course, will keep them snug and warm throughout the entire winter. Also available, are dog bed cooling pads which help keep them cool in humid climates and especially on those hot summer days. They may also enjoy the benefits of orthopedic mats, eggshell foam, or sheepskin rugs. Orthopedic dog beds are especially wonderful for older dogs, dogs with arthritic pain and dogs experiencing joint pain.

If your dog likes to curl up in a ball, they may prefer more of a round bed with sides. If they enjoy both stretching and curling up, a furniture style type of bed may be more comfortable for them.

A bed with sides is ideal if your dog likes to hang their head over the edge.

Choosing the Correct Dog Bed Mattress

Be aware that the inexpensive dog beds will often use a very cheap grade of foam that will flatten out within a few months and when this happens, it makes for a very, very uncomfortable bed, which defeats the purpose of bringing comfort to your dog.

Foam mattresses are the most commonly used of all. The basic choices of dog bed filler are either a solid foam or stuffing. The poly-filled dog beds are stuffed with little pieces of foam and small cedar chips which help to repel odors. The solid foam type of dog bed mattresses are the best choices for the larger breed of dogs and also a good choice for the older dogs, providing that they are still in good health.

For the older dogs experiencing problems, the thick orthopedic mattresses that are filled with a medical grade foam and even a boxspring can be ideal.

Especially if your dog has arthritis, or any hip or back problems, then it is highly recommended that you do use the medical grade, orthopedic foam dog bed. These mattresses are designed to relieve pressure points.

The two important issues to look for when choosing a solid foam mattress is firmness and density. Just like in our human mattresses, the firmness determines just how hard or soft the mattress is. The density of the mattress will determine just how much 'bounce' is in the mattress. A rule of thumb is that a good quality, solid foam mattress will have a higher density and more firmness to it.

If your dog is very uncomfortable with sleeping on a poly-filled or foam mattress because of them being to soft or to warm, a great alternative is the buckwheat beds.

The memory foam bed that has become popular with people, is also available in the dog bed marketplace. The memory foam dog beds give a floating and weightlessness feeling. The memory foam mattress reacts to your dog's body temperature, shape, weight and then conforms to your dog's entire body shape. As like any other orthopedic mattress, the memory foam relieves pressure points and is also extremely comfortable.

Dog Bed Care

Dog beds can quickly get dirty, so you'll want to look for the ones that have removable covers. The entire bed should be completely washable, but the removable cover and liner will be cleaned more often than the bed itself. With the removable covers and liners, you can easily throw them into the washer and dryer and have a clean dog bed in no time at all. With the washable covers, your dog will always have a clean and comfortable bed to sleep on. A good and comfortable bed is something that every dog needs and deserves. They'll love you even more than before!

In summary, find the right sized dog bed with a good, quality mattress, one that is washable and one with removable covers and linings for quick and easy cleaning.