First things first, Jeaniene Frost’s Into the Fire is out today. Happy Book Birthday to Jeaniene! Reda excerpt, watch trailer and more here.
Now then, onto the subject of this post. We buy orthopedic dog beds for our older dog, Del. Del has issues with her thyroid and is carrying a little extra weight. She takes medication twice a day. She is coming up on her 11 years, which is advanced age for a Doberman, and we like to make sure she is comfy. The dog bed looks something like this.
Unfortunately, we have to wash the dog bed a lot. Because of her thyroid issues, Del has skin problems. Sometimes her pelt gets oily, and sometimes it’s dry. We are limited in how often we can bathe her even with the gentlest shampoo, because we don’t want to aggravate that. Del also likes to run in the back yard and roll around in the grass, and then flop on her pillow, so the pillow cover must be frequently washed. After a wash, that white fake fur on top turns into a mat of grey nastiness. Even when bleached it looks awful and it’s scratchy. We’ve been buying new ones every 3-4 months and I’m sick of it. Even when clean, it looks filthy.
I’d like some recommendations for a dog bed. It needs to be washable, preferably come with an inner waterproof liner, be rectangular or round, so it’s easy to strip the cover off, and it would help greatly if it could actually look decent after it’s washed. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Have you ever tried one of those slightly elevated beds with a steel or PVC frame?
Like this: https://www.chewy.com/frisco-steel-framed-elevated-pet-bed/dp/126782
But is it washable?
Pretty much all the reviews mention how easy the covers are to clean/wash (and it looks like the replacement covers are fairly inexpensive, too). That said, I have no personal experience with them (I have a cat, not a dog), but everyone I know who’s used one of these is pretty happy with it.
We have used this type of bed for years for our dogs. They come in small, medium, large and X-large. We have a medium and 2 x-larges right now shared by 5 dogs ranging in size from 9lbs to 95lbs. The dogs LOVE them. The canvas washes great and really holds up. We have tan ones with brown paw prints on them and they are probably 4 years old and look great. They get washed every couple of months or when accidents occur. We throw old blankets or cheap pillow beds (when we find them on sale for $10 or less) on top so the dogs have something to scrunch up and dig around in. our American Bulldog has arthritis and she is very comfortable laying on it. The only issue we have had is when my 22 yr old nephew stood on the frame to reach something and slightly bent it so went we take the one bed apart to wash, it is some what difficult to put back together but that is a stupid person issue and not a design flaw. Just don’t stand on the frame. A bonus is the American bull dog hides all of the dog toys underneath the one she lays on so they aren’t all over the floor now.
If you are interested I can send you a picture so you can see how cozy the dogs find the beds
A lot of animal shelters use these beds so I would assume they wear and wash well.
Those style of beds are known as kuranda beds which are easy to clean. I work at a dog kennel and we use these. We clean them multiple times a day with a pet safe deordorizer and cleanser using only a wet rag. For our older dogs, we will usually toss a microfleece blanket on top of them for some added softness. They can easily be subbed out when soiled and they are super easy to wash.
https://kuranda.com/
Pet Smart’s Pet Hotel also uses these in their “condo” rooms.
This is the type of bed that is recommended for greyhounds: because they are very thin-skinned, sleep for up to 18 hours a day and have little body fat, they are comfort hounds when it comes to beds (or sofas, which ours are not allowed on. Although the sofa is often very warm when we return home. Hmmm…). So, logically this style of bed should be very comfortable for your Del.
In colder countries I have used this type of bed for greyhounds with a folded duvet (with duvet cover) in top, then I can chuck the duvet in the wash regularly (hot seasons and countries pose different challenges, of course).
But… Dogs are creatures of habit and you know your dog best. Personally, I have not had much success with changing the type of bed with dogs who are older. It tended to be easier to a washable bed on top of their familiar bed in our case.
LL Bean has washable covers and dog beds, they are ok
Same thought I had about washable dog bed covers that can be swapped out as many times as needed- you could buy one or knit one which would be more comfortable coz of the extra cushion with knitted covers……. just a thought.
…..plus your dog would love it because you made it too……
LLBean Therapeutic Dog Bed, Rectangular, 100% cotton twill denim, yarn-dyed, very washable, comes in colors
Pair it w/Protective Pet Bed Liner, Rectangular, makes it waterproof on top while allow air to still penetrate. Yeah, you’re going to spend more but lasts way longer than the pillowy plush top stuff I stay away from. You can even buy two covers, one while in wash, other on bed.
Bonus.. LLBean’s warranty.
I quit buying dog beds because my dog likes to chew it up. So no recommendation there, sorry.
BUT, the trailer for Into the Fire is awesome. Loved it. I downloaded the audio and since I just finished, Bound by Flames, the timing couldn’t be better.
I had a mastiff with similar issues… large, skin/allergy issues (oily, and bleeding sores from all the allergy licking), liked to roll outside…
Dog beds themselves, even the expensive ones just wouldn’t hold up… I ended up getting a baby crib mattress and several mattress pads through which to rotate (the ones with terrycloth “right side” and breathable but waterproof liner on the “wrong side”).
I do the same thing – just put a sheet over the dog bed and change as necessary. We just got cheap sheets from goodwill. You can put an absorbent pad underneath if dog has incontinence.
I agree with the crib mattress. My old girl, Allie, loved hers and changing sheets is much less expensive than buying a new bed.
