Excessive Heat Can Be Dangerous To Pets, So Keep Them Cool With These 14 Products
Amazon
Dr. Lisa Chimes, a widely recognized veterinarian and the founder of the pet supplies brand Cat and Dog by Dr. Lisa, cats and dogs cannot cool themselves as efficiently as humans because they don’t sweat in the same way as people do.
“This makes them prone to heat stroke, a dangerous condition that occurs when their body temperature increases too much,” Chimes said. “Heat stroke can develop within minutes and can lead to multi-organ failure and death.”
According to Chimes, some key indicators that your pet is being negatively impacted by the heat, and possibly suffering heat stroke, are panting, lethargy, increased water consumption and wet footprints caused by sweat. More serious signs could be confusion, vomiting, seizures and collapse.
As pet owners, it’s our responsibility to make the lives of our beloved animals more comfortable, including in unsavory seasonal weather. We turned to Amazon for the best cooling products to help make the heat a little easier on your pet.
The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.
Amazon
"Always provide clean water," Chimes said, calling portable water bowls a "must-have" to keep pets hydrated while on the go.
As soon as we heard this suggestion, we didn't hesitate to include this portable pet bowl and water dispenser that's gone viral several times and earned 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon, plus 39,000+ ratings. Available in three sizes and even an insulated stainless steel option to keep water cool, this bowl features a guaranteed leakproof design and an integrated filtering system, so each time water is poured out into the attached drinking receptacle, it's fresh and clean.
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in five colors).
Amazon
If you’re looking for an option with an even larger capacity, this water bottle has a stainless steel body and a silicone seal to prevent unwanted leaking. The drinking lid also folds down for compact storage. It comes in a variety of unique colors and holds up to 27 ounces of water.
Promising review: “I love it is stainless steel and the fact the bowl dolds back obe the bottle. Also, after your pup is finished drinking you can push the button and the water will run back into the bottle” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $20.89+.
Amazon
Chimes made the novel suggestion of adding ice cubes to your pet's water dish on particularly hot days, which inspired us to select this insulated water bowl made by the viral water bottle brand Coldest. Using the same stainless steel and triple-wall design as its famed bottle, this dish can keep your pet's water chilled and crisp for longer. It also features an anti-skid base to prevent spilling. You can find it in tons of colors and five sizes up to an impressive 200 ounces.
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+.
Amazon
Chimes suggested letting pets lie down on frozen water bottles to help keep body temperatures down in warmer weather. Based on this suggestion, we found a reusable and possibly more convenient alternative that would serve the same function. This cold pad is activated by your pet’s body weight and promises to stay chilled for up to three hours at a time. Folks are floored by how well this thing works: “My mouth was ajar when I took this mat out of the package,” wrote one reviewer. “This thing was ice cold the second I touched it!”
It’s designed to rechill itself in 15-20 minutes when it’s not in use, and can be popped in the refrigerator to intensify or quicken its cooling. You can use it on its own or in a pet bed or crate. It’s available in three colors and five sizes.
Promising review: "This May is AMAZING! I have a Bernese mountain dog who is always hot and likes to sleep on the tile kitchen floor because it’s cold. Now that I have this mat, thought, he chooses to sleep on it! I searched for weeks trying to find the best cooling mat and truly was skeptical they would even work, but could not be happier with this one! It is definitely not the cheapest option, but it is SO worth the money! I’ve laid on it to test it myself and it is incredibly cold for hours and then takes about 10 minutes of no one on it to “reset” and be cold again. If you have a large, hairy, always hot pup I would HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND this product! Also, I should note, that my pup does 'dig' at it to get comfortable before laying down and it has zero scratches it seems it’s indestructible with how much he abuses it haha it is very cushy and comfortable and the material is super easy to clean. 10/10 recommend!" —Christina Borowiak
Get it from Amazon for $20.99+.
Amazon
Chimes said that booties can protect dog paws from getting burned on hot pavement during summer walks, and with this guidance, we found this set of anti-skid booties with the most ratings on Amazon. Each one secures with an adjustable Velcro strap and features a rugged rubber sole that makes these boots also resistant to water. They are available in several sizes, so you can ensure that your pup has the perfect fit.
Get them from Amazon for $28.99+.
Amazon
In addition to reducing the amount of hair shed around your home and keeping tangles and mats at bay, regular brushing can also keep your pet cool in warmer months, according to Chimes (who offers a dog brush in her own product line). We’re highlighting this de-shedding rake brush from Amazon for its impressive 4.6 out of 5 stars and 79,000+ ratings. Its dual-tooth design is especially suited for removing shedding and heat-trapping undercoats and is compatible with coats of all lengths.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+.
Amazon
According to veterinarians, water fountains help encourage pets to drink more water (and keep water cooler than a traditional bowl).
This convenient option is specifically designed for dogs and multi-pet households thanks to its impressively large water capacity and wide shape (depending on which side you choose). It features multi-layer filtration for extra-clean water and offers two flow types (a faucet or bubbling mode). Reviewers say it's easy to clean and that they'll "never go back to [a] regular water bowl."
Promising review: "There's nothing not to like about it. The stainless steel is not only a great material to avoid bacteria, but it looks great with the minimalistic design. The fountain is so quiet, you have to be standing right next to it to even hear it. It has a soft light, that is both functional (blue means the water level is sufficient, red means time to fill) and adds to the design. And best of all, I've never seen my cats drink so much water.
I've placed this fountain in the kitchen. So, it's available to the dog and cats. And I plan on replacing my current cat only fountain with another one of these." —L. Meehan
Get it from Amazon for $39.99+.
