Wondering what are the best dog beds for dogs with arthritis?
We’ve talked a lot about different types of orthopedic beds in the past, but today we’ll be getting into the best options specifically for arthritic dogs.
First, I’ll give you a good overview of what to look for in a fabulous bed.
Then, we’ll check out my top choices!
By the end, you’ll have no problem choosing the right one for your senior dog!
Related: Complete Guide to Buying the Best Dog Beds! (With Reviews)
Best Dog Beds for Dogs with Arthritis: Things to Consider
When you’re trying to decide on the best dog beds for your arthritic pooch, there are some factors that weigh more heavily than others.
While my current dogs are (hopefully) many years away from their arthritis years, I lost three senior dogs about two years ago and I clearly recall what I looked for in a bed for them.
1. Orthopedic support
The #1 feature to look for in a great bed for a dog with arthritis is, obviously, the amount of support it provides to your dog’s achy bones and joints.
Here’s a little secret (a trick of the writing trade, if you will): the search term “orthopedic dog bed” is very popular.
This means a lot of dog bed manufacturers include it in their description to get you to click on it.
Now, I’m not saying they’re lying, but everyone has different opinions on what qualifies as true “orthopedic” support.
The presence of memory foam alone does not make a bed good for arthritic dogs. The type and thickness of the foam matters more.
Check out the types of memory foam, then look for something that includes more open-cell or gel foam than just plain old traditional memory foam.
Alternatively, you can opt for an elevated dog bed that evenly distributes pressure without the use of stuffing (I’ll tell you my favorite in the next section).
2. Waterproof (or at least water-resistant)
While it can strike as early as puppyhood, arthritis is a disease that primarily affects older dogs.
Along with the aching joints (and sometimes because of them), some older dogs experience incontinence. Basically, the wet the bed.
My girl Tasha started getting UTIs as she got older, and I think part of the reason had to do with her arthritis.
I think it was just too much for her to get up in the middle of the night to come get me, so she held it…until she couldn’t.
She wasn’t at the point where it was time to let go, as she was still active during the day without issue. She just had some problems at night.
Getting a waterproof (or water-resistant) bed can help make accident cleanup a whole lot easier.
3. Gentle on aging skin
Again, since arthritis is more common in older dogs, you’ll also want to consider the other potential issues that affect our canine senior citizens.
Just like in humans, an older dog’s skin is more fragile and thinner than their younger counterparts.
While we’ll get more into materials in a second, for now you’ll want to look for beds that are soft and gentle to the touch, and that don’t crinkle when your dog moves around.
4. Safe materials
Along with a gentle feel, you’ll want materials that are proven to be safe for all skin types (including yours, because you’ll be touching the bed!)
Here’s where it gets tricky: it’s hard to find out which fabrics are toxic to dogs because there aren’t enough hard studies on the subject.
I did find some articles that talk about toxic fabrics, but they mostly include guesswork and “if/then” associations.
For example, Teflon fumes are dangerous to dogs, ergo Teflon is dangerous to dogs. It just doesn’t work that way, which makes it super hard to say “Don’t buy XYZ fabric.”
What I will say is this: 9 times out of 10, natural fabrics are better than man-made, so when you have the choice between the two, go natural.
Cotton is usually my top choice because it’s been around for a very long time and has proven to be safe for all skin types.
5. Affordability
Sit down before you start looking at beds and decide how much you can afford because orthopedic dog beds for dogs with arthritis can run from under $100 all the way up to $800+.
As much as I’d love to buy my dogs an $800+ bed, even during the best financial times it just wasn’t in the budget.
When I’m looking for a dog bed (or any major purchase, really), I sort the options from the lowest price to highest and stop before I hit my limit.
This doesn’t really work on Amazon for some reason, though. I’ve never figured out why, but I sort or limit the price to a certain $$$ and I still get higher results first.
So here’s what I do:
- I scroll down the page and ONLY look at prices. I’ve trained my eyes to ignore the pretty pictures and titles.
- I right-click the ones within my range to open in a new tab, THEN look at the details on the product page.
That way, I don’t come across a gorgeously wonderful option only to glance down at the price and want to cry.
