The 4 Best Dog Cooling Mats
If you want to know what hell might be like, try sleeping when you're really overheated. Not everybody has air conditioning, and some of us live in scorching climates, but nonetheless, we always find ways to manage the heat. Now, imagine being a canine with a thick coat of fur during the dog days of summer. Yikes. Since our pooches can't speak, you can't expect Buster to tap you on the shoulder and say, "Hey, this heat's making me dizzy. Can you put me in the shower?" As caregivers, we have to anticipate our pet's needs, and that's exactly what a cooling mat does. Here we've rounded up four of the best models on the market, each of them sure to offer your dog refuge from the sweltering heat.
The Green Pet Shop Pressure-Activated
Thriving Under Pressure
When the sweltering summer sun beats down, your dog will try to find ways to cool down. Often, she’ll gravitate towards cool surfaces, like tiled or hardwood floors, but as you can imagine, this isn’t the most comfortable, especially if she has mobility issues. We’re not suggesting that Lady needs a queen-sized, gilded waterbed, but perhaps it would make her happy to have somewhere a bit comfier to plop down upon. Enter the Green Pet Shop’s popular mat, which utilizes a pressure-activated, self-cooling gel to work its magic. As soon as Lady sets her bones down to rest on it, the gel goes into action. It doesn’t take very long before the entire mat becomes cool to the touch. The company claims it can stay cool up to 3 hours, but this obviously varies on the ambient temperature. More likely, you can expect it to stay consistently cool for 1-2 hours. Granted, unless Lady’s spending the night on the pad, she’s unlikely to sit still for that long, anyway.
Pros:
- Can be easily folded for transport
- No water, electricity, or refrigeration needed
- Sold in 5 different sizes
- Cats seem to like it as well
Cons:
- May shrink over time
- Not likely to last more than a year or two
Coolaroo Elevated Pet Bed
Blissful Dreams
If your dog is prone to restless panting at night, you’ll want to consider remedying it so he can get get a better night’s sleep. Though you may not have heard of it yet, an elevated pet bed may be a great solution. Essentially, these beds mimic the design of a traditional cot. The suspended platform allows for airflow beneath and all around the sleeping surface. For years now, Coolaroo has been the go-to company for making the best of these elevated ped beds. In conjunction with the cot-like design, this unit’s breathable, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fabric helps create a soft, cool bunk for Fido to sleep in.
We like that the unit is lightweight, so you can carry it to your bedside at night and then move it into the family room come noontime. It’s also easy to lift when you need to sweep around or underneath it. And speaking of cleaning, rest assured that this fabric’s odor-resistant properties are quite effective, so you won’t have to worry about any funky smells arising from Fido’s cot. Finally, we appreciate that Coolaroo sells replacement fabrics, so if the cover tears, you can just order a new one, rather than having to buy a whole new bed.
Pros:
- Sold in a wide array of colors and sizes
- Great value for the cost
Cons:
- A bit difficult to assemble
- Material stretches and sags over time
- Cannot be folded for easy storage
CoolerDog Hydro Mat
Ice is Mighty Nice
When the summer’s first heatwave comes, you’ll be glad you own a product like CoolerDog’s Hydro Mat. This one combines a waterbed cushion, a proprietary ice sheet with 88 ice cubes, and a thick layer of insulation to keep Charlie cool when it matters most. Because it’s made with rugged materials, you can use it both indoors and outdoors without damaging it. With this one, you don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals or potentially toxic gels — it’s just water. All you have to do is throw it in the freezer before using it, and then it’ll last much of the day. We really like that each mat has snaps on it that can be connected to other mats to accomodate larger dogs. Sure, this would be expensive, but if you really like the product and you want to scale up, the option is there, which we appreciate.
Pros:
- High-quality, rip-stop materials
- Mat is machine-washable
- Can also be used in the car
Cons:
- Mat has a tendency to perspire
- Doesn’t fold very well
American Kennel Club Reversible Mat
No Need to Mortgage the House
This mat is cost-friendly, low-maintenance, and lightweight. It’s a great option for home or travel, especially if your dog is elderly or heat-sensitive. It only takes about twenty minutes to recharge after being used. When we say recharge, this doesn’t have anything to do with batteries or electricity. No, instead, we’re referring to the liquid gels’ self-regulating properties. You really don’t have to do anything at all aside from clean the mat and make sure it’s placed somewhere suitable for your pup to lounge.
One issue, though, is that with extended use, the cooling mat can actually have the opposite effect. Once your dog has been laying on it for some time, it’ll lose its cooling capabilities, and because it’s a somewhat thick material, it could retain your pooch’s body heat. Paradoxically, the cooling mat may end up warming Buster in his sleep. So, if you’re looking for a mat that your dog can sleep on, look elsewhere, like to Coolaroo’s elevated bed.
Pros:
- Liquid gel is non-toxic
- Multitude of designs and colorways
- Water-resistant material
Cons:
- Sizes run small
- Easy for dogs to chew through
- Doesn’t work well outdoors
Frequently Asked Questions
How do these mats work?
The mats on our list tout three different cooling features, and these are the ones that are most commonly used. First, you have a pressure-activated gel-based technology that begins getting cool as soon as your dog lays on it. These are low maintenance and work fairly well, but they don’t stay cool too long, and the toxicity of the gels is uncertain. Next, you have elevated cot-style beds, which encourage airflow and use breathable materials to keep your dog cool. Finally, there are ice-based mats that you stick in the freezer for a few hours before use.
So, some cooling pads use gels or other chemical means to do their cooling. Are they safe?
We’re certainly not in a position to make a blanket statement about these chemicals’ safety profiles. Many gel-based cooling mats come with assertions that the gel they use is non-toxic. Still, it’s not hard to come across anecdotes on the internet of dogs who have chewed through the pad, consumed some of the liquid gel, and then gotten sick. If you do decide to go with a gel-based model, we implore you to thoroughly investigate the matter on your own.
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