Here’s another vote for old crib mattresses, and specially the waterproof-but-soft-but-very-washable mattress protectors they make nowadays.
Baby crib mattress works for our seniors, with lots of cover changes?.
Make some slipcovers out of old soft bedsheets?
Regarding Jeanine’s book — my paperback copy actually arrived yesterday, so I stayed up until about 1:30 in the morning to finish it. I liked it, although I still have a sentimental preference for Cat and Bones, but Vlad grew on me. The end of the book teased a new series with Ian, which should be interesting, considering how flexible he is with his morality.
Can’t help with the dog bed; haven’t had a dog since I was a kid, and that dog used to sleep on my bed. I’m guessing that’s not a consideration? 😛
I got one of these for my elderly, arthritic German Shepherd. Previously she’d prefer sleeping on the floor to sleeping on any dog bed but she absolutely loved this thing. During her last months she rarely left it so did all her eating and drink right there. Held up just fine with the messes, washable covers, easy to clean, doesn’t do the ugly matting.
https://www.amazon.com/Go-Pet-Club-Orthopedic-Waterproof/dp/B00E8UJW2A
We have this bed for our greyhound:
https://www.amazon.com/Dogbed4less-Orthopedic-Washable-Waterproof-Replacement/dp/B001E3EC9M
It’s very similar to Becky’s suggestion but I prefer the denim cover for durability. Our dog likes to “fluff” her bed with her giant hound claws, and softer fabrics don’t last.
5 stars, would buy again, except we don’t have to because after 6 years it’s still in great shape.
We bought this a month ago for our eldery german shepherd. She has hip dysplasia & has a tough time getting up & down. Love it. I did wrap it in a dropcloth that I bought at home depot & a fitted sheet on top of that because she has a thing about licking her bed.
I was going to recommend LL Bean as well but see others have already. As an added, I have used this before for my late German Shepherd. He loved it. Be dragged it from room to room until he couldnt anymore. He also loved to roll around outside so I added a liner to help with the moisture but overall it was easy to maintain.
I am not sure of the dog bed’s dimensions, but it looks the same size as a crib mattress.
Idea. You can buy zippered waterproof covers for crib mattresses (surrounds entire mattress), then add a fabric cover on top. You’d only need to wash the fabric cover, maybe the waterproof cover every once in a while, and the bed should stay intact. I don’t know if dog nails would be a factor, but my toddlers mattress is still pristine, despite potty accidents.
Can you use giant beach towels to cover the dog bed? That’s what I do for my Laberman (yes, it is a Lab/Doberman mix) and a cat who loves rolling in the dirt. The towels are easy to wash… and oh, so elegant as part of the home decor…
I bought some Kirkland ones from Costco for my elderly German Shepherd – Schultz is at least 13 years old and has back problems. They only had these on the floor for a short time, but you might be able to get them online. Rectangular, memory foam, washable waterproof cover, brown velour on top and a tough upholstery fabric on the bottom. We’ve had two of them (Schultz is a 115 pounds) for at least a year and they’ve held up well, but I don’t need to wash them all that often.
Schultz also really likes the 100% wool runner carpet I brought back from Turkey – it doesn’t seem logical, because it’s not particularly thick, but maybe there’s something about the heavy wool or hand-knotting he likes. That would be an expensive solution for you – getting Turkish carpets cleaned is pricey- but maybe there’s a machine-made version that would work. For some reason, the wool seems to stay clean naturally for a long time, too, although it gathers dog fur like you wouldn’t believe. I’ve given up getting all of it out.
Our previous GSD, Daphne the Itchy Dog, was allergic to everything – off the scale for human dander. You might try the shampoo and spray by Duoxo. It’s a French company, and it seemed to help her. We got it through our vet. She liked the Turkish rug too. I’m very grateful I didn’t buy the carpet I really wanted – a beautiful wool and silk prayer rug actually from Iran – but instead, decided to follow the letter of the law at the time and buy one actually made in Turkey, and therefore, legal to bring into the States. That one would have ended up framed on the wall, no matter how much they would have liked laying on it.
The Casper bed people sell dog beds. Supportive and a removable washable cover. I’m buying 2 for my dogs.
Orvis has a great orthopedic dog bed. You could even buy multiple covers so you could switch off. Other option is Dr’s foster and smith….same idea.
Good luck with your senior dog.
I have sewn covers that go over the dog bed. That way I just wash the cover. Like a pillow case with a zipper. You could even buy a few pillow covers that are the hypoallergenic and sew those together for the bed.
I would suggest checking out tombihn.com. They primarily sell travel bags but also have a line of dog beds and mats. I’ve never ordered a dog mat (exchange and duty to Canada are too costly) but I’ve purchased other items from them. The company is well known for design, quality, and customer service, well worth checking out.
And they make a really amazing knitting bag!
