Dogs can also suffer a lot from the heat in the summer. You can give them 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 fridge or freezer for a 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 submerging them in water. By offering your dog a cooling mat, you help them through the summer without any worries!
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Dogs also suffer from the heat
A warm summer in some country’s, as people we are not very used to it. This can lead to the necessary puffing and groaning and, moreover, many people sleep badly. This is no different for dogs. Dogs can also be quite bothered by the heat.
Where we as humans can take off a layer of clothing and turn on the fan or air conditioning if it is really unbearable anymore, dogs have to deal with their – weather or not very thick – dog fur permanently. That coat has an insulating effect and, moreover, dogs cannot sweat like humans.
If a dog’s body temperature rises too high, the blood becomes viscous so that it can no longer be pumped properly. This can be fatal.
How do you notice that your dog is (too) hot?
A dog may not be able to tell you that he or she is hot, but there are signs that can point this out to you as 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 the tongue hangs out. He may start panting.
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 will then move less and often has little or no appetite. It is good to feel on the lips and inside of the ears when a dog is very hot. The mucous membranes can also turn red. In severe cases, dogs may vomit from the heat.
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What measures should you take anyway?
When the heat increases, it is important that the dog always has a place in the shade. Outdoor air seems attractive, but when it is cooler inside than outside, it is better to 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. It is important to always provide your dog with sufficient water.
It is better to postpone long walks until the temperature has dropped a bit. At temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius, long walks are quite an effort for many dogs. It should be noted that some dogs can handle it better than others. Large dogs with a thick coat of course have more difficulty with this than light-footed animals with a thinner coat.
The cooling mat provides much-needed cooling for your dog
To help dogs through the hot summer days, you can offer him or them a cooling mat. There are special cooling mats for dogs that can provide them with just the cooling spots they need. Cooling mats come in different shapes and sizes. Most are filled with a (non-toxic) gel. If you put the meat in the fridge or freezer for a while, it will then retain 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 lying on this. As a result, their own body temperature will drop, making them much less affected by the summer heat.
There are also mats that do not have to be placed in the fridge or freezer, but that are activated by movement. Other mats need to be submerged in water from time to time 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 are available from different brands.
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.
