Cooling & Summer

Never leave dogs in cars

This is the one rule with no exceptions. A parked car heats up far faster than the air outside and a cracked window barely slows it down, so on a mild 22 degree day the inside of a car can climb past 45 degrees within the hour. Dogs cool themselves by panting rather than sweating, which gives them very little defence against that. Leave your dog at home instead, and apply the same thinking to conservatories, caravans and a garden with no shade at all. If you have to travel in the heat, drive early or late, take water and a bowl from bowls, feeders and water, put a cooling mat on the back seat and look at dog car seats and travel for a properly ventilated setup.

How cooling mats work

A cooling mat needs no freezer, no electricity and no water. The gel inside draws body heat away by conduction and spreads it out, so the mat feels cool the moment your dog lies down and recharges itself after fifteen to twenty minutes with nothing on it. That makes it the easy option for a flat, a crate or the boot of a car, and it is kinder than a frozen surface, which can feel uncomfortably cold and makes some dogs refuse to settle at all. The Coolivo cooling mat covers most beds and crates, while the Coolivo Comfort cooling mat adds padding for a dog who wants something softer under the elbows. Lay it flat on a hard floor rather than sinking it into a thick bed, because a mat buried in bedding cannot shed the heat it collects.

Paddling pools and shade

Water is the most reliable way to bring a dog's temperature down, and most dogs will do the work themselves given the chance. Set a DoggyDip dog pool up in shade rather than full sun, fill it only to chest height, and empty it between uses so the water stays cool and clean. Cool water is enough and ice water is not needed. For dogs who would rather chase water than sit in it, a Pawsplash sprinkler mat or the AquaPaw water sensory play mat turns the garden into ten minutes of exercise at a temperature your dog can handle, which is exactly what to reach for instead of a midday walk. Keep sessions short and let your dog decide when to stop.

Cooling vests and paws

Out on a walk, an evaporative Detixy cooling vest is the practical answer: soak it, wring it out, and the water carries heat away as it evaporates. It works best in dry air and needs re-wetting more often when the weather is humid. Walk early in the morning or late in the evening during a hot spell, and test the ground with the back of your hand for five seconds before you set off, because tarmac that is uncomfortable for your hand will burn a paw pad. Where hot ground is unavoidable, SolStep summer shoes put a layer between the paw and the surface. Horses need the same care after work, and a cooling bandage for horses helps the legs recover, with more in for horses.

Spotting heatstroke early

Heatstroke is an emergency rather than a bad afternoon. The early signs are heavy, frantic panting, thick drool, bright red gums, a racing heart and a dog who slows down, stumbles or looks confused. Vomiting, diarrhoea and collapse come later. If you see any of it, stop what you are doing, move your dog into shade, pour cool water over the body, offer small drinks and contact your vet immediately. Do not wait to see whether it passes and do not use ice water. Flat-faced breeds, overweight dogs, puppies and older dogs go over the edge fastest, and cats are affected too but hide it far better. A Coolivo Comfort cooling mat and a shaded dog pool make a hot day easier, but shade, water and a shorter walk are what actually prevent it.

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