I have a Serta dog bed for my two cats. It is orthopedic as you can imagine from Serta. It’s made for a medium sized dog. It comes completely apart to be washed and has zippers on every section. It looks pretty good no matter how much you wash it. It is one of the ones with bumpers which the cats love. They sort of prop themselves up on them. It does not have a waterproof barrier but when my last cat got very old and leaky all over, I used to slip a plastic garbage bag inside to block the moisture from the filling. As others have suggested, covering with a towel or blanket helps with the washing frequency. It’s much easier to throw a towel or blanket in the laundry every week than to take the bed apart all of the time.
https://www.serta.com/pet-beds
A variant on using a crib cover as seen in some of the comments. I have 2 long-haired messy (!) cats. For hairballs & fur, I use layers of fleece blankets from the thrift store in their favorite spots – there are usually a bunch of single and double-layer throws for only a few dollars. As needed, I use upholstery twist pins to keep them in place. With the layers, I can toss the top in the wash and the next layer is already in place. Thicker fleece is pretty impermeable to mess, thinner fleece sometimes not. Only drawback I’ve seen is that their long hair does pill in the fleece when it is washed.
Yes fleece is the best! My chinchilla cage has fleece liners they machine wash spotless evry time and are still soft and pretty
Yes 🙂 if you go to a fabric store, you can get a couple yard lengths for a few dollars and use them as covers; fleece doesn’t need to be hemmed as it doesn’t unravel. We used this for our older (11-16 year old) dogs that were having issues with great success. We ended up with about 3 per bed and washed them every few days without problem for years (hot water with some oxy powder & a 30 min soak to disinfect, tumble dry). The best color we found was a medium taupey brown, as it hid the dog hair. Good luck!
We use a toddlers bed mattress for my dogs and just change the bed sheets on them (took a full bedsheets and sewed it on the sides and added a zipper). Down side is that they are rather large and cumbersome if u don’t have the room for them.
We had a doby who had her own arm chair in my bedroom, with a duvet on it she could wrap herself up in. We’d wash the duvet cover regularly and generally it was good enough. Doby’s are ace.
The Big Barker Dog bed available on Amazon is exceptional. The cover is washable and you can order an optional waterproof liner (which I recommend). The bed has not lost it’s loft after years of use with Great Pyrenees. They come in all sizes from small to monster. They are very expensive but will last forever if they are not eaten (it has not happen yet but I just adopted a puppy).
When my beautiful Rita Mae had breast cancer we got her the softest bed we could find. Being a Great Dane mix she always appreciated the softer things in life. Surgery bought us another two years but in her last year she declined to the point her bed was her favorite place to be. What we did was add a fleece blanket to the top then a toddler bed waterproof mattress cover then sheets from Goodwill to cover everything. I usually put two sheets on as extra separation from the waterproof liner. Pull the sheets off and toss in the washer put new ones on. Flannel sheets are extra warm and soft. You can layer items to suit your dogs’ needs. Damn I still miss my girl! We got our new Great Dane mix, Sunny Girl, the same set up. Her cousin pees when she gets excited . . . .
Good luck!
I will only note that white or off-white anything (carpet, rugs, dogbeds, ect.) are not very practical with daily use.
My clean-freak sister absolutely adores her steam cleaner. That might help with the stained cover. Otherwise buy covers in brown or black so the dirt doesn’t show as badly.
I bought one of those $85 dog bed for my chow mix. She didn’t like the way it smelled (memory foam stinks to me, too, so I couldn’t really blame her. Then she went over and lay on the dirty pile of laundry by the washing machine, which in MHO, smelled worse. But I guess as long as it smells like her people she’s okay with stinky socks and stuff. I sent it back to the online store and bought a $29 pillow at HEB. It has a washable cover, and I throw a microplush blanket over the top of that. It doesn’t matter anyway. The cat usually takes up the center portion and she gets the edge, with most of her body on the floor. She’s too sweet to push the cat off. She’ll heave a sad sigh, and one of us will get up and do that for her, but as soon as she leaves the pillow, the cat is back on it. She weighs 9 times what the cat does, and has bigger teeth, but that doesn’t occur to her.
Why not have covers made in duck fabric or something similar by an upholstery place with a zipper that covers two sides so you don’t have to wrangle the ortho-foam in place? And then add a fleece blanket for softness which is easier to wash.
Or this site has great beds as well and lot’s of reviews on them:
upholsteryhttp://www.drsfostersmith.com/dog-supplies/beds-and-furniture-throws/orthopedic-beds/ps/c/3307/1/11792
I know nothing about dog beds, but am under the spell of Oxyclean… literally, magical things happen (ie. blinding, brilliant whiteness) after a good soak in the stuff!
Best of luck!
We have a carhart dog bed for the Gilly-monster. It is covered in the fabric that Carhart makes their jackets in. He can not chew through it. it is an unattractive honey color, but adaptable to multiple living room styles. It is very comfy for a dog that had long-bone dseaase while he was younger, but could destroy a dog bed in 2.7 seconds. It wases, and is restored to its splendid color without shredding. YMMV
Our two Labs sleep on the bed with us (thank God for California King size), or on the floor at the foot of the bed, where we’ve piled a comforter and two fleece blankets for them. It’s a pretty thick and washable (weekly) combination and, sometimes, they actually prefer the floor to the bed so it’s obviously comfortable. The only tricky part is circumnavigating that rippling ocean of blanket in the night and avoiding stepping on the tennis balls and pigs ears they like to bury there.
Old fashioned COTTON bathmats are awesome dog beds. Very washable and they are thick enough to lay flat over an orthopedic mattress. Purchase a couple of those and switch them out as needed. Cotton can be washed in hot water. That fleecy synthetic fiber does not wash well and fur gets embedded in it. I have hand-me-down cotton bathmats that are amazingly sturdy and wash up odor and bacteria free. Unlike a towel, a thick bathmat won’t crumple up into a wad.
