As an Amazon Associate, top7pets.au earns from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on amazon.com.au at the time of purchase will apply.
Rankings re-checked weekly · Last re-checked 28 October 2026
·Prices updated daily·AI-assisted, run by Jaco Olwagen
Size a cooling mat like a bed. Measure your dog asleep on its side, stretched out, from nose tip to the base of the tail. The mat should be at least that long, and 10 cm of margin keeps head and paws on the cool surface. A 5 kg cavoodle measures about 45 cm and is fine on a 50 by 40 cm mat. A 20 kg staffy or kelpie needs about 90 by 50 cm. A 30 kg labrador, or a greyhound that sleeps flat out, needs 110 by 70 cm or more. A crate mat should match the crate tray: 74 by 46 cm for a 76 cm crate, 104 by 71 cm for a 107 cm crate.
3 quick taps and we'll match you to a pick using the same scores we rank with.
The picks, in order
7 picks
Number one at the top, number 7 at the bottom. The tier label on each card says which price bracket it sits in.
★Editor's Choice
1
Veehoo
Veehoo Large Elevated Dog Bed with Removable Bolster Mat, 107 x 76 cm
107 x 76 cmDogs up to 50 kgRemovable bolster mat
Premium
Rank #1
Veehoo Large Elevated Dog Bed with Removable Bolster Mat, 107 x 76 cm
Our Verdict
The raised mesh cot for a big dog that lives outside, now with a bolster mat that comes off on the hottest days so air moves under the dog again.
Why it's number one: An open mesh cot rated to 50 kg that cools by airflow, hoses clean and has the strongest owner record in the category at 4.4 stars from 2,648 Amazon ratings; no exact-model critic review was found.
8.1ExcellentTop7 Score
A$84.99
✓Verified today
★ 4.4(2,711 reviews)
Delivery check, 28 October: Delivers to all nine postcodes we check: every capital and regional NSW. How we check
Veehoo's bolster cot is the newer version of its classic raised bed: a powder-coated steel frame 107 by 76 cm and 18 cm off the ground on non-slip feet, a Teslin mesh bed, and a three-sided pillow-top mat that fastens on top. The maker rates the Large for dogs up to 50 kg, from a border collie to a labrador or boxer, and sells an XXL on the same listing. Open underneath, it cools by airflow rather than a cold surface, so keep it in the shade. On a hot day the waterproof mat unclips and the dog lies on bare mesh, which owners mention doing. The frame snaps together without tools and hoses clean. Australian owners call it sturdy, roomy and quick to assemble, and an American owner of a 50 kg Cane Corso reports four months of daily use without a rip. The warning comes from a boxer household whose younger dog pulled the cushion off. The warranty is only 30 days. It replaces the plain XL cot, which Amazon AU no longer offers.
Cooling
7.8
Durability
8.1
Cleaning
9.3
Sizing
8.9
Owners
7.7
Owners is the 4.4★ Amazon AU rating from 2,711 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cooling 7.8 (rubric 7): Elevated Teslin mesh cot 18 cm off the ground that cools by airflow (card), the elevated cot band at 7; the bolster mat unclips for bare mesh, and no owner reports dogs seeking it in a heatwave.
Durability 8.1 (rubric 7.5): Powder-coated steel frame and scratch-resistant mesh with a 50 kg rating (card) and a 50 kg Cane Corso owner reporting four months without a rip, but only a 30-day warranty and a boxer that pulled the cushion off: under the 8 anchor.
Cleaning 9.3 (rubric 9): Cot wipes or hoses clean (card) and an owner machine-washes the mat: the hose-off band at 9.
Sizing 8.9 (rubric 8.5): Large rated to 50 kg with an XXL to 68 kg on the same listing (card): the 40 kg plus band at 8.5, without stated weight bands for three sizes.
