Dogs can also suffer a lot from the heat in the summer. You can give them the much-needed cooling by offering them a cooling mat. Cooling mats come in different shapes and sizes. Many cooling mats can be placed in the refrigerator or freezer for a short while after which they retain the coolness for a long time. There are also those that are activated by movement or that need to be kept cool by occasionally immersing them in water. By offering your dog a cooling mat you help them get through the summer carefree!
Cooling mat keeps dog cool during heat
- Dogs also suffer from the heat
- How do you notice that the dog is (too) hot?
- What measures should you take anyway?
- Cooling mat provides much-needed cooling for your dog
- Availability
Dogs also suffer from the heat
A warm summer in the Netherlands, as people we are not very used to it. This can lead to the necessary puffing and groaning and many people also sleep badly. This is no different for dogs. Dogs can also suffer from the heat. Where we as humans can take off a layer of clothing and turn on the fan or air conditioning when it is really unbearable, dogs are permanently dealing with their – whether or not very thick – dog coat. That coat has an insulating effect and dogs cannot sweat like humans. If a dog’s body temperature rises too high, the blood becomes viscous, making it impossible to pump around properly. This can be fatal. But even when it has not yet reached that dangerous temperature, a high body temperature can be extremely uncomfortable for dogs.
How do you notice that the dog is (too) hot?
A dog may not tell you that he or she is hot, but there are signs that can point this out to you as the owner. A dog mainly gets cooling through the tongue and the pads on the soles. To get extra cooling, a dog will open its mouth wide and its tongue hangs out. He can start panting too much. This is a sign that a dog needs more cooling. If the heat threatens to become too much for a dog, he can appear sluggish, listless and exhausted. He then starts to move less and often has little or no appetite. On the lips and the inside of the ears you can feel when a dog is very hot. The mucous membranes can also turn red. In severe cases, heat can cause dogs to vomit.
What measures should you take anyway?
When the heat increases, it is important that the dog always has a place in the shade. Outside air seems attractive, but when it is cooler inside than outside, you can keep your dog inside. Places that heat up quickly such as a car, a loft with a flat roof or any other enclosed space should be avoided. In addition, it is important to always provide your dog with sufficient water. It is better to postpone long walks until the temperature has dropped again. At temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius, long walks are a considerable effort for many dogs. It must be said that some dogs can handle it better than others. Large dogs with a thick coat obviously have more trouble with this than light-footed animals with a thinner coat. If necessary, ask for some advice from your vet.
Cooling mat provides much-needed cooling for your dog
To help dogs through the hot summer days, you can give him or her a cooling mat offer. There are special cooling mats for dogs that can provide them with just the cooling places they need. Cooling mats come in different shapes and sizes. Most are filled with a (non-toxic) gel. If you put the mat in the fridge or freezer for a while, it will keep the coolness for up to hours. The temperature of such a mat is usually around 10 degrees lower than the ambient temperature. Dogs will enjoy laying on this. Their own body temperature will drop as a result, so that they are much less affected by the summer heat.
There are also mats that do not need to be placed in the refrigerator or freezer, but that are activated by movement. Other mats should occasionally be immersed in water to keep cool. Therefore, always read the instructions that come with the cooling mat to know how to keep your dog cool with it. There are also cooling dog beds with a special compartment in which a cooling element can be placed.
Availability
Cooling mats for dogs come from different brands. For example, you can buy a cooling mat from brands, among others Nobby, Aqua Coolkeeper, Beeztees, Scruffs, Massion, Karlie Flamingo and Duvo. They are available in different sizes: from 50 by 40 cm for small dogs to 120 by 75 cm for very large dogs. Many cooling mats are blue, but if you look carefully you can also find them in other colors such as pink, green, gray, brown or beige.
