Ideas for keeping dog cool?

[Becky]

I'm looking for ideas to keep our beloved Lab cool and comfortable this summer. He's getting older and I can tell by the way he walks that his normal summer tactic of sleeping on the wood or tile floors is hurting his joints. He's never been particularly heat-tolerant, even in his younger days, although his overall health is good. We don't have central air conditioning and can't afford to run the window AC every day that it's over 80.

I'm sure someone out there in TE-land has dealt with something similar, and I'm grateful for any suggestions or advice.

[beccaB]

It sure seems like I've heard that some of those memory foam dog beds are made to keep a dog cool. I suppose you have to search for that feature though because the ones made for people can be hot, or so I've heard, at least the botton of the line ones.(yet still pretty expensive) That catalog Dr.s Foster and Smith, and the Orvis catalog have a lot of dog beds to choose from. I have been mattress shopping and buying recently and for people, and probably for dogs there is a foam one that is made from latex and it costs less than memory foam and is probably cooler. I'm fairly certain I've seen something like that for dogs.

[Trek-chick]

Do you have a basement? My Lab used to go down to our basement by her self, and hang out there when it got real hot...nice and cool in summer and warmer in winter :)

[OakLeaf]

Some of my dogs used to like to stand around in one of those plastic baby wading pools. Doesn't help in the house obviously, but it might make his outside time better.

Maybe since dogs cool themselves through their tongues, you could put ice in his water when he's thirsty.

[ridebikeme]

Definitely some great suggestions here! Do you have a window where you could install a fan? Some fans have an adjustment for taking air out of the room or letting any available breeze come through. You could also let a pedestal fan run while you're away. I know it's only blowing warm air around, but it will definitely help cool teh area.

Ice in the water is a good one, can you fill the bowl before leaving with water and lots of ice?

I also pull down the shades in the house when the temps get high, although here in Maine that doesn't happen very often.

Good luck with your search!!

[alimey]

Actually I wouldn't put ice in the water bowl. Crunching it can crack their teeth - also feeding a hot dog really cold water is too shocking to the system.

The chilling pads are really good for a hot dog.

[ehirsch83]

My big black goldendoodle used to overheat horribly as a puppy, while sleeping. We would take ice packs and wrap them in a towel and he would sleep on top of them. Also we put a floor fan facing where he slept.

So far, we haven't had issues this year yet... But he overheats horribly if he is outside for more then 15 minutes right now during the day(all walks occur early AM or after dinner now). He likes to walk right into the shower and wait for you to turn it on.

[Becky]

Thanks for all of the ideas!

We do use a fan for him, and it does help. We've talked about moving his crate to the basement, although that only solves the daytime problem and I'd still need to come up with a sleeping situation. He a) likes to be near us when we're home and b) cannot be trusted near the litter pans!

I'm considering an elevated bed or a Cool Pet Pad (http://www.thegreenpetshop.com/store/item_view.asp?estore_itemid=1000002) (any experiences??). I don't want to use anything that requires filling with or soaking with water, due to concerns about leaking or water damage.

Please keep the ideas coming!

[Trek420]

My dogs each have an elevated bed--different brand--they definitely prefer the beds to the floor. I put padded dog beds on top, so they are like platform beds. They don't like them without the pads. Too hard. :)

Just one of my mutts elevated beds. During the condo remodel my contractor built her a custom platform bed which depending on weather I had a standard pad, a cooling pad or a heating pad on.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14180&d=1328496844

https://www.fetchdog.com/pet-supplies/dog-beds/outdoor-dog-beds/camp-cot/H10015

Outdoor beds keep the air circulating while providing your aging mutt needed joint support.

[GLC1968]

I saved this link for my own dogs a few years ago. We have one grown dog that doesn't handle heat well (but luckily, it rarely gets hot here). Now we have a new puppy that is constantly overheating and it hasn't even been warmer than 65F yet! We are definitely going to to investigate the pads and maybe a vest once she's full grown.

http://htfx-inc.com/store/k9/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=65

[TsPoet]

Don't know if this would work all day, as an elevated bed would, but for hot summer hikes, my guys wear this
http://www.mightymitedoggear.com/coolvest.html

I wrote a review of various cooling vests (not sure if you can open this if not a member of this forum)
http://mightymitedoggear.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5399

another option is zentec stuff. Very expensive, but works.
http://www.mightymitedoggear.com/cratepads.html#zentek

and here's another option for a cool vest
http://www.ruffwear.com/Swamp-Cooler-Dog-Cooling-Vest-Sun-Protection-Prevents-Canine-Heat-Exhaustion-from-Ruff-Wear?sc=2&category=12

(yes, i know I linked to small dog sites, 'cause that's what I have. Everything i linked to comes in bigger sizes)

[Becky]

I like those HTFx and Zentek beds! Thanks for the links!

[Tri Girl]

This is what our local pet rescue shelter uses (as well as our town shelter). We had one for our last pup, but she was quite destructive and eventually clawed at it and ate it to pieces. :rolleyes: I would recommend it (our lab was just extra destructive).
It did a good job of keeping her cool in the summer (it was over the concrete floor so the coolness seemed to radiate up, and in the winter we put a thick fleece-covered memory foam pad on it.
http://kuranda.com/donate

[snapdragen]

I found something called Freezy Bones at our local Safeway. Kind of like popcicles for dogs. Chloe loves them.

Their website appears to be dead.....she'll never forgive me for not stocking up.. :rolleyes:

[Possegal]

My niece makes a pet popsicle sort of thing for her dogs. You can buy them in the store for much more money than she makes them. I'll see if I can get the recipe. Her one lab lays in a plastic pool all day long, the other just dips in a bit to cool off. :)

It was 104 here today. My house is nicely air conditioned. My cats are indoor only. Today they were both laying at the sliding door in the sun (right near an AC vent though) looking out longingly. I thought - you two have no idea how lucky you have it!

[snapdragen]

Possegirl, if you can get the recipe Chloe would love you forever (or until someone comes along with a cookie) :D

[Dogmama]

Possegirl, if you can get the recipe Chloe would love you forever (or until someone comes along with a cookie) :D

These are good - healthy too!

http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/products/ice-pups/

[beccaB]

Schwan's makes a meat flavored ice cream for dogs. I haven't tried it so I don't know it its any good.:o
Frodo seemed confused when I gave him one.