Pros
+ Air flows under the dog on every side
+ Bolster mat unclips for bare mesh in a heatwave
+ Rated to 50 kg on a steel frame
+ Tool-free snap-on assembly
Cons
− Only a 30-day manufacturer warranty
− A chewer can pull the cushion off
− Mesh sags a little under a heavy dog
107 x 76 cmDogs up to 50 kgRemovable bolster matHose-off meshElevated 18 cm
Arf Pets fills its mat with a solid gel rather than a liquid. This size is 69 by 109 cm and 2.5 cm thick, rated for dogs to about 36 kg: long enough for a labrador, kelpie or border collie to stretch out. It needs no fridge or power, cools for up to three hours by the maker's figure and recharges once the dog gets off. It folds flat and wipes clean. An Australian owner's 15-year-old kelpie slept on it day and night for the rest of summer and still used it in winter, and owners elsewhere report dogs taking to it quickly and the cover holding up for months. The other side: an Australian owner of a 33 kg German wirehaired pointer found it did not cool at all, and another says it warms up once the day passes the high 30s. It is sold from Amazon's US store, so returns and warranty claims go overseas.
Cooling
9.3
Durability
7.4
Cleaning
7.8
Sizing
7.8
Owners
7.4
Owners is the 4.3★ Amazon AU rating from 3,564 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cooling 9.3 (rubric 9): Self-cooling solid gel that the maker says works for up to three hours and recharges itself (card): the gel with stated duration band at 9, plus 0.5 as an Australian owner's kelpie sought it out all summer, minus 0.5 as owners divide, one finding no chill on a 33 kg pointer.
Durability 7.4 (rubric 6.5): Solid gel in a fabric cover with no warranty stated (card); owners report the cover holding up for months while others doubt it will last: half above the sealed-gel band at 6.
Cleaning 7.8 (rubric 7): Wipes clean (card: the maker's bullets; the detail table says machine wash): the wipe clean band at 7.
Sizing 7.8 (rubric 7): One size on the Australian listing, 69 x 109 cm rated to about 36 kg (card): the one named size band at 7.
Pros
+ Solid gel, no liquid fill
+ Cools up to three hours, no power
+ Long enough for a labrador
+ Folds flat, wipes clean
Cons
− Ships from Amazon's US store
− Warms up in a very hot room
− Some dogs feel no chill
69 x 109 cmSolid gelNo fridge or powerDogs to about 36 kgFolds flat
petfelix weaves its mat from an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibre, the fibre in cut-resistant gloves, so it stands up to claws and teeth in a way no gel mat can, and it feels cool rather than cold. The Extra Large is listed at 43 by 28 inches, about 109 by 71 cm, for dogs up to 80 lb, about 36 kg: a labrador, a staffy cross or a boxer, and it fills a 107 cm crate. Amazon's own dimension data reads smaller, about 89 by 58 cm, so measure the crate before buying. The open weave breathes, a non-skid base keeps it on tiles, and it machine washes and dries fast. Owners consistently report the cooling is mild next to a gel mat, one saying their dog's own bed felt cooler, and the sizing is generous. Whether it cools at all divides them: several feel it straight out of the packet, others detect nothing. It sits here because it answers the chewer question the others cannot.
Cooling
6.3
Durability
9.6
Cleaning
9.6
Sizing
7.0
Owners
7.4
Owners is the 4.3★ Amazon AU rating from 838 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cooling 6.3 (rubric 5): UHMWPE weave with no Q-Max or gel, described as cool rather than cold and milder than a gel mat (card): the fabric with no figure band at 5.5, minus 0.5 as owners divide.
Durability 9.6 (rubric 9.5): Cut-resistant UHMWPE weave, the fibre in cut-resistant gloves, that stands up to claws and teeth (card); no warranty term stated, so just under 10.
Cleaning 9.6 (rubric 9.5): Machine washes and dries fast (card): the 9 band plus 0.5 for fast drying.
Sizing 7.0 (rubric 6): Only the XL is named, listed at 109 x 71 cm for dogs to 36 kg, and Amazon's dimension data reads 89 x 58 cm (card): the one named size band at 7, minus 1 for the disagreement.
