Summer is coming, the days are getting hotter. While we humans enjoy sun and warmth, high temperatures are often very stressful for dogs. With a cooling mat, you can always cool your dog down a bit, even if you can’t go to a lake every day and don’t have room for a dog pool.
But how do cooling mats for dogs work? How can you get your dog used to them and are they actually poisonous? You can read all the answers in this guide.
Why is heat so stressful for many dogs?
Our summers are getting warmer and hotter – temperatures of 30 degrees and more for days are not uncommon. You’ve probably noticed on days like this that your dog is listless and lethargic and prefers to look for a cool spot on tiles or laminate.
For many dogs, high temperatures are so stressful because they hardly have any physical opportunities to cool down. They can only sweat from their paws since they only have sweat glands here. Therefore, they can only lower their body temperature to a very limited extent.
Otherwise, dogs have to regulate their body temperature by panting. The warm air is exhaled through the snout and the cooler air is inhaled through the nose. The resulting flow of air causes moisture on the mucous membranes to evaporate, which leads to a drop in body temperature.
Since dogs have only limited possibilities to regulate their body temperature themselves and also have a thick coat, high temperatures are particularly stressful for them. It is therefore important to regularly offer them opportunities to cool down.
How do dog cooling mats work?
A cooling mat ensures that your dog can cool down its body temperature a little. However, the cooling effect is so moderate that it is not harmful to the dog. Depending on the manufacturer, the mat cools down to 3-8 °C below body temperature.
Most cooling mats work with a so-called cooling gel. The self-cooling effect of the gel is activated by body contact and pressure. This means that the mat only cools down when your dog lies on it. The practical thing about cooling mats with gel is the uncomplicated handling: you don’t need electricity, batteries or water.
Specifically, the gel cooling mats work through a temperature exchange: they absorb your dog’s body heat and then conduct the heat back into the air, i.e. allow it to evaporate.
Depending on the manufacturer, the cooling effect of the mats lasts for one to several hours and thus enables a long-lasting cooling effect. When your dog leaves the mat, it takes about 15 minutes before it’s ready to use again.
It is best to store the cooling mat in a cool place or in the refrigerator when your dog is not lying on it. In this way you achieve a stronger cooling performance, as the gel contained in the cooling mat stores the cold and then passes it on when your dog lies down on the mat.
Carboxymethyl cellulose is a derivative of cellulose, which, to put it simply, is a type of sugar. Carboxymethyl cellulose is approved in the EU as a food additive with the number E 466 and is often used as a coating or thickening agent due to its gel-like consistency. It is often found in confectionery, ice cream, cheese preparations or cake fillings, for example.
In short: You should of course keep an eye on your dog and make sure that he does not scratch or destroy the mat so that the gel can leak out.
What to do if my dog ​​eats his cooling mat?
If you have a dog that likes to chew or destroy things, you should not leave them unattended with a cooling mat. While the gel itself isn’t toxic, it’s not good for your dog to eat in large quantities, nor is the coating.
Offer him cool alternatives to munch on (e.g. a stuffed and chilled Kong) so he doesn’t disassemble his cooling mat.
If it does happen and your dog might even eat some gel, it’s not immediately a cause for concern as long as it’s only a small amount. Monitor your dog carefully for signs of illness. If he has ingested a large amount of gel or is behaving unusually (very restless, salivating a lot, vomiting, severe diarrhea), you should definitely contact your veterinarian!
How can you get your dog used to the cooling mat?
Every dog ​​is different and has its own special character. That’s why every dog ​​reacts differently to an unfamiliar and smooth plastic surface, such as cooling mats. In addition, gel mats are often wobbly and therefore particularly unfamiliar to your dog. In addition, he doesn’t know yet that it cools him down really well when he lies down on it.
So if your dog isn’t that enthusiastic about his mat at first, please don’t force him to be happy.
Instead, you should slowly get him used to the cooling mat. You can try different things for this:
Place a thin cloth on the plastic surface.
Place the cooling mat in a passage so that your dog has to walk over it.
You may be able to use signals to motivate your dog to walk across the mat.
Place the mat in a small area of ​​his favorite spot so he can try it out.
Have patience with your dog. Some dogs accept the mat immediately, while others simply take a little longer.
Conclusion: A good form of cooling down
On hot summer days, a cooling mat can be a great helper for your four-legged friend and make the hot summer easier for him thanks to the cooling effect. Once dogs understand how the mats work, they usually accept them gratefully. Be sure to gradually introduce your dog to the cooling mat and always allow him access to open space.
Even though the gel cooling mats are usually non-toxic, you should make sure that your dog does not eat them! If this does happen, keep an eye on him and take him to the vet if he shows signs of discomfort.
Dog cooling mats are available in many different sizes and designs so that a suitable model can be found for every dog.
You should keep this in mind when using cooling mats
If you want to use a cooling mat for your dog, you should always keep one thing in mind: Make sure that the cooling mat never takes up the entire area that the dog has available. So he can decide for himself at any time whether he wants to use the mat or not.
If you layout the cooling mat in the apartment, your dog can choose whether to lie on the mat or lie somewhere else. However, if you put the mat in the box in the car or in his sleeping box, it takes up the entire area there. Your dog will then no longer be able to leave the cooling mat. In the worst case, this can cause severe hypothermia.
In general, the rule of thumb applies: If space is limited, the cooling mat should take up no more than half of the lying surface.
Nevertheless, cooling mats are of course absolutely useful on a long drive or a hot night in the bedroom if you use them correctly.
Tip: Most cooling mats can be easily folded up. Then line half of the bottom with the folded cooling blanket and leave the other half bare. So your four-legged friend can choose for himself whether he wants to lie on the cold side or not.
Otherwise, the handling of a cooling mat is very easy. It is easy to clean and store away. If it gets dirty, you can simply wipe it off with a damp cloth and roll or fold it up small when not in use.
How can you get your dog used to the cooling mat?
Every dog ​​is different and has its own special character. That’s why every dog ​​reacts differently to an unfamiliar and smooth plastic surface, such as cooling mats. In addition, gel mats are often wobbly and therefore particularly unfamiliar to your dog. In addition, he doesn’t know yet that it cools him down really well when he lies down on it.
So if your dog isn’t that enthusiastic about his mat at first, please don’t force him to be happy.
Instead, you should slowly get him used to the cooling mat. You can try different things for this:
- Place a thin cloth on the plastic surface.
- Place the cooling mat in a passage so that your dog has to walk over it.
- You may be able to use signals to motivate your dog to walk across the mat.
- Place the mat in a small area of ​​his favorite spot so he can try it out.
- Have patience with your dog. Some dogs accept the mat immediately, while others simply take a little longer.
Conclusion: A good form of cooling down
On hot summer days, a cooling mat can be a great helper for your four-legged friend and make the hot summer easier for him thanks to the cooling effect. Once dogs understand how the mats work, they usually accept them gratefully. Be sure to gradually introduce your dog to the cooling mat and always allow him access to open space.
Even though the gel cooling mats are usually non-toxic, you should make sure that your dog does not eat them! If this does happen, keep an eye on him and take him to the vet if he shows signs of discomfort.
Dog cooling mats are available in many different sizes and designs so that a suitable model can be found for every dog.
