Features To Look Out For
Size
Naturally, purchasing a tiny morsel of blanket for your great dane isn’t going to keep them very cool, and is going to be even less comfortable to lie on. Ensure that you choose the correct size from small, medium or large options depending on your breed but then take care to look further at the dimensions of a product. Every manufacturer will be slightly different as to what measurements equate which size e.g. a large pad from one company may be another company’s medium size!
Pressure activation
Some cooling beds are always cold thanks to a specific gel, or a breathable fabric. Pressure activation is a great feature by which it only becomes cold once your dog moves around on it. This obviously makes it easier for handling and storage as you won’t be putting away a mini ice pack into your cupboard!
Time limit
A lot of cooling mats will have a limited amount of time in which they can stay cool and refreshing before they will need to be ‘recharged’. This can range drastically from around 30 minutes all the way up to an impressive 5 hours. Naturally then, you want something that is probably at least 2.5 hours or more to be considered good quality.
Recharge time
Similar to the above, it can also take models some time to become completely cool again once they have absorbed all your pup’s heat energy. Some models can end up being particularly lengthy waits, whereas the best mats can recharge in as quick as 15 minutes!
Ease of Travel
Sometimes cooling pads can make for excellent items on summer trips to the seaside or a picnic, but are also especially handy for car journey’s which as we know can become particularly unpleasant heatwise come summer. A mat which has an easy creased and foldable design is obviously a lot more handy then to fold up into a car seat or take it away with you on holiday.
Ease of Cleaning
Dogs love to get mucky and so you can bet that your chosen mat is going to get covered in all sorts of unwanted mess in no time. It’s therefore smart to get a pad which can be easily cleaned. This may be machine washable, or have a detachable machine washable cover, or you might find you have to get involved in some more choresome handwashing activities. The best mats will feature an easy wipe-away clean material which will prevent you needing to wash every time it gets dirty.
Non-Toxic Gel
If you’re going for a gel-based pad, it’s absolutely critical that the manufacturer states somewhere in it’s description that the gel is non-toxic. Some mats don’t use non-toxic gels which means if there is any damage to the mat and it begins to leak, your dog could become ill or worse if they ingest the unsafe contents.
Durability
If using a gel based pad, you obviously don’t want any leaks or damage to the mat, as then it won’t work anymore. However dog’s haven’t quite caught onto this and are more than happy to bite, scratch and tear at their new cooling pad oblivious to the fact they are destroying their saviour from discomfort. A durable material with pressurised edges is therefore a must.
Freezer Compatibility
A lot of cooling mats don’t even require a freezer or fridge to activate, however some can benefit or simply need the power of the fridge/freezer to work. Therefore you need to make sure your fridge or freezer is big enough to handle a large cooling mat inside it!