Why a cooling mat helps
Dogs don't sweat the way we do. They cool down mostly by panting and through the pads of their feet, so on a hot day they look for somewhere cool to lie, like a kitchen floor or a shady patio. A cooling mat gives them that cool spot wherever you put it: in their bed, in the car, in a crate or on the sofa.
A cooling mat helps a dog stay comfortable in warm weather. It isn't a treatment for heatstroke. If your dog is panting heavily, drooling, wobbly or sick in the heat, cool them with water and ring your vet straight away.
Dog cooling mats by type
Self-cooling gel mats
A gel mat is filled with a gel that draws heat away from your dog when they lie on it, with no water, fridge or power needed. It cools again by itself when your dog gets up. These are the most popular kind, and they fold up to go in the car or on holiday. Keep them away from a dog that chews, because the gel shouldn't be eaten.
Ice silk cooling pads
An ice silk pad is made from a smooth, cool-to-the-touch fabric. It feels cool against the skin, it's soft enough to use as a bed, and you can put it in the washing machine. A good choice for dogs that like to dig at their bed, and for lining a crate or a car seat in summer.
Cooling beds
A cooling bed is an ice silk or breathable mesh bed with raised sides, so your dog gets a cool surface and something to rest their head on. It's a summer bed that looks like a bed rather than a mat.
Water-filled mats
A water-filled mat is filled with tap water, which stays cooler than the air around it. It's cheap to run and easy to empty and dry for storing.
What size cooling mat does my dog need?
Watch how your dog lies when they're hot. Most stretch right out, so measure your dog lying on their side, from nose to the base of the tail, and choose a mat at least that long. If they share the mat, or like to sprawl, go a size up. Each product page gives the mat's size in centimetres; check it against your measurement rather than going by "small" or "large".
Where to use a cooling mat
- In their bed or on top of it, on hot days and warm nights.
- In the car: a gel mat or ice silk pad on the seat or in the boot. Never leave a dog in a parked car on a warm day, mat or no mat.
- In the crate: an ice silk pad lines the floor without being chewed as easily as a gel mat.
- Outside in the shade: in the garden or on the patio, out of direct sun.
- On holiday: a folding gel mat goes in a bag.
Which cooling mat for which dog?
- Thick-coated breeds such as huskies, retrievers and shepherds feel the heat early: a large gel mat.
- Flat-faced breeds such as pugs and French bulldogs struggle in the heat: keep a mat where they rest most.
- Older dogs often like a cooling bed with sides to lean on.
- Puppies and chewers: an ice silk pad rather than a gel mat.
- Small dogs and cats: many of our mats come in small sizes that suit both.
Looking after a cooling mat
Ice silk pads and cooling beds can usually go in the washing machine on a cool wash; gel mats are wiped clean with a damp cloth. Don't put a gel mat in the freezer or near a heater, and check it now and then for nicks, especially if your dog scratches at it. Store it flat or loosely rolled over winter.