I agree about the bath mats. They are the best and can be washed in really hot water. I can’t persuade my rescue dog to use a dog bed (they are all now used by the cats!) but she does love a good bath mat!
I also have a number of these wet dog mats. Not because my dog is incontinent but because they are great at drying her off after wet and muddy walks which are a pretty common occurrence in the UK. They work really well and the fleece makes them cosy. I put them on top of all sorts of surfaces like the sofa and the back seat of the car. No wet gets through.
This is the web site. http://www.jacobsden.co.uk/the-wet-dog-mat.html
I love Molly Mutt dog beds – https://www.mollymutt.com. They are basically covers that you can stuff with old clothes, linens, towels, etc.. The covers are washable and are available in multiple colors and patterns. You can also purchase a “stuff sack” to enclose the stuffing materials so that they can be washed without having to un-stuff and re-stuff the bed, and waterproof “armor.” They aren’t specifically orthopedic, though.
Can’t you just wrap a big blanket around it and wash that instead when it gets dirty?
I smell a knitting project! Super chunky yarn and size US 50 needles. Just so long as her paws and claws won’t get tangled. Maybe a slightly smaller set of needles if this is a fear.
Kylie had a round Kirland dog bed from Costco. In nine years, it was the only one she never chewed to bits. At Sam’s Club, I found dog beds made from the same material as firefighter jackets – so that would be durable and easy to wipe down.
Got orthopedic bed thrunamazon for 2 legged boxer. 50 pounds. Cover gray, washable and dry in machines. Memory foam or gel. “Better world pets first wuality 5 inch thick. Waterproof. Says 180 GSM cover. 75 bus if not amazon prime. With it about 60. Can’t find model number but will try in morning. Has been peed on by baby and dog. Puked on. Washed 15 Times since Christmas. Lovely. Cover has suede finish. Comes in 3 or4 sizes for weight and size. Strongly recommend with possible addition of a couple of pieces of polar fleece from fabric store.
HAH!!Hah! ASIN IS B0105HZN6S. Moidel number is vasd. Cotton blankies are good. Hope it helps. Cindy
I have one of these for my dog. They are great, wear well, and the covers wash well. Also orthopedic.
https://kuranda.com/
I use those dog beds for my dog who loves to roll in mud and generally is filthy in one way or another on a regular basis. I just throw $8 blankets I get from Big Lots on top of the bed and wash the blankets regularly. Keeps the bed nice and clean.
My mom sewed pieces of a giant old beach towel / picnic blanket into a pillowcase for an old couch cushion for one of our dogs. That held up for ten-plus years (although it didn’t need washing as often as it sounds like yours would). If you don’t have anyone digging too much in the bed, you could just do snaps instead of a full zipper. Double-thickness beach towel will keep the cushion dry unless you have a very wet or messy dog, and you could always put a water-resistant layer in, too.
To clarify: I’m suggesting sewing a cover to replace the fake fleece one on the bed(s) you already have.
My 16 year old dog Twinkle loves her bed, and it has a cover that is soft and easily washable. She’s arthritic and it took me a long time to find a bed she was comfortable on that I could clean.
Grr, my computer is not cooperating. This is the company is the company that made her bed, though I can’t say for sure it is exactly the same one.
https://www.wag.com/dog/p/brinkmann-pet-faux-suede-gusseted-bed-brown-1068504?utm_source=Wag_SG&utm_medium=PDP_SG&utm_campaign=wa-sg-to-mobile&noappbanner=true&utm_term=thro%20pet%20beds
We use ortho dogbeds of the brand “knuffelwuff” (german). they are extremely easy to clean, looking good and are robust.
Lion+Wolf Pets (cool name huh?!) on Etsy do gorgeous washable dog bed covers that would perfectly fit your existing dog bed. They also do custom orders if there isn’t one exactly the right size & they’re work is beautiful & washes really well. I’m sure if you contacted them they’d run you up a waterproof liner too. Btw, I’m not linked to them in anyway, just a happy customer.
It’d be simple to make a cover like a fitted sheet, just remove, wash, or throw away when old. You could even have it so one side is normal fabric, and the other a thin plastic (like a waterproof sheet). It could be fitted, or just have elastic across the corners (like mattress proctectors).
I order from k9ballistics.com.
Can’t help with dog bed, sorry.
But have read Jeaniene’s new book and thoroughly enjoyed it, intrigued by the thought of a series with Ian. Like with Hugh D’Ambray, it’s going to take some creative footwork to make Ian likeable!
I don’t know about the orthopedic part, but my own dog struggles with spaying incontinence. My answer was to wrap the inner pillow in painter’s drop-cloth plastic so that whenever she has an accident, I only have to wash the cover.
My configuration looks like https://www.etsy.com/listing/73514214/raised-portable-dog-cot-outside-inside
with a down filled pillow instead of foam. My girl loves it because she can nest how she wants.
No bed suggestion, but have you ever thought of getting a removable cover for it to wash and rebuy if needed. I imagine baby/toddler fitted sheets and maybe changing cover sheets would fit well on dog beds and be able to be fitted well. Or maybe someone makes dog bed covers. It sounds like it would be a better alternative if you already have a bed that is comfortable for your pup but not as washable.
Crys
Have you considered a bed from Janery? Here is the link…
http://www.janery.com/collections/charlie-cushions
She created a washable dog bed for her own dogs and it became a business!
