Unlike humans, our little four-legged pals can’t perspire. Instead, they rely on panting to release excess heat from within their bodies. On particularly hot days, even those pooches with thin coats can suffer from excessive heat. Therefore, a cooling pad is an excellent solution to keeping their temperature down, without running up enormous energy bills on air conditioning!
These pads work effectively by dropping the temperature while your dog is laying on them, and can often last for a couple of hours or more. But with so many different cooling pads on the market, which one should you choose? From extra large mats for bigger dogs to gel pads and more, in this article, we're here with our ranking of the top 10 best in the UK on Amazon so every dog can have his day in the sun.
Quick List - Top Dog Cooling Mats
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Table of Contents
Before we jump straight into the shopping advice, we thought we'd get you up to speed with how dog cooling mats work. Simply put, they use a process called conduction.
This process facilitates the movement of heat from a higher temperature source to a place with a lower temperature. Dog cooling mats have a much lower temperature, created by either using water or gel, which helps to cool down your dog by transferring away heat.
Gel is the most commonly used filling nowadays, and to tell the truth you're quite unlikely to find water-based products for sale. This is because gel-based mats can absorb more heat, which prolongs their effectiveness.
We'll start with what might seem the most obvious thing to look for – the size of the mat. Unlike a bed where it doesn't matter if they have a part of their body hanging off, the cooling mat needs to be large enough to fit your pup's entire frame. Ideally it should be 6 to 12 inches larger than them so they'll have room to stretch out.
If their body is not fully on the pad, it won't cool them down as efficiently. For that reason, if you are unsure what size fits best, we would always recommend going up a mat size. As they say, better safe than sorry.
While not all companies provide this information, knowing how thick the mat is will be of benefit too. This dimension can affect the mat's cooling efficiency, as one that is thicker will be able to accommodate more heat molecules and, as a result, stay chilled for longer.
The next piece of information you’ll want to know is how long the cooling effect will work. Now, it’s worth mentioning that companies aren’t going to give you an exact time. This is because it will change somewhat depending on the size of your dog.
That said, you'll often be able to find a rough guideline, usually between 3 -5 hours. In our mind, the longer, the better, as your dog will be able to enjoy the warm weather for a protracted time. However, it’s worth mentioning that the longer the mat has been in use, the longer it will take to recharge.
When it comes to cooling mats, the chances are that you’re buying one to use outside. As you’re going to need to be able to transport it from time to time, your purchase must be easily portable.
First, consider the weight. After all, these aren’t just blankets. Ordinarily, mats will weigh between 1 – 2 kg, which will be easy enough for most people to carry, even if they’ve got a pram, a dog and a useless partner on the trek to the park.
However, some do come in quite heavy over 5 kg, so you’ll want to make sure you’re up for lugging that around before buying. You'll also want to check whether the mat has a folding crease. This reduces the overall size of the mat and makes it easier to handle, especially if you’ve only got little arms.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Zellar Pet Cooling Mat | ![]() | Give Your Dog an Extra Hour Chilling | |
2 | Ellie-Bo Medium Self Cooling Gel Mat For Dogs | ![]() | An Extra Spongy, Memory Foam-Like Mattress | |
3 | Rosewood Chillax Cool Pad | ![]() | One for the Tiny Pooches | |
4 | Seekavan Dog Cooling Mat | ![]() | Release the Heat Back Into the Atmosphere | |
5 | Pecute Dog Cooling Mat | ![]() | A Size to Suit Every Dog | |
6 | Lauva Dog Cool Bed | ![]() | Drops Down to 9° Below Ambient Temperature | |
7 | RSPCA Cooling Mat for Dogs | ![]() | A Thick Mat That's 100% Pet-Safe | |
8 | Adeptna Self Cooling Pad Bed | ![]() | The Best Bed if You're Working on a Tight Budget | |
9 | Esoes Fruit Ice Cool Pad | ![]() | The Coolest Looking Mat by Far | |
10 | Arf Pets Self Cooling Dog Mat | ![]() | Quick Recharge Time to Keep the Pets Cool |
As you're probably aware by this point, there are really few features that separate one mat from the next. But, if there is one thing of note, it's the cooling time. As this mat is capable of cooling for up to an hour longer than any of it's competitors, it had to take our number one spot!
