How To Cool Down A Dog In The Summer: 11 Top Tips | Purina

How to cool down a dog: 11 handy tips

From investing in a paddling pool to carefully planning out your walks, here are our 11 top tips for keeping your dog cool in the summer:

1. Get a paddling pool

If you’ve got space, there’s nothing more refreshing than a dip in the pool on a hot summer’s day, and some dogs feel that way too! Invest in a solid paddling pool that’s made out of a durable material less likely to be punctured by your dog’s claws. There are even some specially designed for our pups. Pop it in a shady spot in the garden and fill it with cool water. Make sure not to use icy or freezing water – if it’s too cold it can make them go into shock when the temperature changes too suddenly from very hot to very cold.

Exercise caution when you’re filling the pool too, ensure it’s not too high as your dog may struggle to get out, particularly if they’ve got little legs!

If your dog’s not much of a water baby, a great way to keep your dog cool is to encourage them to stand in the water. Even if they only stand in it for a short time, it can work wonders with cooling down their body temperature as they can absorb and release heat through their paws. Always make sure it is their idea to get on and out – and to start with you may have to get in there with them!

2. Keep them hydrated

This is a super important tip for how to cool down your dog. Make sure they’re drinking enough so they don’t get dehydrated and ensure there’s easily accessible fresh and clean drinking water in multiple bowls around your home and garden. Use non-metal bowls (which can heat up) and make sure to place them out of the sun.

3. Offer ice treats

Just like we enjoy a refreshing ice lolly when it’s hot outside, your dog might too. Some owners pop ice cubes in their pet’s bowl to keep their water cool – but you should keep an eye as they can be a choking hazard. You can even purchase ice lollies specially for dogs which can make a tasty snack. Never give your pet human ice lollies and ice creams though, because these are high in sugar and can even contain sweeteners that are toxic to dogs.

4. Try cooling mats

Cooling mats can be a helpful way to keep your dog cool at night, as dogs naturally tend to gravitate to cool surfaces when they’re feeling warm. You can purchase cooling mats which can be popped in the freezer for extra cooling, or some have self-cooling gel technology inside which is designed to stay cool for longer. If your dog’s not a fan of cooling mats, you can try using freezer blocks, pads or even frozen water bottles – simply wrap these securely in a blanket and pop them in your dog’s bed. Keep in mind that these can heat up over time, so you might want a couple of cooling mats that you can rotate throughout the day.

5. Do not use wet towels

The advice of soaking a towel with cool, but not freezing water and placing it over your dog is quite popular. However, this will warm up very quickly and then acts to trap the heat against your pet even more, so we suggest avoiding this unless advised otherwise by a vet. It can work better to flick some cool water on your pet instead, to help them cool down. Learn more about recognising the symptoms of heatstroke in dogs and what to do in our guide.

6. Stick to the shade

An easy tip for keeping your dog cool in the summer is to stay in the shade, keeping them out of direct sunlight. Garden trees and shrubs can offer some shady spots, or you can purchase a canopy or gazebo to offer your dog some relief from the sun. However, in cases of extreme heat, it may be too hot for them to go outside, even if they stay out of the sun. On really warm days, it is a good idea to purchase a thermometer and check the shade temperatures before letting your pet outside for anything more than a quick toilet break. If they have to walk over a path, check the temperature of the stones before letting your dog walk on them. If you can’t stand on them comfortably in bare feet without moving for 30 seconds, they are too hot for your dog.

7. Get a fan

A fan can be a great way to get air circulating and help your dog cool down. Get a fan and pop it next to your dog’s bed to keep them cool. For your dog’s safety it’s important to never leave them unsupervised with the fan on. Some dogs can find a fan stressful, particularly if noisy, so keep an eye on your pet and turn the fan off again if it is troubling them as becoming distressed can make panting and overheating worse.

8. Mist your dog