As a veterinarian and veterinary specialist, I end up seeing a lot of dogs (and cats) present in the veterinary ER due to lameness, pain and arthritis. Osteoarthritis can be debilitating in dogs, and result in chronic pain. Signs of osteoarthritis pain including excessive licking, limping, hesitancy to jump up and down furniture, having a difficulty time getting up or laying down, muscle wasting (especially in the hind limbs), trembling, shaking or even whining. If you're not sure if your dog has arthritis or not, check with your veterinarian - we often detect this on physical examination and on x-rays. If your dog has elbow hygromas, that's usually a sign to me that your dog also needs a softer orthopedic bed!
That's why I was honored to do a review of the orthopedic dog bed Big Barker - and I'll attest that as a veterinarian AND dog owner, I do recommend it. Big Barker beds are expensive, but worth it especially for big dogs that have joint problems, hygromas, certain diseases (like Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or immune-mediated joint disease), or arthritis/ osteoarthritis. When my Big Barker dog bed came in the mail, I was shocked how small the packaging was. It was tightly curled, plastic wrapped and vacuum packed. Upon opening, it instantly sprung to life and did NOT have any toxic smelling odor (which often occurs!). I like how these beds are handcrafted in the USA, and comes with a 10-year warranty also. My dog climbed on immediately onto the dog bed (as did my human toddler). The cover seems easy to clean, although I haven't cleaned it yet. The thing I love the most about the Big Barker bed is that it has a very thick OrthoMedic foam (like memory foam) that doesn't "sink in" or flatten. The Big Barker bed foam helps distribute weight evenly and eliminates pressure points, so this bed is REALLY helpful for dogs with elbow hygromas! It even comes with a headrest.
Having done my residency training in emergency/critical care at University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Penn Vet, I was glad to see that Penn Vet also completed a study in dogs with the Big Barker bed and found that there was anywhere between a 10-22% improvement in pain severity score, joint stiffness improvement, joint function, gait, and quality of life. The only negative that I would say is that as the bed has a very durable cover, but dirt and sand doesn't "hide in it" the way it would for another dog bed. So, you do have to brush or vacuum the top of the bed off occasionally.
Otherwise, great orthopedic dog bed and veterinary recommended from this veterinarian! You can find more information at Big Barker dog orthopedic beds here:
bigbarker.com/
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