A fur coat helps keep the cold out, but sometimes it's not enough for your dog, particularly if he/she is older, has arthritis, or is recovering from illness or surgery. Whether your dog has short or long hair, cold winter nights?and days?can chill him. A heated dog bed may be the answer to help your dog stay warm and cozy even in the dead of winter.

There are many heated dog beds available on the web and in stores. Some are better than others. The most important factor is safety. If you are in the market for one, here is what to look for:

The heated dog bed should be UL and CUL certified to ensure safety and ideally have a steel-wrapped cord in case your dog is a chewer.

Dual thermostats are preferable to automatically ensure consistent temperature; 102 degrees is an optimal temperature for dogs. Look for a heated bed that provides a full-range, variable heat control. This allows you to adjust the heat from off to full temperature heat quickly and easily.

The best heated beds have a heater that keeps the surface temperature of the bed about 12 to 15 degrees above ambient air temperature. When your dog lies on the bed, the temperature warms to a cozy 102?. Because the heater from the warmer insert only warms up when your dog is on the bed, it doesn't waste a lot of energy. Depending on the size of the bed, most heated beds use 6-13 watts.

Look for a bed with a removable heater insert so you can wash the bed and use it year-round without the heat.

Read the product information carefully. Some heated beds are designed for indoor use only, while other beds, such as heated kennel mats, are suitable for outside use.

Heated dog beds come in a variety of styles. They include orthopedic heated beds with thick orthopedic foam to cushion joints and reduce pressure points; pillow-style beds with a heater inside; igloo style half-rounded heated pads to fit in igloo dog houses; heated, oval beds for small and toy-breed dogs; and heated kennel mats for use outside.

Another option is a thermo-wave microwavable dog bed warmer. You just heat the warmer in your microwave and put it into your dog's bed. It becomes soft and pliable when warmed. Good ones will have two sides for adjustable warmth, will be made out of non-toxic material, and stay warm for up to 12 hours.

Never use a human heating pad for your dog. They are designed to be placed on top the body and not for being laid upon. Heating pads for humans get much hotter than a dog's body temperature and may cause injury.

Valerie Goettsch is webmaster of My Favorite Dog featuring articles and information on heated dog beds, dog health issues, training, and more.

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