Are Electric Blankets Safe For Dogs?

I’m a total wuss when it comes to the cold – and so are Matilda and Cow, they were born in California and have very sparse, short coats. 

So, I was excited when I found the perfect electric blanket for myself. What better way to motivate myself to get work done from home than by sitting under a hot blanket while I type away?

But I was disappointed to find out that electric blankets are not safe for dogs. 

This is my first electric blanket, before now, I didn’t really understand how they worked. 

They’re made of a soft, thin fabric, and the inside is webbed with wires that distribute heat. These wires are thin and delicate, so your dog’s claws could easily break them, creating a fire hazard.

So, again, most electric blankets are not for dogs.

You also need to monitor electric blanket use – you can’t leave them on unattended. Plus, your dog might not notice if it gets too hot, so she could be at risk for getting burned. I personally don’t think my blanket could get that hot, but as much as I want my dogs to be toasty, it’s not worth the risk.

Now, I’m in the process of doing some product research. I want to find a warm alternative that is safe for my dogs. They’re not getting more toys for Christmas, so a warm blanket or bed would be a perfect gift.

Non-Electric Self Warming Pads

An easy choice would be a self-warming bed pad or pet bed. They require no electricity, so you don’t have to worry about them eventually breaking – I know I’m going to have to replace my electric blanket at some point because it feels delicate, and old, worn out units tend to be a fire hazard.

They’re also cheaper, so I can get a nice, big one that Matilda and Cow can share. 

Here’s what I just ordered:

K&H Self Warming Bed Pad

You can choose from different sizes, all at different prices. I’m going to go big, because Matilda and Cow like to be next to each other… preferably without touching. There’s also a self-heating bed available from the same company if you’d rather have something cozier than the pad.

Update: My dogs gravitate to this pad, and I can feel it reflecting my body heat if I put my hands on it. I love that I can trust it when I leave them alone!

Microwavable Heat Pad

I’ve heard great things about the Snugglesafe Microwavable Heat Pad, but it wouldn’t work for my home – it’s about the size of a plate, so Matilda and Cow could not share it. I would definitely get it if I had a new puppy, or even just one Chi.

Electric Heating Dog Beds And Crate Pads

As we look into heating pads that use electricity, shopping gets a bit more complex. 

I would really recommend going with a pet-specific product made by a well known pet brand. There are a lot of cheap products on Amazon that are designed for pets, but they come from manufacturers in China that do not offer customer support… or even clear instructions.

Others have small heating pad inserts that do not really warm up the entire surface of the bed. The warmth can still radiate outwards, but it’s just not going to heat evenly.

The K&H Lectro-Kennel Heating Pad is a popular product, it can be used indoors or out. It has a built-in thermostat that matches your dog’s body heat when they lie on it. This is what I’ll choose if the self-warming bed doesn’t impress Matilda and Cow.

As far as actual beds go, there are a lot of small dog and cat options, but not many that are large enough for my dogs to share. Since Matilda is more sensitive to the cold than Cow, it might make sense for me to get a heated cat bed – she won’t know the difference!

The K&H Hooded Thermo Cat Bed is everything and a half. It’s similar to their other products in that it warms up when your dog lies on it. 

Shop Heated Cat Beds on Amazon!

Lindsay Pevny

Lindsay Pevny lives to help pet parents make the very best choices for their pets by providing actionable, science-based training and care tips and insightful pet product reviews.

She also uses her pet copywriting business to make sure the best pet products and services get found online through catchy copy and fun, informative blog posts. She also provides product description writing services for ecommerce companies.

As a dog mom to Matilda and Cow, she spends most of her days taking long walks and practicing new tricks, and most nights trying to make the best of a very modest portion of her bed.

You'll also find her baking bread and making homemade pizza, laughing, painting and shopping.