The best beds for senior dogs: support, easy entry and warmth
The best bed for a senior dog has a thick memory foam or orthopaedic foam base that does not bottom out when you press it, a low front or step-in side for stiff hips, a bolster to lean against and a non-slip base for laminate floors. Add a removable washable cover and, for a dog that leaks in its sleep, a waterproof liner. If your dog is slow to rise or stiff after rest, see the vet first.
Foam that does not bottom out
The press test is the whole buying decision. Push your fist into the middle of the bed: if you can feel the floor through it, it is too thin for a dog with sore joints, whatever the label says. Older dogs sleep more hours in the same position, and a pad that compresses to nothing puts the hip and elbow on the floor all night. Memory foam moulds to the body; firmer orthopaedic foam supports a heavy dog without sinking too far.
The Bolstered Orthopaedic Dog Bed and the Orthopaedic Memory Foam Dog Sofa Bed are the two shapes to compare, and the Extra Large Orthopaedic Dog Sofa Bed goes up to the sizes a Labrador or a German Shepherd needs. The Plush Ribbed Mattress Dog Bed is the flat option for a dog that prefers to lie fully stretched with no sides at all.
Easy in, easy out
A dog with arthritic hips will not climb a high wall to get to bed. Look for a low front lip, or a bed where one side is open and the other three bolstered, so the dog steps in from the front and leans against the back. The L-Shaped Bolster Sofa Dog Bed does exactly that, and the sofa-style beds put the bolster where a dog rests its head and shoulders.
On laminate or tiles, a non-slip base matters as much as the foam, because a bed that skids when the dog pushes up is a fall waiting to happen. Vetbed Non Slip and ProFleece Non-Slip Vet Bedding have the rubber-backed underside for this, and they double as a layer on top of a foam bed. For a dog that cannot get up unaided, the Four Flags Quick Lift Dog Support Sling takes the weight while you help.
Washable covers and leaks
Older dogs leak. Weak bladders, dribbling in deep sleep and the occasional accident on the way to the door are normal in a senior, and the bed has to cope. A removable cover that zips off and goes through the machine is essential; a waterproof liner between cover and foam keeps the core dry, because foam that has soaked up urine never comes clean.
The Memory Foam Bolster Dog Bed with Washable Cover and the Waterproof Pet Sofa Bed with Bolster are built with this in mind. For a dog that leaks regularly, a Washable Absorbent Incontinence Bed Pad or the Reusable Washable Bed Protection Pad on top of the cover takes the wet, and you change the pad rather than strip the whole bed at two in the morning.
Raised beds, warmth and where to put it
Some seniors struggle to get up off the floor at all, and a raised bed at knee height lets them stand straight off it without the push-up. In summer the PawHut Raised Cooling Dog Bed with Canopy keeps a heavy-coated old dog off a hot patio. In winter, warmth eases stiff joints: the Ancol Self Heating Pad Aztec reflects body heat with no power, and a Hotties Heat Pad, warmed and wrapped in a blanket, never directly against the skin, suits a thin or very old dog.
Site the bed out of draughts, on the ground floor if stairs have become a problem, and near the family rather than in a spare room. An old dog that has to choose between comfort and company will often choose the cold hard floor beside you, so bring the bed to where you are.
Size, and the signs worth a vet visit
Measure your dog lying fully stretched, nose to tail base, and buy the bed that fits that, not the curled measurement you would use for a puppy. Older dogs stretch out to take pressure off their joints, and a bed that forces them to curl defeats the purpose. Big dogs need extra large; do not economise on size for a senior.
A bed helps a stiff dog rest better; it does not treat what is making it stiff. Slow to rise in the morning, reluctance to jump into the car, stiffness after rest that eases with movement, or a dog that has stopped settling at all: these are pain signs and the reason for a vet appointment, not a new bed. Pain is a common hidden cause of a behaviour change in an older dog. Joint supplements are worth raising at that appointment rather than choosing off a shelf.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Vetiq Joint Care Extra + Senior Dogs & Cats
Senior joint tablets with glucosamine, chondroitin and krill, for dogs and cats slowing down
£16.49
Senior Dog Mobility & Comfort Set
A lifting sling for stairs and getting up, a microwavable heat pad for stiff joints, and grippy vet bedding to rest on.
£62.99
Moderna Plastic Dog Bed Warm
Moderna's Domus plastic dog bed in warm grey, moulded from over 98% recycled plastic, in five sizes from Small to Giant.
From£14.99
Cartoon Cat and Shiba Inu Fleece Cave Bed, Four Sizes to 80cm
A domed fleece nest with a cartoon cat or Shiba Inu face, filled with rebound PP cotton to hold its shape, in four sizes running from 50cm across to 80cm.
From£21.99
Moderna Plastic Dog Bed Extra
The extra large Domus bed, moulded from over 98% recycled plastic with a ventilated base
£29.99
Bolstered Orthopaedic Dog Bed
A supportive bolstered dog bed with a thick cushioned base and raised sides that cradle joints and give a place to rest the head. Ideal for older dogs or any pet who likes to stretch out for restful, comfortable sleep.
From£45.99
L-Shaped Bolster Sofa Dog Bed
A supportive L-shaped sofa bed with a raised bolster back and side for your dog to rest their head. The thick padded base cushions joints, and the soft rose-velvet cover is removable and washable for easy care.
From£44.99
Memory Foam Bolster Dog Bed with Washable Cover
A supportive memory-foam dog bed with raised bolster sides for head and neck resting. The soft cream boucle cover removes for washing, making it easy to keep fresh while giving your dog proper rest.
From£69.99
Four-Sided Washable Dog Bed
A cosy bolstered dog bed with raised sides for a sense of security and a fully removable, machine-washable cover. The layered cushion and mattress lift out for easy cleaning, ideal for autumn and winter.
From£46.99
Moderna Plastic Dog Bed Warm Grey Extra Large
A wipe-clean recycled plastic dog bed frame, 78.8 x 49.2cm inside
£29.99
Cooling Bolster Pet Sofa Bed
Supportive bolster pet bed with a breathable cooling top that keeps dogs and cats comfortable in warmer weather. Raised sides cushion the neck and the cover fully detaches for easy washing.
From£65.99
L-Shaped Bolster Dog Sofa Bed
A roomy sofa-style dog bed with a raised L-shaped bolster along the back and side for support. The flat cushioned base gives large dogs plenty of space to sprawl and rest.
From£65.99
Common questions
- What type of bed is best for a dog with arthritis?
- A thick memory foam or orthopaedic foam bed with a low front and a non-slip base, deep enough that you cannot feel the floor when you press it. Add a bolster for a dog that leans and a washable, ideally waterproof, cover.
- How thick should an orthopaedic dog bed be?
- Thick enough that your fist does not reach the floor with your weight on it. For a medium dog that usually means around four inches of foam, and more for a heavy breed. Thin plush pads bottom out and are no better than the floor.
- Are raised beds good for older dogs?
- Yes for a dog that struggles to push up off the floor, because standing off a knee-height bed needs less effort. Check the frame is sturdy, the fabric is taut and the height is not so high that a stiff dog has to jump.
- Why has my old dog stopped using its bed?
- Often because the bed has become hard to get into, too cold, too far from you, or the dog is sore and cannot get comfortable. Try a lower, warmer bed near the family, and if stiffness or a change in behaviour comes with it, see the vet.
Related
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Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.