Summer here in Wisconsin, especially by the lake-shore, is usually pretty mild. But on certain days and further inland, the heat can take its toll. A lot of us ignore our panting dogs, thinking that their natural response is sufficient. It usually is, but often they are not comfortable. Cooling off your pet can be as simple as wetting him down with a hose. But for overweight, long haired, or nearly all dogs, this doesn't help enough. Normally active dogs, being too hot to exercise, will have pent up energy, which can lead to destructive behaviors. With new technology, and new cooling agents being used in more and more pet products every day, the problem can soon be solved with a short trip to your pet store. If I tried to name all the cooling products out there this article would span many pages. Instead, I will go over the pros and cons of the most popular cooling products for dogs. All of these should be available at your local pet store.
A simple way to cool your dog on the hot days, is to purchase a cooling bed/mat. These come in many varieties, but the most popular ones being, freeze, water, heat dissipation, or weight activated. All of these work equally well, but choose the one that will suit you best. For example, if you go camping, the freeze activated will not be your best choice, weight activated however, will probably suit you best. Pros: Simple, rather inexpensive, convenient, also available for cats. Cons: Dogs that are up and about will not get relief, also pets that chew their beds should stay away from these products, as they usually contain inedible chemicals.
For active dogs, or for relief during walks, wearable cooling devices are perfect. These range from bandanas, to vests. Most of these use water or freeze activation for cooling. I wanted to stay away from naming brands, but one stood out as unique. This was the Guardian Gear® Cool pup™. Cool pup™ is a full body coat that works via two strategically placed ice packs on the chest, providing cooling relief. This is very similar to placing a cold towel on your forehead when running a fever. These packs slowly release their chills for up to 6 hours. The rest of the coat also is lined with heat-releasing SPF fabric, to reflect even more heat. Pros: Many types, work on active and non-active dogs. Cons: Dogs that hate clothing will probably also dislike these.
A inexpensive way to keep the heat down on your pooch, is frozen chews or toys. These are readily available, and come in a wide range of colors, sizes, and shapes to suit any dog. Most often, you soak these toys in water, freeze, and then let your dog have fun while he cools off. Pros: Inexpensive, widely available. Cons: Dogs who refuse chew toys will be limited to a smaller selection.
These are just a few of the commercially available ways to keep you dog cool, but keep in mind it doesn't stop there. Use your imagination, wet and freeze his toys in water, or chill his favorite snack. Another home favorite is the kiddie pool you probably have laying around. These are great for large or small dogs to keep the heat off. Please make sure though that your dog can touch his feet on the pools floor, you wouldn't want a fun time to be turned into a emergency. If you have a long haired dog, keeping him trimmed will help him stay cool. If your dog isn't meant to be trimmed, brushing him down will help more than you think. And of course, keep plenty of fresh cool water around. If your out a lot with your dog, portable water dispensers are easily purchased at your local pet store. On that note, stay tuned for next month when I review a intelligent new product. Tiki Water, healthy water for your pets.
For More Information about Tiki Water, E-mail tiki@tikiwater.com