Besides, the title is really a horrible indicator of what you’ll actually get because sellers stuff keywords in just to get that click.
For example, one popular brand lists every single one of their beds as “chew-proof,” even though just one very specific style actually fits the description.
Now that you know what to look for in the best dog beds for dogs with arthritis, let’s check out my top picks.
What are the best dog beds for dogs with arthritis?
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I’m going to do this a little differently than my usual dog bed posts. When I was writing the best dog beds for Great Danes, I realized that I was repeating the same beds over and over.
There’s a reason for that: they are my top picks for just about any dog!
However, I’ve said everything there is to say about them by this point, so instead of rehashing (and rewording) those reviews, I’m going to do this instead:
- The table below lists my top 10 choices for the best dog beds for dogs with arthritis.
- The first 5 are my all-time favorite orthopedic beds that pop up on nearly every list.
- The “read more” will take you to that bed’s review, or a post where I talked about it in great detail.
- The last five are beds that we haven’t talked about in great detail before. Read on after the table for more in-depth features, pros, and cons of those picks.
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Primary Rating:
4.7
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Primary Rating:
3.5
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Primary Rating:
3.5
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Primary Rating:
4.7
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Primary Rating:
4.6
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Main Features:
Budget-friendly, great bone & joint support, hypoallergenic foam.
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Main Features:
Made for large dogs, great support, made in the USA, 10-year warranty.
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Main Features:
Chew-proof, super sturdy, can be used indoors or outside
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Main Features:
Premium memory foam, couch-like bolsters, gentle on their skin.
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Main Features:
Great budget-friendly chew-proof alternative to Kuranda
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Read Our Review:
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Read Our Review:
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Read Our Review:
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Read Our Review:
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Read Our Review:
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$109.95
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$161.95
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$137.95
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$140.00
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As mentioned above, #1 through #5 have been discussed many times. If you just want to grab my top picks, you can’t go wrong with any of them.
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Primary Rating:
4.6
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Primary Rating:
3.0
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Primary Rating:
4.6
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Primary Rating:
3.5
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Primary Rating:
3.9
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Main Feature:
Human Grade Mattress Foam, soft, water/fur resistant removable cover
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Main Feature:
Orthopedic, antibacterial, water-resistant.
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Main Feature:
Super affordable, stylish, two types of memory foam.
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Main Feature:
Made by the mattress company, affordable, odor-resistant
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Main Feature:
Great budget-friendly option
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$92.43
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N/A
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$84.99
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N/A
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N/A
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Now let’s talk a bit about #6-10 on the list! These aren’t my all-time favorites, but still very solid choices for all budgets.
#6. Friends Forever Orthopedic Dog Bed Lounge Sofa
The Friends Forever Orthopedic Dog Bed Lounge Sofa is an affordable and highly rated orthopedic bed for arthritic dogs.
Features and pros include:
- Human-grade mattress foam proven to be durable and last a long time.
- Water-resistant liner.
- Cushioned plush poly-fill bolster that make a comfy head rest.
- Easy to clean, thanks to the machine-washable fur and hair resistant anti-tear cover
- Non-skip bottom to keep it from sliding all over your hardwood or tiled floor.
- A Limited 1-Year Warranty (although it says “limited” in the description, further down the page they claim it is a “No Questions Asked” warranty).
Drawbacks and cons:
- It’s made in China. While that’s not as bad as buying dog food or treats made there, it’s definitely a factor that could sway you towards another bed.
- The non-skip bottom disintegrates over time, according to some customers.
- A few customers also complained that it smells bad even after airing out. Memory foam does have an odor, but it usually goes away after a day or two.
- The warranty is a bit confusing. If it’s definitely a “no questions asked” then it’s a pro. But the “limited” makes me wonder, and there aren’t any details about those limitations.
Bottom line: Given the number of people singing the praises of this bed, I think it’s a good option for those looking for a relatively inexpensive (compared to others) bed for an older dog.
7. BuddyRest Juliet Orthopedic Dog Bed
I’ve mentioned BuddyRest quite a bit (we even have a full BuddyRest dog bed review), but the Juliet has only popped up a couple of times. It’s quickly becoming a new favorite, though!
