Dog owners will know the struggle of sun-proofing your home only to find that your dog has managed to find the smallest slither of sun to lay in. But the truth is, they simply don’t know how detrimental the current heatwave can be for their health.
I’m a strict dog mum, but even more so in the heat, making sure there are plenty of water bowls around the house, curtains and blinds are drawn and that they don’t spend too much time out in the sun.
Over the weekend, Manchester Evening News shared advice on how to keep dogs cool in the soaring temperatures, with experts from Pets at Home on hand to help.
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Not only that, but the pet retailer has also launched a range of products that can help keep pets cool for the short bursts of time they are out in the garden.
I’ll preface this by saying that my dogs absolutely do not go on walks in this weather, and spend around 15-20 minutes at a time in the garden under the shade of our gazebo , or cooling off in their paddling pool. But during those spells outside, Pets at Home have got cooling vets , ice lollies and cool mats that can help owners have plenty of outdoor fun with their furry friends while also keeping them safe and protected in the sun.
Karen Heskin, Head of Pets at Pets at Home, said: “We all know life is better with pets and summer is a great time for making special memories with them, whether that’s in the garden, on a beach, or on a country walk. But it’s important to have the information and products needed to keep pets protected as warm and sunny weather can potentially be dangerous for them.
“Keeping pets cool is essential – always make sure they have shaded areas to relax in and that they have access to cool water – cooling mats and toys can also help.”
Dogs don’t sweat like we do, instead they cool themselves down by panting. If they’re especially hot, your pooch may need some extra help with a cooling vest. We soaked the Summer Daze Elastofit Cooling Vests with cold water, wrung them out and slipped each one onto the dogs. Frankly, I just wished they made these in human sizes, too, because they feel so soothing.
The harness-style vest costs between £15 and £21 depending on the size, and both my dogs wore the XL. The vest is said to stay cold for up to six hours, but we just kept soaking before each time they went back outside. We also found that Phoebe and Frank would lie in front of the fan wearing them, which must have felt especially cool when temperatures were reaching over 30 degrees.
Another great product that can be used either inside or outside is the cooling mats , which cost between £7 and £22 . The mat is suitable for both cats and dogs and will help to cool them down on warm summer days and after exercise. The mat doesn’t require any water or chilling, simply unfold in a shady spot and the mat is ready to go.
We left our mat under the gazebo in the shade, and it offers some immense relief from the heat thanks to a non-toxic gel which cools as pressure is applied to the mat. At night time, we even place this under the dog bed to keep them cool overnight, too.
Th e XL to XXL size is generous enough for Phoebe and Frank to share, and I’m even tempted to get one for myself because it’s the perfect size for the back and seat of a patio chair - bliss.
One of my favourite ways - and probably theirs too - to cool the dogs down is using iced treats like frozen yoghurt, and Pets at Home have launched reusable silicone ice lolly moulds so you can always make sure you never run out.
The moulds come with a dried yoghurt powder mix that you add to water and pour in before freezing upright for approximately four hours. I left ours overnight to be safe, and they went down an absolute storm.
The mounds cost £3 each and come with one sachet to make one lolly. You can buy refills of four sachets for an additional £3 in peanut butter or blueberry flavours. These are great for reminding your dog to take five, cool down, and also bond with them. You can shop the new summer collection at Pets at Home here.
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