Pros
+ Chew and scratch resistant weave
+ Machine washable and quick to dry
+ Non-skid base for tiles
Cons
− Milder than a gel mat
− Some detect no cooling
About 109 x 71 cmChew resistantMachine washableDogs to 36 kg
ZAKAPAWS makes this mat in a single size, 89 by 58 cm and about 2 cm thick: a grey cooling fabric the maker rates above Q-Max 0.5, laid over a layer of memory foam with a non-slip base. That suits a cavoodle or beagle stretched out, or a kelpie or border collie curled up, and it fits most large crates and the back seat of a car. The whole mat goes in the washing machine, not just the cover, and it arrives vacuum-packed, so it needs a day to regain its loft. Owners mostly report dogs taking to it straight away and finding it cool once pressed on, but a few say it does nothing to cool their dog and one found it too small. No warranty is stated. For a crate or an apartment floor through a hot Australian summer, it is the softer, joint-friendly fibre mat of the seven.
Cooling
7.8
Durability
7.4
Cleaning
9.3
Sizing
7.4
Owners
7.1
Owners is the 4.2★ Amazon AU rating from 107 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cooling 7.8 (rubric 7): A cooling fabric the maker rates above Q-Max 0.5 (card): the 7 band, plus 0.5 as owners report dogs choosing it and finding it cool once pressed, minus 0.5 as a few say it does not cool.
Durability 7.4 (rubric 6.5): Fabric over memory foam with a non-slip base but no stated warranty or waterproof layer, and no long-term owner reports yet: half above the 6 band.
Cleaning 9.3 (rubric 9): The whole mat machine washes, with no tumble-dry instruction stated (card): the 9 band.
Sizing 7.4 (rubric 6.5): One named size, 89 by 58 cm (card): the 7 band, minus half as an owner calls it too small for their dog.
Pros
+ Memory foam under cooling fabric
+ Whole mat machine washable
+ Non-slip base
+ Fits most large crates
Cons
− One size only
− Cooling divides some owners
− No stated warranty
89 x 58 cmMemory foamMachine washableQ-Max above 0.5Non-slip base
K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III Dog Cooling Mat, Large 112 x 81 cm
112 x 81 cmWater-filledDogs 30 to 45 kg
Value
Rank #5
K&H Pet Products Cool Bed III Dog Cooling Mat, Large 112 x 81 cm
Our Verdict
The water-filled bed that stays cool all afternoon under a labrador or an old dog with sore hips, for an owner who will fill it once and check it for leaks.
7.6GoodTop7 Score
A$110.17
✓Verified today
★ 4(2,177 reviews)
✓ Ships from Australia
Delivery check, 28 October: Delivers to all nine postcodes we check: every capital and regional NSW. How we check
The Cool Bed III is a vinyl water bed: fill it through the cap, squeeze the air out, and the water inside wicks heat away from the dog for as long as the room stays cooler than the dog. The Large is about 112 by 81 cm and roughly 4 cm thick once filled, sized for dogs from about 30 to 45 kg: a labrador, a rottweiler, a German shepherd or a greyhound, and the listing recommends it for arthritis and hip dysplasia because the water cushions as well as cools. Owners report dogs seeking it out all year and call it the answer for a senior that cannot settle in the heat. The pattern that recurs is repeat purchase: owners on a third in two years, and a fourth in four, after seams split. It arrives with an odour that fades. It wipes clean. Amazon AU sells it, which earns it this slot for a big dog.
Cooling
10.0
Durability
5.5
Cleaning
7.0
Sizing
8.9
Owners
6.3
Owners is the 4★ Amazon AU rating from 2,177 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cooling 10.0 (rubric 10): Water-filled vinyl bed that holds cold all afternoon, the 9.5 band, plus 0.5 because owners report dogs seeking it out and seniors settling on it in the heat (card).
