Proper support in a bed is important for good sleep and good health. It is no less important for your dog or pet. You would want for yourself the best bed you could practically afford, and it should be just as essential that your dog’s bed be designed with its health and well-being in mind. The family pet counts on you to provide a comfortable and supportive dog bed that fulfills its need for deep, restful sleep.

There are lots of dog bed choices that cater to the various sizes, sleeping habits, behavioral patterns and health issues of our canines. Many are comfortable, top quality dog beds; other choices are not as desirable.

Advertising will display words like luxurious, the best, cool, fashion, custom, designer, orthopedic and discount prices, which are fine. However, more important words that should receive our attention are support, pressure relief, comfort and durability.

Think of the forces at work on your body when you’re lying in bed. Gravity is pushing you down. Your hips, shoulders, joints and skeletal frame are being pushed into your mattress. If your mattress were cement or other hard surface, it would not compress at all, natural curvatures would not be supported and additional pressure would be placed on sensitive points. Your hips and shoulders would be subjected to the brunt of the force and would probably start to hurt and bring about discomfort and less-than-restful sleep. That is why people seek out muscular and skeletal support with as much pressure relief as possible.

Pressure on the bones and joints has a cumulative damaging effect.

The same forces of gravity that cause us to look for comfortable sleep support also affect our pets. To prevent calluses which can occasionally become infected, the dog should have a well-padded bed located where it tends to lie, sleep or relax. Inner spring mattress dog beds, regular foam dog beds, egg crate foam dog beds, shredded foam dog beds and polyfill dog beds will all compact and create resistance at points where the most weight is applied.

Hospitals and burn units have used memory orthopedic foam for patients for many years in the effort to eliminate pressure points that create bed sores. Your dog or pet is also susceptible to the same laws of gravity we all are that cause the cutting off of circulation creating pressure point discomfort. These pressure points build up, and that is why people and pets toss and turn to get away from the pressure build up triggering the need to turn over. The pressure points soon build up again and the cycle continues.

Orthopedic foam can reduce a dog’s tossing and turning by up to 90%.

Orthopedic memory foam dog beds reduce pressure on joints and other jutting body parts, firm enough to satisfy your dog’s instinctual need to sleep on solid ground, while assisting healthy circulation. Traditional material is susceptible to sag; orthopedic pet bed surfaces refresh their form with every use, providing exceptional therapeutic cushioning. Absorbing, redistributing and balancing weight pressure evenly across the surface of the dog’s body as it gently cradles the body helps afford superior comfort.

Equally appreciated by younger pets, the sleep surface offers excellent preventative care. Orthopedic dog beds improve the quality of life for dogs and cats with hip or elbow dysplasia, arthritis and joint problems associated with large breeds and older dogs.

You may want to consider a heated dog bed in winter or a cooling dog bed for summer. If you are considering a pet bed for outdoor use, you should choose one made of high-quality tough materials that can withstand the wear.

It’s the little things that are really big things when it comes to extending the life and the quality of life of our pets.