The Best Cooling Pet Beds, Mats, Bottles, and Other Accessories to Get Your Dogs and Cats Through Summer

A dog wearing a swamp cooler dog harness while standing in some grass.

Plenty of pets love to sunbathe. My dog Dave spends hours working on his tan, no matter that he’s covered with a thin layer of black fur. Most animals regulate their heat on a warm day by moving to the shade, drinking water, or splaying out on the cool tiles of the bathroom floor. But sometimes our animal friends need a little extra help to keep from overheating and risking heatstroke.

“The general rule of thumb is if it's too hot for people, it's too hot for animals to be outside for any extended period of time as well,” said Jerry Klein, chief veterinarian for the American Kennel Club. The best thing you can do is tune in to your pet’s behavior and try to prevent heatstroke altogether. Give them access to water and a space to cool off, and you can fan them or wet them down to help them regulate their temperature. You can also immerse them in water, said Emily Hall, a veterinarian and lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College UK, whose research has focused on heatstroke in pets.

If you’ve taken these steps and still see signs that they might be overheating — panting excessively, acting lethargic, vomiting, or they just seem off — they might need medical care. A good rule of thumb is “wet, then vet,” said Hall. “You want to start cooling them before you start transporting them,” she said. Klein seconded this. He also added that, “if a dog overheats and it looks like heatstroke, and you think you’ve got it under control, always get them seen by a vet. Because sometimes there can be internal changes that can occur hours later.”

That said, some dogs and cats are better acclimated to heat than others — owing to variables like size, age, breed, and type of fur — and a daily walk or afternoon outing on a summer day doesn’t usually require a follow up emergency visit. Some products can even help you ensure they stay cool and comfortable. We tried several to see how well they worked, and found some beds, mats, water bottles, harnesses, and cots that can help a pet stay a little cooler in the heat.



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