The 4 Best Cooling Pads for Dogs
One of the best ways to keep dogs cool during the hot summer months is to use a cooling mat or bed. They come in a variety of sizes, and many can be used both inside and outside the house or in a kennel. It is very easy for a dog to become overheated, and these mats can cool your pet down quickly and keep them comfortable for hours.
There are a few things to be aware of to find the best product for your situation. In this post, we cover what you should look for when shopping for a cooling mat and give you some recommendations regarding the best products on the market.
The Top 4
Pet Dog Self Cooling Mat from Arf Pets
This Arf Pets solid-gel pad is a great option to help your pets stay cool. It is lightweight, budget-friendly, and easy to clean. It is useable as a standalone mat, in a kennel, or on a dog bed.
It can be used inside or outside and can stay cold for around three hours with 15-20 minutes recharging time when not being used. It has a slight cushion for comfort and folds up easily to move around your house or to take with you when you travel. It comes in 3 sizes, is puncture-proof, and is non-toxic.
Available from Amazon
The Green Pet Shop Self Cooling Pet Pad
The Green Shop is another standard option if you are looking for a good quality, low-maintenance cooling pad. It folds up easily for storage or if you want to take it with you on a trip. It is also non-toxic, and the vinyl cover is easy to clean. It will stay cold for up to three hours and will recharge itself in 15- 20 minutes if it isn’t in use. It comes in five different sizes and is very sturdy.
Available from Amazon
Dogbed4less Orthopedic Gel Cooling Memory Foam Dog Bed
A slightly different style that is an excellent option for dogs with medical conditions that need a lot of cushioning but also need to stay comfortable temperature-wise is the Dogbed4less Orthopedic Gel Cooling Memory Foam Dog Bed. This bed is suitable for medium to large breed dogs. It has easily removable, washable covers, with a gel within the foam that should help to keep your pets cool and comfortable in the warmer months.
Available from Amazon
K&H Cool Bed III
K & H make a lot of different types of pet beds, including heated indoor and outdoor beds. Their most popular cooling product for dogs is the Cool Bed III. Versions of this bed have been around for years; this latest version has a stronger material (heavy vinyl backing with a nylon coating) than previous versions.
It is one of the few pads that is water-based rather than gel-based (you fill the pad with water only once when you first get it). The Cool Core of the pad absorbs the dog’s natural body temperature and radiates it back into the air. It is useable inside or outside (in the shade only), and it comes with a two-year limited warranty.
One thing to note with this pad is that it has a strange problem where if you lift or move the bed by its corners, the foam core interior separates from the sides, causing it to become lumpy and impossible to smooth out. To avoid this problem, you have to fold the bed in a certain way if you are planning on moving it.
Available from Amazon
Features to Look For
Durability– Obviously, you will need a mat that can stand up to any rough treatment your pet may put it through. Biting, chewing, and scratching at the pad are all pretty normal behaviors for a dog. Most pads are designed to withstand a small amount of chewing and scratching, but if your pet is a bit more on the destructive side than most, you may want to skip the mats altogether and look at a product like the Coolaroo bed (listed below). For those who have a cat in the household with sharp claws, punctures are something that you may need to think about. A couple of the pads claim to be puncture-proof, although that is kind of tough to guarantee.
Material– The best cooling pads are made of Nylon fabric and are latex-free. It is pretty hard to get an indestructible material, but Nylon can hold up to most of the worst wear and tear from pets while at the same time being breathable. Avoid any types of beds or mats that contain plastic, foam, or rubber, as they will cause your pet to sweat.
Cleaning – Mats do tend to collect dirt and drool from dogs that are panting and sweating; it can make for a gross combination. You will want a product that is easy to clean. All of the pads that we have listed are easy to wash with a damp towel or sponge and mild dishwashing detergent. You CANNOT put these cooling products into a washing machine.
If you are worried about bacterial growth while storing a pad over the winter, some manufacturers recommend using a few drops of grapefruit seed extract into the water you are applying for cleaning.
Sizing– Finding the right size of pad for your pet is going to be one of the most challenging aspects of shopping for this type of product. Most companies have many different sizes available. If you are unsure of what size will suit your dog, you need to measure out the area they take up when they are lying on their sides with their legs stretched. Once you have figured out how much room they are taking up, add a little bit of space to that measurement, and you should be able to get a general idea of what size to get.
Inside/ Outside– Most pads can be used indoors or outside. If they are in use outside, they must be kept out of the direct sunlight and off flooring that can get hot like asphalt.
Weights of the pad- Generally, cooling pads are lightweight and easy to fold up for storage or traveling. One exception to this is the Cool Bed III. Since the Cool Bed III is full of water, it can get pretty heavy and is not intended to be moved once it is filled.
Length of time it will keep your pet cool– Another essential thing to consider is how long the pad will keep your pet cool. An acceptable period is around three hours, with 15-20 minutes to ‘recharge’ when not in use.
