Short answer: yes, a good cooling mat helps, but not like air conditioning. It gives your dog or cat a spot that doesn't hold heat the way a thick, fluffy bed does. Here's how the different types work and how to pick one that suits your pet.
Why dogs need help in the heat
Dogs don't sweat through their skin like we do. They cool down mainly by panting and through the pads of their paws. That's why dogs look for cool tiles, bare dirt or the bathroom floor on hot days: they're trying to get rid of heat through the surface they lie on. A cooling mat gives them that surface wherever you put it.
The 4 main types of cooling mat
1. Pressure-activated gel mats
These have a gel inside that feels cool when your dog lies on it. They need no power or water. The cool feeling fades once the gel warms up to body temperature, and it comes back after the dog gets off for a while. Watch out: if your dog chews, a punctured gel mat can leak, so they're best for dogs that leave their bedding alone.
2. Water-filled mats
You fill these with cool water. They stay cool a bit longer than gel, but they're heavier and can also leak if chewed or pierced by claws.
3. Raised cot beds
A raised bed lifts your dog off the hot ground and lets air flow underneath. Great outdoors and in yards, less handy for crates and car trips.
4. Breathable fabric mats
These don't make cold. Instead they don't trap heat: a mesh or cool-touch fabric lets body heat escape instead of holding it against your pet. No gel, no water, no power, nothing to leak, and you can use them all summer in the house, the crate or the car. Our Dog & Cat Cooling Mat is this type, with a breathable mesh centre and a zip cover.
Which one should you choose?
- Dog that chews its bed: a breathable fabric mat or a raised cot, not gel or water.
- Crate, car or travel: a light breathable mat that you can roll up.
- Outdoors in the yard: a raised cot in the shade.
- Cat or small dog: any type works, as long as it's the right size and in a spot they already like.
Getting the size right
Watch how your dog sleeps. If they stretch out flat on their side when it's hot (most do), pick a mat long enough for that position, not just for curling up. If you're between two sizes, go up.
Getting your dog to use it
- Put the mat where your dog already likes to lie, in the shade, not in the sun.
- Add a familiar smell: put their blanket on it for a day, then take the blanket away.
- Reward them with a treat when they lie on it.
What a cooling mat can't do
A mat makes hot days more comfortable. It doesn't replace shade, fresh water and walks in the cooler parts of the day, and it won't protect a dog left in a parked car. Learn the signs of heatstroke in our guide How to keep your dog cool in summer.
For walks, a mat stays at home. That's where a cooling vest or a cooling bandana comes in. Compare all three in Cooling mat vs cooling vest vs bandana, or browse the full pet cooling range.
This guide is general information. If you're worried about your pet's health, talk to your vet.