Durability 5.5 (rubric 4): Vinyl seams that split, with owners on a third bed in two years and a fourth in four (card): the seams-split-and-re-buy band at 4.
Cleaning 7.0 (rubric 6): Wipe clean only, with a fill cap, air to squeeze out and seams to check for leaks (card): the wipe-plus-valve band at 6.
Sizing 8.9 (rubric 8.5): Large at 112 x 81 cm for 30 to 45 kg with the line implied by the size name (card): the 40 kg plus band at 8.5.
Pros
+ Water holds the cool for hours
+ Cushions arthritic joints
+ Sold by Amazon AU
Cons
− Seams split; owners re-buy
− Odour when new
− Wipe clean only
112 x 81 cmWater-filledDogs 30 to 45 kgSold by Amazon AU
Pressure-activated gelFor dogs 21 to 36 kgNo water or power
Budget
Rank #6
The Green Pet Shop Cool Pet Pad, Large
Our Verdict
The original pressure-activated gel pad in the size for a 21 to 36 kg dog, cold on contact and self-recharging, as long as it stays away from claws and sun.
7.5GoodTop7 Score
A$135.45
✓Verified today
★ 4.2(4,525 reviews)
Delivery check, 28 October: Delivers to all nine postcodes we check: every capital and regional NSW. How we check
The Green Pet Shop's Cool Pet Pad is the gel mat the others copy: a sealed, non-toxic gel that chills the moment a dog lies on it, works for a few hours and recharges after 15 to 20 minutes off it, with no water, fridge or power. The Large is the size the maker rates for dogs of about 21 to 36 kg, and the line runs from a Small for cats to an Extra Large for big dogs. The listing gives weight bands rather than centimetres, so check the size chart in the images. It folds for a crate or the car and wipes down with a damp cloth. Australian owners report it cold on contact and a dog coming in from the heat and dropping onto it, but also that it warms through outdoors on a very hot day and belongs in the shade. The recurring complaint is the cover: several report a split or a leak within weeks. Sold from Amazon's US store, so a warranty claim goes overseas.
Cooling
8.5
Durability
6.3
Cleaning
7.0
Sizing
8.5
Owners
7.0
Owners is the 4.2★ Amazon AU rating from 4,525 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cooling 8.5 (rubric 8): Pressure-activated gel that chills on contact and recharges after 15 to 20 minutes off it (card): the 8 anchor; owners split on how long it stays cold, so no adjustment either way.
Durability 6.3 (rubric 5): Sealed gel with no warranty stated (card), and owners repeatedly report the cover splitting or leaking within weeks: a point under the sealed-gel band at 6.
Cleaning 7.0 (rubric 6): Wipe clean with a damp cloth only, no machine wash (card): the 6 band.
Sizing 8.5 (rubric 8): Four sizes with stated weight bands, this Large for 21 to 36 kg (card), but no centimetre dimensions on the listing and owners dispute the sizing of the smaller ones, so the 8 band.
Pros
+ Pressure-activated gel, no power
+ Recharges after 15 to 20 minutes off it
+ Four sizes by dog weight
+ Folds for the crate or car
Cons
− Cover can split and leak
− Warms up in direct sun
− Ships from Amazon's US store
Pressure-activated gelFor dogs 21 to 36 kgNo water or powerWipe cleanFour sizesFolds flat
NAMOTEK's mat is a breathable mesh over an ice-silk fabric with a thin cotton fill, about 99 by 69 cm and a centimetre thick in the size listed here, which covers a staffy or kelpie stretched out and folds for a crate or the back seat. There is no gel and no water: it feels cool to the touch and draws a little heat from the dog, then recovers once the dog moves off. It machine washes. The size names on the listing do not match the dimensions, so check the centimetres rather than the label before ordering. Australian owners report it the place to be through a Melbourne heatwave and a kelpie claiming the biggest size, with a note that the edge stitching is weak, while others call it thin and only mildly cooling, and one received a mat far thinner than pictured. It is here for the dog that dislikes a cold surface or would chew gel open, not as the strongest chill on this list.