Water vs. Gel filling– Most of the cool pads have a non-toxic gel filling. The gel-filled mats are lighter and more convenient, but if you are worried that the gel may leak, you might want to stick with the mats that have a water filling.
How do they work?
The mats work by absorbing the heat from your dog’s body and dissipating it into the air so your dog stays comfortable. The pads don’t generally feel cold to the touch, but they will be cooler than your dog’s body.
The gel in most of the cooling pads is water-based with a polymer. When you apply pressure to the polymer gel, it becomes activated and can pull heat from the body. When the force is removed (i.e., the dog gets up from the mat), there is no longer any heat to absorb, and the polymer gel can recharge itself.
Benefits
The main benefit is that these types of pads will keep your pets cool in the heat. Some of the pads have a little bit of cushion to them; they are more comfortable than sleeping directly on the floor. If you have a dog who is suffering from Cushing’s disease, they will be able to get a bit of relief from these types of products.
Best place to put a cooling pad
If you are using the pad indoors, the best place to put it would be in an area with good airflow and a type of hard floorings like tile, linoleum, or concrete. Make sure there are no sharp objects near the pad that may puncture it. If you are using the bed outdoors, you must put it in a shady area out of direct sunlight.
Care
Since there is some chance of the pads becoming damaged or leaking, there are a few basic things you should do to make sure you will get years of use out of the product. First, make sure your dog’s nails have been trimmed to help prevent punctures. You should also ensure that the mat is placed on a smooth surface with nothing underneath that may cause it to puncture or rip. If you put the pad on a hardwood floor, check it regularly to ensure that no condensation or moisture may damage your floors. Even though it is tempting, never place these types of pads in direct sunlight. If they are used outside, place the pad in a shady area. If you put it in the direct sun, it will become hot. Finally, if your pet has begun to use the mat in a particular area, try not to move it, so your dog gets used to using the pad and becomes attached to it.
Other Options
If none of the mats that we have listed meet your needs, here are a couple of different options to help your pet stay relaxed and comfortable in the heat.
Coolaroo Elevated Pet Bed with Knitted Fabric
If you aren’t so keen on the mats, you may want to have a look at this cooling bed. The off-the-ground design means that your dog will have better airflow all around the bed.
This design is elevated 7 inches off the floor and uses a breathable high-density polyethylene fabric that is comfortable and cool. The bed comes in three different sizes (S, M, and L), and you can choose from five different colors. It is easy to clean, and the material is flea, mite, mold, and mildew resistant.
The manufacturer claims the bed can be set up in 5 minutes, although many user reviews state that the bed can be challenging to set up, and you may need to refer to some YouTube videos for assistance.
Available from Amazon
Ruffwear – Swamp Cooler, Cooling Vest for Dogs
Getting your pet a cooling vest is another great way to help them beat the heat, especially while out walking or playing. This vest from Ruffwear is a clever design that uses evaporative cooling to keep your dog at a comfortable temperature. All you need to do is soak the garment in cold water, wring it out and then put it on your dog.
As the water heats up, it vaporizes and lowers the temperature of the air surrounding the vest, in turn keeping your dog cool. It is an excellent product for dogs who overheat and have a lot of trouble being outside in the summer. It comes in 6 sizes, so it should fit almost any breed.
Available from Amazon
Fuloon PVC Portable Foldable Pet Swimming Pool
If you need to cool your pet down quickly, an excellent way to do this is to have them submerge themselves in a pool or body of water. If you don’t have a body of water nearby, check out this dog swimming pool.
It is excellent because it is made of pet-friendly material, and you can use it for a quick cool-down spot. It can also be used to bathe your dog so you don’t get your bathroom soaked in the wet dog water. It comes in 4 different sizes and can fold up for secure storage or travel.
Available from Amazon
Other ways to keep your pets cool in the summer
Since dogs can only release heat through some sweat glands in their feet and by panting, it is best to take some precautions in warmer weather to avoid your dog from becoming overheated. Here are some easy ways to ensure your pets are comfortable:
- Leave pets indoors with air conditioning if possible.
- If the pet must be left outside, make sure they have lots of water and a shady spot.
- Only walk your pet in the early morning or late evening when the temperature is more bearable.
- To cool your dog quickly, provide a pool of cold water for them to stand in.
- You can also cool them down quickly with a wet towel.
- Avoid over-exercising your pets.
The Bottom Line
No one wants their dog to be uncomfortable when it is hot outside. Many products can help keep your dog cool and give them some relief from the heat all your pets healthy and comfortable even in the most tropical, most humid conditions. Remember to inspect any cooling mat that you get for damage and never place it in direct sunlight.
She is from the Midwest, where she lives with her family and 4 pets including 2 dogs and 2 cats who spend much of their time trying to ignore the dogs.
- The Safest Plastic-Free Electric Kettles - 14 May 2020
- 8 Eyelash Serums That Really Work - 30 January 2020
- The Best Shapewear for Tummy Control - 29 January 2020