Please let us know what you decide!
This is the most successful kind of thing I’ve found for my old wonky dog that occasionally leaks a bit..
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_beds_baskets/hygienic_beds/beds/13686
Zooplus don’t have a US site but maybe there’s something similar available?
I line it with stuff that’s washable and then can be rotated – and you can just hose it off outside.
The Fey Dog modelling the bed in various locations:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tiffleek/31409174672/in/datetaken-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tiffleek/30763651476/in/datetaken-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tiffleek/18843943589/in/datetaken-public/
I have several kinds. I have a Kuranda, which is an elevated bed you just hose it off and you can take it apart if needed K and H makes a similar one with mesh and also it has a faux sheepskin one
Big Barker makes an amazing one. You can and should get a waterproof liner
I also have onefrom Mammoth dog beds which has a cordura cover and also a waterproof liner
I bought a couple from Lands End that worked pretty well. They are round with a pillow insert, single zipper. Nicest thing is you can also buy new inserts or just the covers when you want to. Not waterproof but I scotchguarded the pillow insert not the cover.
Try Big Barker Beds. (www.bigbarker.com)Designed for big dogs, made in the US, and have removable, washable covers. Really great customer service!
100% agree with this. Love Big Barker! Their beds have made such a difference for my senior boy.
My daughter has a Great Dane and bought a big barker 4 years ago, she washes it every other week. It still looks new and the inside has retained the foam shape. It has not bottomed out in the middle. I have two elderly yellow labs and have LLbean covers for them, which also wash extremely well. When our foam start to sag I went to Joanns fabric and bough foam and added it. It also has stayed great for two years
This. Love Big Barker!
Ilona’s question was very timely for me since I am looking to replace yet another crate pad. Haven’t gotten the beds yet, but I have to agree that the customer service is AMAZING! Thanks for the recommendation.
We have a 220# Mastiff. We use a futon mattress, covered in a waterproof crib mattress cover. We cover it with a nice soft blanket sown together on 3 sides so the mattress slides in and stays put. Has worked for years, with intermittent replacement of the blanket once it’s worn out.
This is super expensive but I love how easily washable all their items are:
http://www.lovesac.com/medium-petsac-birch-phur-milkweed-chenille.html
Can’t vouch for how long it holds up over time though for looking dirty . My brother has one for his lab but he doesn’t have the same skin issues that would require frequent washings. I have a lovesac bean bag chair with washable covers and exchange those out frequently and have had it for 7 years no isssues (but I’m a human and have multiple covers to switch between).
These are pretty expensive but I’ve had mine for YEARS, used daily, and still looks new after an easy machine wash. Even the bolster is easier to get back in than any other bed I’ve bought.
http://m.orvis.com/store/product_search_tnail2.aspx?dir_id=1633&group_id=1634&cat_id=5665&subcat_id=7406&nav=12615&adv=58451&cm_mmc=Orvisbrand-_-Tm-x-pets-us-exact-_-Tm-x-petsdogs-beds-x-x-x-_-orvis%20dog%20beds&gclid=CjwKEAiA_9nFBRCsurz7y_Px8xoSJAAUqvKCLvT85PLDP-KWhMNLvvxdokOZuhwdcE01F-SUCr-AaxoCj7Dw_wcB
I liked the one on down the page with snap off pads – it comes with two so you can just snap one off and throw it in the washer while using the other. Also the darker colors may help with the appearance.
I have a 14 1/2 year old German shepherd who can only lay on one side (which has a pressure sore that has healed over the last year). We have a variety of beds (BRINDLE Soft Memory Foam Dog Bed with Removable Washable Cover for example). Just wanted to caution and against the raised hammock style beds in terms of pressure. For our guy it made things worse for distributing pressure (although it allowed for air flow.) Our love needs memory foam or orthopedic beds that I wash on regular rotation to prevent skin infections. On top of the washable covers I do place a human hospital sized bed pad or chucks – they hold the moisture but are soft to touch and designed to take a beating in the wash. (Reusable Bedpads 34″ x 52″ Capacity Absorbs up to 1800cc Invacare Supply Group 13452)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009G9Y4LC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This is the one I have for my geriatric golden retriever. Is it expensive? It’s hella expensive! But it is the best damn orthopedic dog bed I’ve ever come across. The cover is washable and it sill looks like new after washings. It is a little bit of a pain to get the cover over it, but I haven’t found one that isn’t. The foam is thick and more comfortable than my couch cushions and is really supportive. Now I don’t have a water proof liner with mine, because Jack’s not to the point of bladder issues, but he does lay down after baths and licks it occasionally and I haven’t noticed crazy smells with it.
So yes, it is a bit pricey, but I’ve had it over a year now and the foam is still firm and have had no issues with it. I expect that this’ll be the only one I’ll ever need to buy.
Also, the company is great and has amazing customer service!
I have that too I got an extra cover and an extra waterproof liner too because my old guy was incontinent. So embarrassing buying overnight Poise pads at the drug store when you’re a certain age. ” it’s for my dog. Really”
I can’t really help with the dog bed (my 10-year old Lab sleeps on a cheap blanket). However, for the bath issue, have you tried using a “dry bath” mixture?
The recipe is:
100 ml cleaning alcohol
100 ml apple vinegar
900 ml alcohol
you can scent it with either cinnamon or mint.