Features & pros
- High-quality genuine viscoelastic memory foam provides support while keeping your dog cool.
- Crypton® performance fabric is waterproof & doesn’t get smelly. It rarely even needs to be washed.
- Kevlar thread helps keep the stitching from coming apart.
- LiftTex Technology between the layers of memory foam make it easier for older dogs to get on and off the bed.
Drawbacks & cons
- Price may be problematic for those on a budget, as the smallest size is over $200.
- The 100 Day Risk Free Guarantee isn’t really “risk free.” They’ll only take the bed back in like new condition.
- 10-year warranty only covers manufacturing defects. If your dog damages the bed, it’s not covered.
Bottom Line: The BuddyRest Juliet is a wonderful option for those who have a higher budget and who don’t have destructive dogs (my girls were pretty mellow as seniors).
I like that it’s very simple, so your dog isn’t likely to be freaked out by it. One of my dogs refused to sleep on “fancy” beds, so couch-like beds were out for her.
8. Brindle Waterproof Designer Memory Foam Pet Bed
The Brindle Waterproof Designer dog bed is both highly rated and highly affordable. At under $100 for the largest size, even the big guys can use it without breaking your budget.
Features & Pros:
- 4″ thick dog mattress made of two different types of foam (conforming memory foam and of high density support foam).
- Removable and washable zippered cover.
- An extra waterproof layer under the cover to protect against accidents.
- Non-slip bottom keeps it from sliding.
- Possibly the most stylish dog bed on this list!
- They donate a dog bed a day to their local shelter. Not a bed feature, but still a major “pro” in my book!
Cons:
- Quite a few customers complain about the cover not being very durable.
- Like most memory foam beds, it may have a strong odor when you remove it from the box.
- It is NOT chew-proof, or even chew-resistant, and not very durable overall.
Bottom Line: This is a stylish and affordable option for those on a fairly tight budget, as long as your dog isn’t a digger or a chewer.
I would have bought it for my senior dogs, but I couldn’t get it now for my younger dogs. They’d wreck it in a flash.
9. Furrybaby Premium Dog Bed Orthopedic Dog Bed
The Furrybaby Premium Dog Bed comes highly recommended by other dog parents. It’s a great budget-friendly option.
FEATURES & PROS
- 5 sizes designed to fit most dogs
- Premium hypoallergenic high-density memory foam base
- A removable waterproof and machine washable inner liner
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
CONS
- Not made in the USA
- Only comes in one color
- Guarantee is a little vague (while the promise a new bed if you are not satisfied, they don’t say how long they’ll offer that guarantee)
BOTTOM LINE
As I said, this is a good option for a tight budget, as most sizes are either below $100 or right in that $100-110 price range.
10. Sealy Lux Quad Layer Orthopedic Dog Bed with Cooling Gel
Yes, that’s Sealy as in the same company that makes comfy mattresses for humans!
Features & pros:
- Quad Element Foam provides premium orthopedic support
- Bio-Orthopedic Foam evenly distributes your dog’s weight across the bed
- Cooling gel foam keeps your pooch from overheating
- Removable & washable cover.
- Absorbs odors thanks to the Pro-Charcoal base
- Fairly affordable, with the largest size coming in at under $200
Cons
- The non-slip bottom itself isn’t the most durable. Customers complain that this part of the bed fell apart within months.
- Cover may be hard to remove (the hidden zipper sounds great in theory, but it could be a pain to dig out)
- I can’t find warranty info. I like to see that upfront, loud & clear, before buying a bed.
Bottom Line: Sealy itself has a great reputation, so I would feel comfortable giving this one a try.
However, I wouldn’t recommend it for dogs that chew or dig, since it doesn’t seem to be the most durable bed on this list.
My Recommendations
This is the part where I tell you which of these qualifies as hands-down the best dog bed for dogs with arthritis.
If you’ve been here before, you know what comes next: it depends!
On what? Well, your budget for one thing. If you have a budget between $200-500, go with the BigBarker.
Got a teeny budget? I know the feeling. If you have under $100 to spend and your dog is fairly mellow, go with the Brindle.
