Why an orthopedic dog mat?
When we received the request to foster Heidi in December 2020, we didn't have to think twice. Our old dog, Carat, had passed away a few weeks earlier, and the apartment was empty and quiet. You know, everything's awful without a dog. Meadows are awful, forests are awful, houses are awful... So Heidi came to us. The plan was to care for Heidi before and after her upcoming femoral head resection and to accompany her until a new owner was found. As was almost to be expected, we failed miserably as a foster home. It only took three weeks, and the decision was made: Heidi would stay with us.
At that time, Heidi was one and a half years old and had not experienced much, and probably even less positive, up to that point. Completely underdeveloped and malnourished, she was taken to an animal shelter with four other German Shepherds from poor conditions and from there to an animal welfare organization. After initial examinations, maldevelopment of the right hip joint, which was already apparent from the outside, was diagnosed . Two veterinarians independently came to the opinion that Heidi needed surgery as soon as possible. She came to us with this requirement. The operation was to be performed near our home, and so we went to the Hofheim Animal Clinic . After a thorough examination, the surgeon in charge decided to wait with the operation because a) such an operation would initially have a significant impact on quality of life and would not currently bring any improvement, and b) Heidi did not have enough muscle mass to get back on her (proverbial) hind legs as quickly as possible. For the next weeks and months, he prescribed an extensive training and rehabilitation program . We complete this in the best hands of Dr. Keller from the Frankfurt Veterinary Orthopaedic Team.
Heidi was a typical floor sleeper in her first few weeks. Even for young, healthy dogs, this isn't a good long-term option. Cold, drafts, and a hard surface can lead to serious restrictions and diseases of muscles and joints .
So we had to find a suitable sleeping pad for Heidi. A dog mat was the first choice for our floor sleeper. Naturally with an orthopedic visco foam insert . After extensive research on the market for orthopedic beds for dogs, we decided on a dog mat from the manufacturer Traumhund . There were several reasons why we should choose a Traumhund dog mat. The orthopedic pad is made of pure, five centimeter thick visco foam . There are no additional glued-in intermediate layers made of potentially inferior filling material . The fact that Traumhund can do without this is because three different degrees of hardness are available . This means that the dog mat is tailored to the dog's body size and weight . We were able to choose the right fabric for our Heidi from a wide variety of covers. Traumhund beds are made in Germany and the workmanship and materials used are high-quality and durable. The recommendations of veterinarians and veterinary orthopedic specialists with whom we spoke were also crucial in our decision to buy a Traumhund dog mat. If the professionals use them, they must be good.
How do you get your dog used to its new orthopedic mattress?
If a sleeping area is already available and you're just changing the bedding, it's a little easier. It's best to use the dog blanket that was already used on the previous bedding for the new dog mat, without washing it first, so that the familiar smells are retained. If the new dog mat is unusual for your dog, only persistence will help. Always associate sitting or lying down on the new dog bed with something positive, such as treats or petting.
Dogs with joint or muscle problems who switch to an orthopedic dog mat or bed quickly notice that they lie and sleep better when the surface conforms to their body shape. This was the case with Heidi. It took her a few days to sleep on her Traumhund orthopedic dog mat, first with just her head or rear end, and finally, completely stretched out, ideally completely. Since she likes to move from room to room in the evening and at night, she hasn't just used one dog mat. We now also have an orthopedic dog bed and dog blankets . For hot summer days, we have a cooling mat that we place on top of her dog blanket.
Significant improvement of the muscles and musculoskeletal system
After about two months, a follow-up appointment at the veterinary clinic was scheduled. During this appointment, they checked the extent to which Heidi's muscles, pain perception during movement, mobility, and, of course, her general condition had improved. Naturally, we were excited, even though we already knew that the little noodle had developed so well in such a short time. Physiotherapy and training had shown results, but the specialist's assessment was still pending. After the examination, we all had big grins on our faces. The surgeon was thrilled with Heidi's development and state of health. We think Heidi was happy that day, too. The training and physiotherapy were successful , and surgery is still not an option, at least not for the time being.
Of course, Heidi's improvement wasn't solely due to the orthopedic dog mat, but when your dog wakes up rested and fit, and is fully engaged and motivated in her daily training and weekly physical therapy sessions, developmental progress is much easier . Heidi has become more confident, more motivated, and is able to concentrate better on tasks. This is another effect we all experience when we get a good night's sleep. It's always fascinating how quickly Heidi, and certainly many other dogs, can adapt to a new life.
And as a tribute to our little fighter, we came up with the idea of creating a dog mat with her name and an extraordinary design together with Traumhund . The orthopedic dog mat Heidi also represents all those dogs or people who don't have it easy but who don't let their heads hang and want to fight for a happy and contented life.