Amazon
"Kids' portable swimming pools make a great spot for dogs to cool off on a hot day," Chimes said, leading us to find this low-lift splash mat with a sprinkler function that works by connecting to your hose. You can adjust the intensity of the sprinklers through your hose's water pressure, too.
It boasts a durable, non-slip flooring (though the brand recommends you trim your pup's nails before they use it for optimum scratch-resistance). It comes in two colors and seven sizes.
Promising reviews: "We live in Florida and the summer heat is intense, so we bought this for our dog so he can enjoy being outside. He absolutely loves it. It is very durable and extremely easy to set up or put away. Just hook your hose up to it and you are good to go" —Michelle s
"So far this is the best splash pad yet. It connects easy to the hose and has another attachment if you don’t have a hose. The appearance is black and blue. This entertains the kids play for hours with the dogs. It is easy to clean. It fills up so fast, and you can adjust the water. It is made thicker then other splash pads." —Amanda
Get it from Amazon for $17.94+.
Amazon
If you're looking for a more traditional doggie pool, this is a great option. It's made of sturdy, PVC plastic (which reviewers attest has no sharp edges) and easily folds up for storage once playtime is over, absolving you of having to inflate and deflate something.
It comes in seven sizes to accommodate a breadth of breeds.
Promising reviews: "This was an amazing investment. Both my dogs absolutely love jumping in and playing. My baby girl spends hours playing. From box to porch in seconds, and good up is simple. Folds small which is great for storage" —Chandra A Laughbaum
"My large rescue dog kept trying to stuff herself into a water bucket--my first clue that she'd love a pool! Sure enough, she reclines blissfully on the shady porch in her Vistop in these blistering summer days after venturing outside (she also loves a/c!). This pool has no sharp edges; it's very sturdy plastic, easy to fill and drain, ideal for kids and/or dogs--yet affordably priced. Treat your favorite two- or four-legged family!" —Maureen Allen
Get it from Amazon for $19.95+.
Amazon
Dog and cat owners alike swear by this cooling cot: It promotes air circulation through its breathable mesh fabric, and its raised design encourages 360-degree air flow. Plus, it’s purportedly durable enough to withstand reviewers' kids jumping on it.
It’s available in multiple colors and sizes.
Promising reviews: "My 8 week old schnauzer was super hot when sleeping, due to where we live and having carpet in our house. We got this for her to lay on and it cools her belly and she LOVES it! Not to mention, it helps her get her crawling and jumping energy out in the play pen. So far she hasn’t been able to chew on the fabric and mess it up, it’s pretty strong material. Highly recommend, we plan to take this camping and to the beach when she is bigger!" —Mariska
Get it from Amazon for $19.29+.
Amazon
This similar cooling cot sports an airy mesh hammock design with three-sided cushioning for your pet to (enviably) lean on or use as a headrest while they nap.
It’s collapsible, so you can take it on trips and pack it up easily, and it comes in two colors and three sizes.
Promising review: "Hello, meet George. George is a 100 lbs Bernedoodle. George loves his bed. The fabric keeps him cool in the summer and off the hot floors. This bed is so nice that his parents bought two of them. One for home and one for the office when George visits his dad at work.
- easy to put together. 2 mins tops!- yes you can install it without the side cushions if you want- can be taken apart to wash. We just hose it off in the yard- so far it has taken the abuse of a 100 lbs dog with no issues.- a must buy." —John
Get it from Amazon for $47.97+.
Amazon
This mesh bed stands eight inches off the ground to maximize the circulation of air (and to take advantage of any errant breeze). Use it with its attachable canopy to create a cool, shaded area for your pet while creating a barrier between them and the sun.
It’s available in two colors and three sizes.
Promising review: "I purchased this bed, a beautiful red elevated cooling bed in June 2019. My 11 year old German Shepherd Roxi loves it and it keeps the sun off her head. I always leave it out in all kinds of weather, including snow. The red color faded and the screen just gave way 2 days ago...FOUR YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS LATER! You show me one dog product that stays on an open deck in all kinds of New England weather that lasts FOUR YEARS - ANY dog item...any! I immediately purchased another one and it's all set up. So cute - She LOVES it!" —Rob
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+.
Amazon
According to Chimes, fans provide extra relief by helping dogs cool down as they pant. We found this portable fan will do your pets well: It can tilt 90 degrees, has three cooling speeds and is relatively quiet. Plus, it's energy efficient with only 35 watts, so your bill will appreciate it, too.
It's available in two sizes.
Promising review: "My senior dog gets overheated easily, even as an indoor only pup, so I got her this fan. The minute it's one degree over 72° in the house, she starts panting. She lays in front of this fan every single day. She's not overheated all the time, but does have a condition (GOLPP) that causes her to have panting fits, so I try to keep her calm and cool to decrease respiratory anxiety/distress. This fan has definitely been a great purchase for her!" —Ciara
Get it from Amazon for $13.11+.
Amazon
If you’re looking for a full-bodied cooling blanket, this is the one to get. Reviewers say it’s their pet’s favorite (we’re not surprised) and feels cool to the touch in hot weather.
From where we’re standing, your pet will be lucky if they get to use it. Multiple people admit they stole this throw from their dog nd use it themselves to help with night sweats and hot flashes.
It's available in five sizes and six colors.
Promising review: "This blanket is simply amazing. It’s always cold to the touch! My dog loves to sleep on this blanket! We first got the Large size for the couch, but wanted one for nights in bed to keep our dog cool, so we got the Queen as well! Great quality and a happy pup, what more can you ask for?" —Jessica Parente
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+.
Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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