Large Breed Dog With Arthritis Benefits From High Quality Raised Bed.
Great made in the USA product that reflects thoughtful design and is well made of high quality materials. While this isn't one if the cheapest options out there, I would place a serious wager that my Kuranda will still be in use and holding up like a champ down the road compared to any and all "better deal"/discount options that really are only a cheap plastic/nylon raised bed that will sag and eventually break...destined to end up in the trash or recycling. I like saving money just as much as the next person, but going with the cheaper option is not saving anything in this case. We have a dog with arthritis and I fully believe his joints and spine have benefitted from the raised level of this bed. Being a large breed and wanting to provide him with the space to stretch out, we got the XL size. This bed supports him very well and isn't hard on his joints like a cement floor. Our dog wasn't all that comfortable with the slick material, but it makes it easy to clean. We added a 2"-thick firm foam therapy bed and he jumps right on and happily settles down. We use our Kuranda all-aluminum beds indoors so we haven't tested it with outdoor conditions. I do have a concern that in the hot sun, the metal would burn our dog or us if we tried handling it and moving it. I have no doubt that the high quality of the Kuranda would hold up better to the elements compared to other similar products out there, but hot metal may be something you would have to think about for outdoor use. Now the bad news. This bed does not come assembled. You will have to put it together. It is also good to know that you will need TIME to put this together. Do not make any plans to have dinner with the in-laws or your boss unless you want to be late because putting this together will most likely take you more time than you thought or planned. This may sound daunting, but I wanted to give fair warning. It is still doable. It is not impossible like some reviewers have said. It certainly isn't so confounding that I would knock it down from 5 stars. Using a little - go easy...a little goes a long way - WD-40 on the *joints* may help with a stubborn connector should you run into difficulties. But, that is the *ONLY* place I would think of using WD-40. Some may think it would come in handy to help slide the material in place, but that probably isn't so smart in the long run without knowing how WD-40 would effect the make-up of your material over time and in the elements. More importantly, you want the material to stay in place and not slip out from the channel/groove that you slide the material into. Because of that danger alone, just rely on muscle to slide the material in place. Sliding the material in place - four sides - is really what takes the most time and effort. It takes TIME and patience, but makes sense. You want this part to stay in place once it is put together. In addition to time and patience, you will need a screwdriver as well. This certainly isn't something that you can snap together, but it also won't snap apart or give way under your beloved animal either. Once you get it put together, taking it apart is probably not on your bucket list. In the end, though, you will have a reliable raised bed that will hold up to your pet's use. I love our Kuranda all-aluminum beds. We bought a second one after being impressed by the high quality of the first Kuranda bed and the comfort of our dog. Read more