To use it, you wet a rag with it and clean her fur with it. Because it doesn’t reach the skin, it’s gentler, but it still takes the grime off the fur.
I know a little bit about essential oils, and while they may smell good, both cinnamon and peppermint can be irritating to the skin. Lavender EO might be a better substitute: (on humans, anyway) it’s soothing to the skin, the sinuses and the emotions.
Good point! It’s not to be rubbed in enough to reach the skin. I use it on my lab, but he has a double coat, so reaching his skin is nearly impossible. I’ve seen people using cloves as well.
Sounds a bit like water wipes (latest thing in baby wipes in UK). These are realy nice and gentle, used from my decrepid father in law (hes 105 and going strong) and also to wipe down smelly Sally dog, 10yr old sheppard. Does wonders for her fur and doggy smell!
I know you’re crafty, have you tried making a cover? You could use fleece or minky for the top, do PUL for water proofing underneath and a home decor fabric bottom so its sturdy. With stitched in velcro or a zipper, you could insert your dog bed and pull off the cover when its nasty. Maybe 2 covers, then its not the end of the world if one is in the laundry for a couple days.
Other then that, I got nothin’.
I had a similar thought. I use these blanket/throws (available cheap at costco) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0143LHHH0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 which I put on top of my dog beds. They are easy to wash and stand up to a lot of abuse.
I bought mine from llbean. It’s held up well. I have never tried to was it except with a steam cleaner. My front loading washer would probably walk the floor .
It’s not orthopedic but it’s big and comfy and now 2+yrs old.
Our dog groomer has a dog she loves who is quite old and messy. She uses a crib mattress ( like for a human baby). She liked its big size and the water proof covers. She gets different crib sheets and changes them out daily. My dogs old bones are not needing this, yet, but we think she has a good idea.
That’s a great idea!
Oooohhhhh. Wonderful idea! My 12 year old WHPG loves our mattress but can’t manage the jump anymore. He’s making do with an $15 ortho bed from Groupon.
Hi,
We use dog beds with replaceable velour covers. Don’t know what brand ours are (sorry I did not buy them – and I’m not the one who washes them) but a quick search of Amazon found this
Milliard
Milliard Velour Zippered Anti-Microbial Removable Waterproof Non-Slip Replacement Cover this looks alot like the ones we have
https://smile.amazon.com/Milliard-Removable-Waterproof-Non-slip-Replacement/dp/B00FK9O3K4/ref=pd_sim_199_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00FK9O3K4&pd_rd_r=QCQ7VJ3QNN8MDS03A4D5&pd_rd_w=U5fyW&pd_rd_wg=48pby&psc=1&refRID=QCQ7VJ3QNN8MDS03A4D5
For pet shampoo you might want to check out Keys Soap KODA line of products http://www.keys-soap.com/ostore/home.php?cat=58.
Also have you thought about feeding your dog raw? We have 2 cats. We were feeding them premium cat food both dry and tinned and the one developed skin problems and alopecia over her eyes. I researched about pet food to see if that might be the problem. When I found out what is in pet food (even premium brands) I was totally disgusted. We have been feeding our cats raw for about 9 months now. I now know what is in their food and the difference in their coats is amazing. I don’t know if Tia will regrow the fur above her eyes but she is not losing any more and has stop scratching her skin raw. I found this website very helpful http://feline-nutrition.org/
When I was still married, my husband bought a book on homemade raw materials cat food, and started making it… and the results were amazing. The fat cats slimmed down. The skinny cats sleeked out. The allergic cats grew out lush, shiny fur (and we’d been trying to do specialty food for everyone…) (Yes, we had too many cats. I mean, we did have a lot of room, but still. This was not my idea.)
…typically, at that point, he just stopped making the food, because it was a lot of work. Unable to make our kitties go back, I took up the task. (And then started making batches for the elderly kitty of my dear friends and nerdchildren*, who was slowly dying of renal failure, but who actually but weight back on with the homemade food.)
So I wholly endorse this notion, though it’s kind of a lot of work.
* They’d be my godchildren, but the one part of their lives I had no involvement in was their religious education, though we invite each other over for holidays.
I just bought an industrial food grinder and it is heavenly. With careful shopping the cost is less than the premium food.
We had 2 cats before that died around the same time – no previous health problems – one got cancer (a tumor) and the other had congested heart failure. It was around the time of the pet food poisoning. I believe that the pet food was a significant contributing factor in their deaths. The dry pet food we were feeding them was special diet from the Vet’s supplemented with tinned food. No recalls on either one. But further research indicates that a lot of the pet food companies that should have did not recall their products. Even the company that makes the premium food that I was feeding our current 2 cats.
I didn’t bring any cats with me when I left my ex-husband and moved to housebarge. A few moves later, and part of the agreement with the zendo community before I became resident here was no pets (exceptions exist for fish or similarly contained pets) – it’s an allergy issue for too many people. Which is good because I also agreed to remain vegetarian, at least when on the premises – which seemed easy at the time, though has become slightly more complicated in the interim. Various neighborhood cats have identified me as a sucker, and I have a marine animal facility to play with, so I’m doing all right for the moment.
