Pampered Pet Bedding

Fun or Practical, a Bed is Something Your Pet Needs

It might surprise you that, by the end of this decade, Americans will have spent $50 billion a year on pet-related items, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

Let’s face it: for many of us, it’s fun to spoil our pets. We like buying them premium food, the coolest collars, the newest toys and, yes, even plush pet beds.

An APPMA survey revealed that 42 percent of dogs sleep in the same beds as their owners. So, where are the rest of our pets sleeping?

Sweet Dreams, Sweet Beds

Forget about just an old blanket on the floor. Maybe your little princess wants to doze in the comfort of cashmere. Or your prince wants a sporty Ferrari bed.

The varieties of pet bedding are endless—as is the range of cost.

Consider the vintage mink or chinchilla sleigh bed, which retails for $649 (yes, the fur is faux) and comes complete with decorative legs. The cover can by dry-cleaned. Not necessarily practical, but certainly stylish!

You can find pet beds with every kind of fabric, pattern and color to blend seamlessly with your own home’s décor. For $353, you can find a chaise lounge for your kitty or pooch in your choice of colors and patterns.

But perhaps your pet’s tastes run a little more extravagant? Then what he needs is the Beverly Hills pet bed, which is upholstered in faux pearlized Italian leather and comes with a faux fur bottom and silk bolster. You can get it in black and white or pink and white. It retails for $1,550, which might be more than you spent on your own bed.

There is Napoleon’s Dormeuse chaise lounge (usually $850, now marked down to $495) for your small dog with a complex. Your frou-frou dog or cat might enjoy the iron bed with a feather canopy ($345).

These pet beds come in every shape and design imaginable. Why should your pet sleep on your couch when he can have his very own? Get him a pet bed that resembles the sofa you have in your living room.

Or how about a satin and fringed number, like you’d find in a boudoir?

Your pet won’t want to jump on your bed anymore when he has a luxurious nest of his own.

Pet Beds for the More Budget Conscious

Not every pet bed is as expensive as those luxury models, of course. There is a pet bed to fit every budget and every pet, starting as low as $20.

It is not necessary to spend a lot of money to give your dog a good night’s sleep. But you might consider investing a bit more to get a quality, long-lasting pet bed. Take into consideration your pet’s size, temperament and age when choosing the bed that is right for your pet.

• Classic beds are mattress-style and come in various shapes and sizes. They often have a zip-off cover that you can wash.
• Bolster beds have a cushioned area where your pet can rest his head.
• Nesting beds have sides for snuggling, perfect for small breed dogs and also for cats.
• Orthopedic beds are for older animals or those with joint issues.

Pet Health Benefits for a Good Night’s Sleep

Your pet should have a designated spot to sleep, where he feels secure and can retreat to for some quiet time.

His bed should be clean, soft and padded and positioned in an area free from drafts in the winter. A pet bed protects your pet from the floor—which is especially important for large dogs, as they can develop calluses or bony protrusions from lying on hard surfaces.

Older, overweight or arthritic pets need the extra cushioning an orthopedic pet bed provides. There are also heated pet beds, and microwavable discs that you can put under your pet’s bed to help provide warmth for those with arthritis.

Dr. Cori Gross, a field veterinarian for VPI Pet Insurance, said that if your pet has allergies, you need to wash the bedding periodically. 

“Vacuuming the bed is a good idea because that will kill fleas,” Gross said. She also said that some pets are allergic to the popular cedar-filled pet beds, but that cedar scented pet beds are okay to use.

Sleep Well

Will your pet sleep better in a $1,200 "Hollywood Leopard Bed" than on a classic bed?

Probably not.

But if it makes you happy—and him comfy—then why not? Spoil him!

Return to the VPI Pet HealthZone

Email this article to a friend or share it via your favorite social network.