In addition to the fans and ACs that you may already be running to keep yourself cool, a variety of beds, cots, and mats might help your dog or cat stay less hot while they snooze the day away.
Cooling beds and elevated cots
You can find loads of pet beds that are made with “cooling-gel foam,” but they don’t actually reduce your pet’s body temperature — they simply don’t get quite as hot as some beds lacking the gel might. “Synthetic foam (memory foam, polyfoam) retains more heat than more breathable materials (latex, cotton, etc.) do. So the ‘cooling gel’ is typically added to offset the extra heat retention of the foam, rather than being objectively cooler than a material with better breathability,” said Wirecutter deputy director Courtney Schley, who has overseen our coverage of sleep products.
Of the beds we tested, a couple did the job as advertised — they warmed up less than our control bed made from regular, non-gel foam. The FurHaven Velvet Waves Perfect Comfort Cooling Gel Bolster Cat & Dog Bed, the “cooling” version of our main dog bed pick, performed the best. The surface temperature of the bed rose an average of 9 Fahrenheit degrees after our pet lay on it for five minutes, versus an 11-degree increase on the standard bed. That result is in line with FurHaven’s claims that the foam “reduces sleeping surface temperature by 1-2 degrees.” While that isn’t the most dramatic difference, if you want to take the edge off the heat in your pet’s bed, this model is a good option.
We also tested the Barker 4″ Orthopedic Crate Bed with the BarkerChill+ optional upgrade added on top. It did about as well as the FurHaven bed, with its surface temperature rising about 10 degrees after five minutes of use, but it’s roughly $100 more expensive than the FurHaven model (for a size medium). Barker also sells 7-inch foam beds to which you can add the cooling option, so if your pet needs extra cushioning underneath, the Barker bed is a great, albeit pricey, option.
If your dog prefers a breathable, elevated bed, the K&H Original Pet Cot and the Kuranda Chew Proof Aluminum Dog Bed are great options for both indoors and out. The Kuranda bed is more expensive, but its thick aluminum frame makes it more durable and resistant to chewing.
Cooling mats and blankets
“I have a part of my house which has a stone floor. And when it’s hot, that’s where the cats lie. They starfish out on the stone floor and cool themselves down,” said Hall.
If you don’t have stone or tile flooring, a cooling mat might be your next best option; in our testing, these flat, thin pads got less hot than the cooling beds. Instead of foam, they’re made with a pressure-activated gel that absorbs some of the heat from your pet’s body.
All the mats we tested cooled better than any of the beds we tried. The The Green Pet Shop Cool Pet Pad and Arf Pets Self-Cooling Solid Gel Pad both got only about 4 degrees warmer after five minutes of our using them indoors, versus the FurHaven cooling bed’s 9-degree increase under the same conditions.
These mats are more portable than many beds, but since they’re filled with gel, they can get heavy depending on the size. And their cooling effects can fade quickly in direct sunlight or on extremely hot days.
Both manufacturers claim that their mats are nontoxic, but you still shouldn’t let your pet chew on the materials, and always make sure to monitor your animal when using one of these.
While both of these mats felt chilly and refreshing on my back after we came home all sweaty from a walk, my dog Dave, their intended customer, wasn’t so into them. He’s generally not fond of slick or slippery surfaces, and he rarely lies on an uncarpeted floor if a softer option is available. So Dave often parked himself nearby on the Pelsbarn Cooling Mat. Even though this model is called a “mat,” it feels more like a blanket. Rather than being filled with pressure-activated gel, it’s made of something called Ice Silk fabric, which has hollow fibers that can absorb body heat, and a breathable layer on the bottom.
Considering those differences, I was genuinely surprised that the Pelsbarn mat performed just as well as the gel-filled mats at keeping heat in check, increasing by only about 4 degrees after five minutes of use. It also cooled far better than the PetFusion Premium Cat & Dog Cooling Blanket, which is soft and light but warmed up more than even the foam beds had. The Pelsbarn mat is also lighter than the gel mats, so you can easily pack it for a picnic, and it’s machine-washable.
Keeping cool on the go
Keep an eye on the weather report. If it’s going to be very hot out, “exercise your dogs in the early morning or late in the evening,” said Klein. Tyra Davis, a veterinarian based in Hammond, Louisiana, has a handy rule she always tells her clients: No play in the heat of the day.
If your pup needs a bathroom break during the warmest part of a hot day, keep it short and try to stay in shady, grassy areas.
If it’s not excessively hot, and it’s safe to go outside, a harness, vest, or gaiter that provides evaporative cooling can help extend the time your pup can spend with you outdoors. Evaporation in general “is your best help in trying to cool a dog down,” said Klein. It’s similar to how people sweat: As moisture evaporates from skin, it makes one feel cooler. (You can also pour or spray water directly onto your pet or get them into a pool, lake, or other body of water, said Hall.)
Evaporative-cooling garments can be helpful, but they don’t work as well in high humidity, since the moisture is less likely to evaporate in those conditions. You also need to keep tabs on the garments and make sure that they stay wet; otherwise they can become just another insulation layer, making your pet even hotter.
If you’re using any of these garments, Klein emphasized, “you should use common sense and take breaks, offer the dog plenty of water, and periodically check to see if there’s no chafing or rubbing,” especially on the elbows or groin. Also, consider your dog’s health, sensitivities, and coat to confirm that the garment is right for them. “Some of the cooling vests might be too cold for dogs that are older or have arthritic joints. A breed like a whippet has very thin skin versus a dog like a golden retriever, which is double-coated. It might be more beneficial for that golden, and it might be uncomfortable for that whippet,” said Klein. “I think we have to treat each dog very individually and assess the dog, the climate, and the product,” he added. If you’re ever in doubt, check with your vet.
