Waterbeds were all the rage in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
It’s a pretty good guess that the inventors never envisioned its use in the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center’s Equine Hospital.
“We utilize the waterbed for horses that are down and cannot get up, typically due to neurological disease,” said Dr. Jamie Kopper, assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences.
The waterbed isn’t used to assist the horses to be able to stand. But it is critical in the care of those horses until they are able to get back up again.
“The waterbed is used to help prevent secondary injuries that can occur when horses are down,” Kopper said. “Due to the sheer weight of a horse, they rapidly develop skin and muscle injuries and additional nerve damage.
“The waterbed provides them with a cushion so that these effects are lessened while they are down and we are working to get them standing again.”
The secondary injuries can create additional medical problems and can make it even more challenging to get the horse back up even if the primary problem is treated. Some horses can also injure themselves repeatedly trying to stand.
“This bed helps prevent those injuries as well,” Kopper said.
The waterbed is filled with warm water which also helps regulate the patient’s body temperature.
The waterbed was specifically built for Iowa State. It was custom made not only to fit the size of a horse but allows equine veterinarians to turn the horse without having to move the bed.
The Equine Hospital medical team utilizes the waterbed a few times a year. Patients have their hooves wrapped to prevent them from damaging the waterbed and most do not require sedation to get on the waterbed.
The waterbed is used in conjunction with other treatments for down horses at the Equine Hospital. Slings are utilized to try and help the patient into a standing position. Nutritional and fluid support and other treatments are administered based on the diagnosis.
But the waterbed is a vital component to the treatment of down horses.
“It has made a real difference in reducing the number of secondary problems that develop while we are trying to treat the horse’s initial problem,” Kopper said.
December 2025