Cooling
6.3
Durability
7.0
Cleaning
8.5
Sizing
7.0
Owners
7.4
Owners is the 4.3★ Amazon AU rating from 363 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cooling 6.3 (rubric 5): Ice silk fabric with no gel, water or published figure (card): between the 4 and 6 bands; owners mostly report it cooling, a Melbourne heatwave included, but several call it mild.
Durability 7.0 (rubric 6): Mesh and ice-silk over a cotton fill with no waterproof base and no warranty stated, and one owner reports weak edge stitching (card): the 6 band.
Cleaning 8.5 (rubric 8): Machine washes (card); one owner line dries it and no tumble drying is stated, so the 8 band.
Sizing 7.0 (rubric 6): Several sizes, but the names do not match the dimensions and one owner received a mat thinner than pictured (card): the 6 band.
Pros
+ Machine washable
+ Nothing inside to leak or chew
+ Light, folds for the car
+ Several sizes
Cons
− Cool to the touch rather than cold
− Thin, with weak edge stitching reported
− Size names do not match the dimensions
About 99 x 69 cmIce silk fabricMachine washableNo gel or waterSeveral sizesFolds flat
We score every mat on five dimensions. Cooling effect is how much colder the surface feels and how long that lasts. Durability is whether it survives claws, teeth and a season of use without a leak or a tear. Size range is how many sizes the line offers and how honestly they fit. Ease of cleaning is whether it wipes down, machine washes or has to be drained. Value weighs all of that against the price of the other six. Ratings and review counts come from Amazon AU owner feedback, prices and stock are checked daily, and we do not buy or test the mats: specifications come from the listing, owner sentiment from the review pattern.
Scored on Cooling effect 40%, Durability 25%, Ease of cleaning 20%, Size range 15%, plus owner ratings and critic reviews
Measure the dog asleep on its side from nose to tail base and buy a mat at least that long, ideally 10 cm longer. A 5 kg cavoodle is fine on 50 by 40 cm, a 20 kg staffy wants 90 by 50 cm, and a 30 kg labrador or a greyhound needs 110 by 70 cm or more. For a crate, buy to the tray. A dog half off the mat gets half the cooling.
Gel, Water or Fabric
Gel mats give the strongest chill for the money but rest for 15 to 20 minutes between uses and can be punctured. Fabric mats with a cooling fibre are gentler, machine washable and safe with diggers. Water-filled beds stay cool longest and cushion a heavy or arthritic dog but weigh 10 kg or more when full. Elevated beds cool by airflow and work best outdoors in the shade.
Washing and Wiping
Gel and water mats wipe down with a damp cloth and never go in the machine; check the seams and the valve each week in summer. Most fabric mats machine wash in cold water and should line dry in the shade, because a hot dryer or direct sun degrades the cooling fibre. Whichever type, air it out after a wet dog has used it and let it dry fully before it is put away.
Heat, Shade and Cars
A cooling mat is a comfort, not a heat plan. The RSPCA's advice is shade, plenty of fresh water and never leaving a dog in a parked car, which reaches dangerous temperatures within minutes even with the windows down. Keep the mat out of direct sun, and know that pugs, French bulldogs and bulldogs overheat before other breeds. Panting that does not settle in the cool needs a vet.
Chewers and Puppies
The gel in the mainstream mats is non-toxic, but a punctured mat leaks, is finished, and gives a puppy something to swallow. For a teething dog or a known digger, choose a woven fabric mat with a scratch-resistant surface, and supervise the first few sessions on anything filled with gel or water. Trim nails before a new mat goes down, and if the dog starts working at a seam, take the mat away.
What the Price Buys
At the bottom you get a thin ice-silk mat or a small gel pad that suits a cat, a crate or a cavoodle. The middle buys a large gel or cooling-fibre mat with a waterproof back, a warranty and a size for a labrador. The top buys a water bed that stays cool all afternoon or an elevated frame that lasts for years outside.