Cooling harnesses
The Swamp Cooler Dog Harness from Ruffwear, which has been making a version of this harness since 2008, employs three layers that work together to pull moisture and heat away from the dog.
The inner and outermost layers are made from a Bluesign-approved polyester mesh, while the middle layer is kind of like a felt, according to Peter Kearns, head of product at Ruffwear. This middle layer “holds a significant amount of water,” said Kearns, so it acts as a sort of a sponge or reservoir. “And that action of having the water pulled away from that reservoir through that outer layer, that’s what’s cooling the dog down, lowering the total surface temperature,” Kearns explained.
The Canada Pooch Max Chill Cooling Harness works similarly to the Ruffwear model. It uses three layers of fabric from Coolcore, which makes performance apparel for humans. These layers work together to wick, transport, and, finally, evaporate moisture (and with it, heat) away from the surface of a dog’s body, according to Tara Hoth, director of product and innovation at Canada Pooch.
These harnesses performed equally well in my testing, both remaining wet and cooler than the air even after two hours in direct sunlight on a 76-degree day. Only the Ruffwear harness is machine-washable. (Canada Pooch says the Max Chill harness should be spot-cleaned only, but I ran it through the machine a few times, along with the Ruffwear model, and it came out fine.) Neither harness can be tumble-dried. And the Ruffwear model required a little extra cleaning, as it trapped a few bits of dirt and debris in between the top two layers. Kearns suggested using a brush to dislodge the bits and then flushing them out with water.
The buckles on the Canada Pooch harness are bulkier than those on the Ruffwear model, so they may be easier to grasp, but we found them slightly more difficult to snap in place.
Cooling vests
If you think your dog might benefit from something with more coverage, a cooling vest may be a better option. These vests look like little capes. Since they touch more surface area of the dog’s body, they might help to cool the dog down a bit more. But they might take some getting used to — unlike with the harnesses, Dave seemed a little confused when he tried on the vests for the first time.
The Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Dog Vest and Canada Pooch Max Chill Cooling Vest are both made with the same evaporative cooling layers as their harness counterparts — the vests just have more material.
The Canada Pooch vest is made from a more flexible material than the Ruffwear vest, so it drapes a bit better over a dog’s body, and it features rear-leg straps that can help keep it in place. Because the Ruffwear vest is slightly stiffer, it can stick up a bit near a dog’s rear when they bend down to sniff something.
Cooling gaiters and snoods
If you want something that’s simple to pop onto your dog, a gaiter or snood is lower-profile, lower-cost, and lower-effort to use than a vest or a harness, but it’s likely not to cool as much.
The Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Neck Gaiter and the Canada Pooch Max Chill Cooling Snood performed the best of those we tested. They each stayed wet and cool for about two hours in direct sunlight on a warm day. The Frisco Summer Cooling Pullover Dog Gaitor is about a third of the price of the Ruffwear and Canada Pooch options, but it dried up the fastest.
The Canada Pooch snood comes in fewer sizes than the Ruffwear gaiter, but it has a cinch toggle around the neck so you can adjust the fit. The Ruffwear gaiter comes in six sizes, but they’re not adjustable. No matter which one you choose, be prepared for your dog to look like a scarf-wearing hipster in the summer.
Boots
Since the ground can often be hotter than the air above it, a breathable set of boots may help protect your dog’s paw pads from getting scalded (good luck getting shoes on a cat’s feet). “Artificial grass, black tarmac, all those things are going to absorb the radiant heat from the sun,” said Hall. These surfaces can reach up to 140 °F in the sun, Hall warned. And even with outside temperatures as low as 77 °F, the pavement can reach 125 °F, according to the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
You can test the ground by touching the back of your hand to it, said Hall, not your palm, which is likely to be slightly more calloused and less sensitive. “If you can’t keep your hand in contact with the ground, it’s not safe to be walking your dog without protective booties on,” she said. Natural grass, shady areas, and paler surfaces are cooler, so try to stick to those.
Hot-weather boots should be breathable but also protect your dog’s paw pads from getting scalded. We like the Wagwear WagWellies Mojave boots, which look like Crocs. They’re dotted with holes that make them breathable and also allow water to drain out if you get caught in a summer storm.
The Ruffwear Grip Trex boots have a thick, durable sole and a breathable woven mesh upper that make them great for longer hikes over rough terrain. They don’t have big holes like the Wagwear boots, so if you’re on a hike, these shoes can help keep dirt and large debris from getting inside.
The Mountain Ridge Tough Boots with Grip are less expensive than the Wagwear and Ruffwear boots, and they’re easy to put on. They’re sold in singles, so you can buy spares, but they’re not as breathable, and they provide a thinner barrier between your dog’s paws and the ground.
Whether your dog is wearing boots or not, check their paws frequently to make sure they’re in good shape.
Kiddie pools
If you have the space for it and your dog enjoys getting wet, a kiddie pool can be a fun way to help cool them off. The Funsicle QuickFun Wading Doggy Pool is a good option, but we haven’t tested it, mostly because Dave thinks water is the enemy. The Frisco Outdoor Dog Swimming Pool is more expensive, since it has a convenient drain hole and folds up for easy storage.
Steer clear of inflatable pools — it takes only one sharp dog claw to leave you with a flat piece of wet plastic. And always use caution: Since brachycephalic dogs can drown easily, Hall warned against dunking these flat-faced breeds in water where that might be a possibility. Always supervise your dog when they’re in the water, whatever their breed.
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