We bought a toddler mattress and put it on the floor, That way you can buy a waterproof mattress pad and multiple sheets. You just keep a clean sheet ready to go and change as needed. Tide Free for extra senstitive skin and wash on sanitize and you are good. You can get toddler size memory foam toppers too for extra comfort. I got this idea from a friend who has a 150 male presas canarios, so she bought a twin size bed. I only have a 75 lb lab and 2 beagles who compete for the comfy bed.
Honestly they all get disgusting no matter what they’re made out of. I would take that very nice foam mattress to a Taylor with a bunch of washable durable material and have a cover made. You can buy a plastic bag with a zipper to go underneath it or you can have one of those made to. That’s going to be the best case scenario. Otherwise you’re going to continue to have to buy beds repeatedly.
We have an almost 11 year old, giant shnoodle with hip problems who loves snow and rain, and his favorite doggy bed is a brown one with fake fur from Costco that survived two labs before him and it’s still soft. I would give more info but I can’t find the tag.
Make your own dog bed cover. For my smaller cat beds, I put them inside a pillow case and it’s easy just to change the case. A twin sheet would probably be big enough after being folded in half and sewn up one side.
I have big dogs (right now 2 weimaraners and a young dobie) plus I dog sit big dogs. Technically, you can use mattress covers, sheets, blankets and quilts on anything. The dogs are going to dig at and scootch them around to get comfy, so I go to thrift shops and pick up what I need that will be just for the dogs. They’re already soft and comfy, I don’t feel insulted if they get ruined, and I can keep several on hand to wash as much as needed. We chose to buy an inexpensive twin platform bed frame from (Wa***rt) and then grabbed a twin mattress at (S**ms) and put it length wise at the foot of our king bed, but my dogs are young enough to still jump up on to it. Now everyone has enough space, they can each get their own blankie to scootch around, and I use one to cover the bed during the day. It works for us. But I have no issues with needing it all to match and look pretty… my favorite fun quote is “My house looks like I’m losing at a game of Jumanji”. Good Luck!
We bought the memory foam from Costco. The bed seems to have a waterproof liner, and the cover is brown. I wash it every other week and so far, so good. We have only had it a few months, though.
How about adding a waterproof cover that people use on beds to the dog bed? That easy it can be quilted/cotton like to the feel. Removable, washable and add they don’t cost that much you could have two our three to swap out between washing and drying.
How about making a polar fleece cover that can be removed and washed?
Okay go to over stock . Com or some place similar. Buy a 4 inch memory foam mattress topper. Then cover it in a plastic matress protector. Then over that with a duvet cover like a giant pillow case. The foam is protected. And you can toss the cover in the washing machine. Hope that helps.
Just to add to the mix – we have four bowser beds; they are washable, stylish, and comfortable!
http://www.bowsers.com/pet-beds/donut-beds.html
We have a bed with rised margins on 3 sides and a bath memory foam carpet inside. We wash just the carpet and it works perfect. You will have to replace the inside carpet every 2 years.
Once you find the bed that you like, have you considered stopping by Bed Bath and Beyond to get a package of those clips-on-elastic that they sell in the bed linens department. They are about six to eight inches long and have alligator clips on both ends. You are supposed to put them across the corners of fitted mattress sheets and then hook under the mattress corner to keep the sheets in place. They are also called “sheet smoothers.” Then, if you stopped at the fabric store, you could buy fleece fabric in appropriate lengths. Use the fabric to make sheets for the dog bed and the mattress clips to hold them in place. It is so quick and easy to change the sheets and the entire set up is cheap enough that you can enough spare sheets to change them as often as you need. If you need water resistant, you can either buy plastic by the yard at the fabric store or do as I have and stop by the hardware store to get a box of plastic garbage bags that contractors use for job site clean up. These are larger and heavier weight than regular trash bags. Just put them under your doggie sheets (or if the dog bed is small enough to fit, put the bed inside the bag) and put the sheet on top of the whole.
FWIW, I dropped a note to a former research student who is now a veterinarian, and she came back saying that she had yet to find ones that she really liked. Perhaps I’ll point her to this thread… (Though I suspect her professional standards are really high!)
I buy a quality dog bed and cover it with a waterproof mattress pad and an easily washable home-made slip cover. I have one made of a heavy woven cotton (similar to a heavy good quality denim) which has sadly outlasted many dogs.
I forgot to mention this, but how you use wash your fleece might be a contributing factor in making it pill and lose it’s good looks. I wash with Orvus (it’s a horse and cattle shampoo which is also sold in very small jars at high-end quilt shops). Wash fleece separately so it isn’t rubbed and pilled by heavier fabrics. Dry on low heat. I often dry part way and finish on a drying rack to avoid static electricty build up. Lastly, I was taught in sewing class to never use a dryer sheet with fleece as it makes it pill. Hope this helps.
http://m.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Sporting-Dog-Solutions-Crate-Pillow-Mat-28-x-47&i=613399
Love this bed. We have had it for 4 years at least. It all goes in the washer often as we have one that pees on the bedding. No taking anything off. It has in the last year gone flat. They have differentered styles. We bought ours from the store in the link and offered a year warranty(for a small cost)that covered rips, dog chewing it up, etc.
No dogs but thanks for posting the cat nutrition site. Son’s cats are around 13 and one has kidney disease. We started adding water to his KD food. He slurps it right down and now pees a lot and is doing better.