From dimensions to weight, and with a three-way folding design that ensures it'll be easy to carry when ferrying it around, this pad is certainly worth your pennies. Sadly, it isn't machine washable, as that would have been the icing on the cake, but other than that, it has everything you need to keep your dog cool this summer.
The Ellie-bo cooling mat has all the features that we like to see. It's foldable, boasts a decent cooling time, isn't too heavy and is pretty easy to clean. However, it's the fact that it's constructed using an extra-soft sponge layer that helps it find its way this far up the list.
This extra padding gives the mattress a memory foam-like feel, something that we're sure your beloved animal will be grateful for. Furthermore, when compared to other mats available on the market, it's reasonably priced, even the bigger sizes!
Measuring 40 x 50 cm, this is a small mat made for tinier dogs that don't take up too much space. As you'd expect, the pad is stimulated by pressure from the pet and should be chillier than the surrounding temperature for around 3 - 4 hours of use.
This mat works well alongside beds, crates, kennels and for car travel, so it's a handy piece of equipment to have around for pretty much any situation you could find yourself in. Best of all, the outer fabric is made from polyester and can be wiped down to keep it clean.
Unlike other mats, this one from Seekavan doesn't absorb heat molecules for long. Instead, the design releases the heat back into the atmosphere from the areas that are not in contact with your dog. As a result, the temperature can drop from between 5 - 10° below ambient temperature, keeping your dog feeling nice and refreshed.
There are a few different sizes available, and it's made from tear-resistant polyester fabric. That way you can be confident that this will be a little more durable than some of the others in this ranking.
While this mat might work in much the same way as any other on this list, there is something that Pecute offer that many other companies don't, and that's plenty of different sizes. Ranging from XS to XXL, if you're looking for a particularly small or large mat, this is your best bet.
Other than that, it uses a cooling gel that only activates once the dog steps on the mat. Plus, it has a foldable design and can be effortlessly wiped clean.
Lauva's cooling mat is one of the largest ones in our ranking, so should you need something for a bigger, taller or chunkier pooch, this is a good option. This mat is estimated to drop between 7 - 9° below ambient temperature, which is a considerable amount during summer.
Not only that, but it utilises a three-way folding design that shortens the size of the load quite drastically. It's a little heavier when compared to many of the others at just over 2 kg, but we're sure your pet will appreciate it all the same.
This mat is a brilliant option if you're looking to keep your cutie cool. It's thicker than average, and although unlikely to break, the gel inside is 100% safe for dogs, people and other pets for greater peace of mind.
The mattress is easy to wipe clean. Furthermore, it's produced by the trusted animal welfare organisation RSPCA. If that's not a seal of safety approval, we don't know what is!
If you're looking for a cooling mat on a tight budget, then this option from Adeptna could be right up your street. The pad is 60 x 40 cm, which is a good size for small to medium dogs, can be folded for transportation and is very easy to clean.
This mat will work either as a standalone or with a pet bed. You could even use it to line a crate when transporting your pet from A to B. However, the material isn't as durable as others, so you might want to avoid it if you have a known chewer.
These cooling mats are by far the snazziest option in all our ranking. We've opted for the lime slice, but there's also watermelon and white lemon if that would suit your garden or sitting room better. As you'd expect, it's filled with crystal gel that starts to cool as soon as your pet steps on it.
It's worth mentioning that it's on the smaller side, so it won't be of much use if you have a big ol' Mastiff. Also, there isn't any indication of the approximate cooling time, meaning you'll have to keep your eye on it, until you get to know it better.
This cooling mat can recharge itself quickly, taking only around 15 - 20 minutes to cool back down between uses. If you know that you and your four-legged friends will be out in the sun for longer periods of time, such as a day at the beach, it'll be handy to have around to keep them cool throughout the day.
However, there are some issues. Firstly, this is by far the most expensive cooling mat we have come across. Secondly, it's also the heaviest, meaning that it's probably only suited for those travelling by car, rather than for taking on a casual summer walk.
No. 1: Zellar |Pet Cooling Mat
No. 2: Ellie-Bo|Medium Self Cooling Gel Mat For Dogs
No. 3: Rosewood|Chillax Cool Pad
No. 4: Seekavan|Dog Cooling Mat
No. 5: Pecute|Dog Cooling Mat
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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