The types cool differently. Pressure-activated gel mats chill on contact, work for a few hours, then recharge once the dog moves off. The gel is non-toxic, but a chewer can open one, so supervise puppies. Ice-silk and cooling-fibre fabric mats feel cool rather than cold, machine wash, and suit diggers and dogs that dislike a cold surface. Water-filled beds hold their cool longest and cushion a heavy dog, at the cost of weight and leaks. Elevated mesh beds cool by airflow underneath and belong on the verandah.
To choose these seven we started from the whole Amazon AU cooling mat shelf, checked every listing against Amazon's product data for stock, condition and seller, and kept mats sold from Australia where one qualified. Nothing here is a second size of another pick.
Summer is why this category exists. Flat-faced breeds such as pugs, French bulldogs and bulldogs overheat first, then thick coats. The RSPCA's advice comes before any product: shade, fresh water and never leaving a dog in a parked car. A mat is for the shade, the tiles indoors or the back seat on a long drive, never direct sun, where it turns into a hot water bottle.
Handy calculators
Free, in centimetres and kilograms, and built for a phone in the pet shop aisle.
A 20 kg staffy lying on its side measures about 75 cm from nose to tail base, so a 90 by 50 cm mat covers it with a margin. If it sprawls, or shares with a second dog, take 110 by 70 cm. A cooling mat only works where the dog touches it, so err large: a dog with its chest on the tiles and its back legs on the mat gets very little from it.
Do dog cooling mats actually work?+
Yes, within limits. A gel mat feels noticeably cooler than the floor for two to three hours and recharges when the dog gets off it; a water bed stays cool as long as the room is cooler than the dog; a fabric mat only feels cool to the touch. None of them lowers a dog's core temperature the way shade, water and moving air do, so the RSPCA's heat advice comes first and the mat is comfort on top of it.
Is the gel in a cooling mat safe if my dog chews it?+
The mainstream mats use a non-toxic, water-based gel, and the listings call it safe while still telling you to see a vet if any is swallowed. It can cause vomiting or an upset stomach, and a punctured mat is finished. Keep gel and water mats away from puppies and habitual chewers, supervise the first few uses, and ring your vet if a dog swallows a mouthful. For a chewer, choose a woven fabric mat instead.
Where should I put a cooling mat, and can it go in the sun?+
In the shade, always. In direct sun a gel or water mat heats up and holds that heat against the dog, the opposite of the point. Indoors, put it on tiles or a wooden floor in the room the dog already retreats to, or on top of its bed in a crate. Outside, use it on the verandah or under a tree and bring it in at night. Never rely on one in a parked car, which the RSPCA warns can reach deadly temperatures within minutes.
Which cooling mat is best for a French bulldog or a pug?+
Flat-faced breeds cannot pant efficiently, so they overheat before other dogs and are the ones a cooling mat helps most. A 10 to 13 kg French bulldog fits a 90 by 50 cm gel mat, a 7 kg pug a 50 by 40 or 60 by 45 cm one. Gel gives the strongest chill; pair it with a fan and a full water bowl, walk early in the morning, and treat heavy panting, drooling or a blue tongue as an emergency.
Can I use a dog cooling mat in a crate?+
Yes, and that is where many of them live. Buy to the crate tray rather than the dog: a 74 by 46 cm mat fills a 76 cm crate for a small dog, and a 104 by 71 cm mat fills a 107 cm crate for a labrador. The RSPCA's guidance is that a crated dog must be able to stand, turn around and lie stretched out, and that crate time stays short. For a puppy that chews, choose a washable fabric mat over gel.
How do I clean a dog cooling mat?+
Gel and water mats wipe down with a damp cloth and mild soap and never go in the machine; check the seams for leaks while you are at it and let them dry fully before storing. Fabric and ice-silk mats machine wash cold on a gentle cycle and line dry in the shade, since heat and sun degrade the cooling fibre. Air any mat after a wet dog has used it, and wash weekly through summer.
