So named because she is THE sweetest dog in the whole world. She’s about 14 (don’t know how old she was when she showed up at my house in the country in 2007), long-legged, and getting stiff and achy. [More medical notes at the bottom of post.]
I have six dog beds scattered around my house. Two of them are specifically hers and I’m looking to upgrade those, although I probably won’t get rid of them because reasons. Here she is in her main bed in my bedroom.
I’ve been searching amazon, chewy, google and everywhere else and my head is spinning with all the options. I don’t want a flat bed-- she likes to snuggle with the bolster sides. Research tells me I want a thick memory foam mattress, but not egg crate. I’d like to keep it in the neighborhood of $100 or so, but I could go higher (although don’t want to spend $300+). Some of the reviews say that beds made in China have a strong chemical smell-- don’t want that. I decided to come to the Dope, the repository of all knowledge on all subjects, especially where doggies are concerned. Sweetie and I thank you, as well as the two cats who will also be using the beds.
[Sweetie goes to the vet every other week for an Adequan shot and a cold laser treatment on her hips. I know it sounds woo-woo, but the laser did wonders for Sweetie’s companion Buddy (of blessed memory). Buddy also got acupuncture and Sweetie will eventually move on to that. I’ve had plenty of acupuncture myself, and it never did a thing for me, but I would take Buddy in limping, and he would come out prancing and dancing. <Who knows?> Sweetie also gets Deramaxx every morning and Tramadol some nights. I give her Doggie Dailies, which are glucosamine/chondroitin, and Dreamcoat, which the vet says helps with joint flexibility. Other treatment suggestions welcome.]
How much does Sweetie weigh? That’s a good way to describe her size.
We have two dogs at the moment, and we can’t quite nail down what kind of bed each of them prefers because it’s always the bed the other dog is lying on.
Here are a couple of beds I’m looking at. A few customers complained about the smell on each of these, which did not dissipate even after a few days. I ordered a pillow for myself one time and had to send it back because of the terrible smell, so I know that can occasionally be a problem with a product, but not with all the same products.
Orvis has a big selection of very comfy-looking dog beds, many with bolsters, with and without memory foam.
We may revisit the idea of a new dog bed for Pluto, now that he’s advanced beyond regarding a bed merely as a chew toy and actually sleeps on his currently slightly mangled model.
I’ve had elderly dogs with pain and stiffness from arthritis, including a chocolate Lab who benefited greatly from the right medication (she still had good and not-so-good days). Using acupuncture may make the owner feel like (s)he is doing something, but it seems wrong to inflict it on an animal that can’t give informed consent (I can well imagine that getting a bunch of extra attention and maybe a cookie or two at the vet would make a dog briefly feel more energized).
Our old dog Ella has a bed that is a real bed. We keep a sheet on it to keep the mattress clean, and pile a couple of comforters on it to make it extra cozy. Ella has used it for years, and still has no problem getting on and off.
That’s my problem: there are too many choices everywhere. I can’t sort through all the products. That’s why I’m asking the Dopers who own one.
I’ve had tons of acupuncture and it doesn’t hurt, if that’s what you’re getting at. The needles barely penetrate the skin and they are exceedingly fine. It’s not like getting a shot. People often fall asleep with the needles in.
And it’s not just that “I felt like” I was doing something. That implication smarts! I could clearly see the difference in Buddy before and after the treatment. He would go in barely able to walk and come out prancing down the driveway. I would never do something for the heck of it that would cause unnecessary pain to any of my beloved pets. YMMV. Like I said, acupuncture never helped me, but how can the placebo effect work on a dog? Don’t answer, and let’s stick to the question and not go down that road.
I got Bear’s old man bed from Costco and he really loves it. It’s memory foam and I ordered it shipped–took a day for it to completely inflate. His doesn’t have much of a bolster on the sides but it does rise up a bit more and that’s what he likes. Price is reasonable and you can order from Costco online even if you’re not a member, I think it just adds a small percentage to the price. It was free shipping too.
This is the one I got. They have bolster models as well, since you’re doing research I’d suggest checking them out because the return policy is stellar, along with the quality.
Thanks so much for that! I do have a Costco card. I’ll check them out.
B-b-but if I order online, then that means I won’t come home with the dog bed AND a case of caramel/cheese popcorn, two loaves of sourdough bread, four pounds of M&Ms, and a year’s supply of pretzels.
Hey, you could always time your trip to Costco to coincide with the delivery date, that way everybody wins! Sometimes they sell the beds in the stores but not always and not always the same models so it’s a crapshoot–but for that year’s supply of pretzels it might be worthwhile to go check!
I let my dog (no longer with us) pick out her toys at PetSmart. I was always amazed that she seemed to understand she had a choice and seemed to consider her many options. I dunno…maybe I am anthropomorphizing too much but I’d get what she chose and she always seemed happy with her toy.
I’m not sure if you could do the same for doggie beds but, if you have the opportunity with a nearby pet store, it might be worth a try.
I know she will like any bed. She likes all six that are in the house now as well as just the plain carpet. What I want is for the bed she spends most of her time in to be extra supportive of her old bones and joints. I’ve been reading lots of reviews of beds with memory foam, egg crate foam, gel layers, etc., and I feel overwhelmed by options.
I know I’m looking at a slow deterioration over the next few years and I want to make that time as comfortable and pain free as possible.
Oh gods please no. I picked up a bed from PetSmart that had apparently been tested previous to my buying it. I can’t smell anything but the dogs can and Shoga keeps acting like she’s shoving dirt over one spot on it with her nose. I probably should have just taken the fucking thing back but by the time I figured out there was actually a problem it was too late. So no, please do not allow possibly incontinent dogs to “try out” the dog beds in the store!
Here’s Sweetie sharing a nap with EC. EC was chummy with Buddy, but after he died, she burned her bridges with Sweetie early on by teasing her. (Sweetie and I both HATE teasing.) So her friendly overtures are spurned. In this pic, Sweetie hadn’t figured out the cat was there yet. As soon as she did, she bolted.
I could clearly see the difference in Buddy before and after the treatment. He would go in barely able to walk and come out prancing down the driveway. I would never do something for the heck of it that would cause unnecessary pain to any of my beloved pets. YMMV. Like I said, acupuncture never helped me, but how can the placebo effect work on a dog? Don’t answer, and let’s stick to the question and not go down that road.
