Big Barker Dog Beds
Anyone with a large breed dog knows that big dogs come with big challenges. You have to find the right food, make sure they maintain a healthy weight and provide them with plenty of exercise.
And don’t forget the struggle to find necessary, basic supplies that don’t look like toys next to their large frames!
But all struggles and challenges aside, ensuring your gentle giant has everything they need to live a happy, comfortable life is a hugely (pun intended!) rewarding experience.
That’s why when our big dogs get older and start showing the inevitable signs of joint pain and arthritis, we’re willing to do anything to make them more comfortable.
With almost 20 million dogs in the U.S. diagnosed with some level of osteoarthritis, the demand for new ways to alleviate the disease’s symptoms is on the rise. Combine this with the rising cost of pharmaceuticals (and their harmful side effects) means dog-owners are looking for alternative therapies.
This summer, the Wag Enabled team released a full review on a dog bed called the Big Barker. The Big Barker Dog Bed is a therapeutic mattress constructed of Big Barker’s 3-layered OrWhoMedic blend of high-density foam. Explicitly designed for giant breeds, it’s a contender for the best dog bed for senior dogs with arthritis.
But while customer reviews are great, we like to see the science behind a product. That’s why we were so excited to read UPenn’s recent study on the Big Barker Dog Bed!
With almost 20 million dogs in the U.S. diagnosed with some level of osteoarthritis, the demand for new ways to alleviate the disease’s symptoms is on the rise. Combine this with the rising cost of pharmaceuticals (and their harmful side effects) means dog-owners are looking for alternative therapies.
This summer, the Wag Enabled team released a full review on a dog bed called the Big Barker. The Big Barker Dog Bed is a therapeutic mattress constructed of Big Barker’s 3-layered OrWhoMedic blend of high-density foam. Explicitly designed for giant breeds, it’s a contender for the best dog bed for senior dogs with arthritis.
But while customer reviews are great, we like to see the science behind a product. That’s why we were so excited to read UPenn’s recent study on the Big Barker Dog Bed!
University of Pennsylvania Clinical Study
UPenn’s report covers their clinical trial, a single-center, open-label, proof of concept study. To participate in the study, dogs had to fit the following criteria:
- Older than three years of age
- Weight more than 70 pounds
- Have a confirmed diagnosis of osteoporosis by a veterinary radiologist at the Ryan Small Animal Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
However, if a dog had an underlying illness like neoplasia, clinically significant neurologic disease, or any unregulated chronic disease such as diabetes mellitus or hypothyroidism, they were excluded.
All in all, UPenn invited 40 dogs to participate in the study, which lasted 38 days. For the study’s entire duration, the dogs wore a monitor that collected their physical activity and sleep data.
The results were fantastic! The dog’s owners reported that their dogs “had significant reductions in pain and joint stiffness.” The owners also reported improvement in their dog’s joint function, gait, mobility, and overall quality of life.
The data collected from the monitors worn on the dog’s collars showed that 50% of the dogs had at least a 13% decrease in nighttime activity, and 25% of dogs had at least a 33% decrease. This data suggest an improved nighttime restfulness in these dogs. And getting a good night’s sleep is crucial to anyone’s health, human or dog!
The results of this test will mean a lot to owners of large, older dogs. And if you are considering adopting an older dog, you should make sure to get your new companion a Big Barker dog bed.
Why Adopt Large, Older Dogs?
While people are drawn to perky, energetic puppies, there are many benefits to adopting an older dog.
The first is that you’ll automatically know more about them! Shelters and rescues do a great job of collecting information about the animals they care for. Before you bring them home, you’ll know all about their background, energy level, and how they might get along with other animals in the house.
They’ll also require a lower level of exercise and activity than an energetic puppy. An older dog will probably be happy to take a couple of walks around the block with you, then chill on the couch for the rest of the day.
While people are drawn to perky, energetic puppies, there are many benefits to adopting an older dog.
The first is that you’ll automatically know more about them! Shelters and rescues do a great job of collecting information about the animals they care for. Before you bring them home, you’ll know all about their background, energy level, and how they might get along with other animals in the house.
They’ll also require a lower level of exercise and activity than an energetic puppy. An older dog will probably be happy to take a couple of walks around the block with you, then chill on the couch for the rest of the day.
The third, and probably the biggest, benefit to adopting a senior dog is you won’t have to worry about potty training! Housebreaking a new dog is one of the biggest challenges for pet owners. However, in most cases, older and more mature dogs have already been housebroken and gone through at least some training. Sure, the dog may have a few accidents while they’re adjusting to their new home, but nowhere near as many as a new puppy.
So the results are in! Big dogs are great, older dogs are great, and the Big Barker Dog Bed is great.
So if you have a dog with joint pain or are considering adopting an older larger dog, we strongly recommend you check out Big Barker’s website today.