I have an older dog and we use the MidWest Quiet Time Fleece Reversible Pet Bed & Crate Mat, Blue Paw Print to make him comfy. But I have to have something I can wash. I have a front loading washing machine and have washed this on a heavy duty cycle, bleached it, rinsed it several times, then toss it in the dryer. In spite of my rather brutal treatment, it looks very nice each time I pull it out of the dryer. This is a link to chewy.com: http://j.tinyurl.com/j82254f.
I used to have horses and needed to wash their turnout sheets and blankets during the wet and muddy winters. There’s only so much horse poo one can take on a sheet before you’re not willing to touch even with the assistance of a barge pole. I used Atsko Sport Wash Laundry detergent. For those with sensitive skin it is really effective because you are not dealing with residue left behind by regular laundry detergent: http://j.tinyurl.com/hbegfht. You can find this on Amazon and at REI as Penguin Sports Wash. I still use it for all my sport and technical clothing.
I got my Swissy (GSMD), 115 lbs of lap dog a Xorbee 4′ x 5′ “Pillow” that was filled with memory foam crumbles with a zip off cover (who says they’re only for people!). The cover looks new after a wash, and when he got sick (Wobblers’ and spleen cancer 🙁 ) I added a twin plastic mattress cover between the bed and the cover – worked great. Not cheap, but my Viszla puppy at 55lbs and growing loves to sprawl on it now (it’s 5 years old now and still looks/feels new). https://xorbee.com/collections/big-pillows/products/five-foot-foam-filled-pillow. Good luck!
We have three German Shepherds, one with allergies and similar skin conditions. We use memory foam crib mattresses with mattress pad covers and crib sheets. The mattress usually comes with a full cover but we put two sheets on the mattress, one for the top one for the bottom, to keep the mattress clean on the bottom as well. I always have two sets for each mattress so I can change it more often. If you don’t want something that big you can always do the same thing with either a mini crib mattress or a playpen mattress there are various sizes on Amazon with covers and sheet to match.
How about an organic latex twin size mattress and organic cotton sheets(can be found at Target, for cheap in relation to many) with (a) mattress cover(s), so that the sheets & cover(s)could be interchange-able and washed? I’d also make certain that your dog’g food was ‘Grain-Free’, for one. When bathing the dog use organic white vinegar, check out using Avocados in the food, the oil of Avocado, and or other organic oils such as Sea Buckthorn, Palmarosa, Clove Bud, Comfrey, Calendula, Lavender, or Sandalwood, to Topically even out skin condition.
I love mine! It’s kirkland brand from costco. The cover unzips and is easy to clean. Mine has the fake furr top and its held up so far but I know they have versions without it too. Online they’re $44. In store I only paid $25 for mine about a month ago (I have the 42in round one) I’ve never really been disappointed with a costco purchase so I’d recommend checking them out.
https://www.costco.com/CatalogSearch?storeId=10301&catalogId=10701&langId=-1&keyword=kirkland+signature+dog+beds
I use two covers!
One vinyl type under then a Kosipet extra large white Sherpa fleece on top.
The top one gets washed regularly easily, and the cover below less often.
So far so good.
I hope this helps.
We have a 90lb Great Pyrenees who refuses to sleep on dog beds no matter how much money we spend (we even went the Orvis route) . . . What he does love is crib mattresses from IKEA! Which are great because the nice ones only cost around $59 and we can buy regular crib fitted sheets from amazon for easy washing 🙂 We’ve decided that he likes them better because he considers himself to be “peoples” so he needed a “peoples bed”
Amazon sells orthopedic dog bed covers. I have this problem with my dog. I just buy the covers and wash them. My dog is a 130 pounds of cuddly sweetness.
Yes, a day late but… been one of those weeks. My 9 year old German Shepard/ Bull Mastiff mix (90 lbs) uses the deep dish dog bed with memory foam and snap off pads from Orvis. It comes with two pads so you can wash one while using the other. Since it snaps on there is not the struggle that can come with completely recovering a bed. AND if there are issues with excess liquid a waterproof crib pad fits under the snap off pad so it stays in place and doesn’t show. The current catalogue I have only has small and medium sizes but I know they come bigger …. there’s one in my bedroom. Good luck! ?
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E3EC9M/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This bed is awesome. We have a big Border Collie, he’s 68lbs, and four cats. They all use this bed every single day. Winston, our BC, loves it. He’s 8 and it’s easy on his bones. Very thick and has a lot of support. The cover is very sturdy and the bed comes with a second cover, slightly lighter in fabric weight but still fairly sturdy. We’ve washed everything from cat vomit to dog drool and bone chew stains out of it and it looks brand new every time. I absolutely love this bed and I think it’s exactly what you are looking for. Good luck!
I would first try getting a big beach towel or two (for a spare) and wrapping it around the bed, maybe even pining it underneath the bed to keep it in place. Then when the towel gets dirty it is easy to remove and throw in the washer. You can take the spare towel and wrap it around the bed and not worry if you are behind on the wash.
Something I am about to try is using pee pads to create a disposable waterproof liner. My dog has ruined the inner part of the bed, which is not washable. I don’t want to put a waterproof outer on it since the outer part of the bed is soft and comfy, so I’ll just put pee pads on top of the inner part before I zip on the cover. It should work to switch them out whenever the outer cover is washed.
just finished into the fire by JF – it was great but wow I am really looking forward to the next instalments featuring Ian and Veritas! been waiting for Ian to get his own book for ages and this mix is just perfect!