Best cooling coats for dogs who get overheated?

[Dr_Doolittle]

My 7 year old Whippet is heat intolerant (she’s my second Whippet - my first one was totally fine with heat, so this is a new phenomenon), and so I’m looking into those cooling coats - the ones that you soak and wring out before putting on the dog.

A friend recommended the K9 Kool Coat, and said she got it off Amazon?, but I can’t seem to find it there. She showed it to me, and it’s lightweight and breathable rather than a more “heavy fabric” (like a horse sheet, think Kool Coat horse sheets), which seemed more appropriate - especially since I run her. And you know how fast they go, generating a good bit of heat

What types/brands have people had luck with? TIA!

[D_BaldStockings]

I’m not a fan of leaving a cooling coat on a dog; since as it begins to dry it turns into a heat insulating coat and can make matters worse.

Is your whippet averse to water? Carrying a spray bottle and dousing legs, belly and chest often seems to work much better.

You might use an old pillowcase or a white bandanna and a scissors to make a loose ‘mock-up’ coat and see if it works for your dog: cotton cools as it dries and is lightweight. Be aware it will dry within minutes, the same as other bought coats, so you need to carry water to refresh it.

sun and heat reflective mesh may be an option
http://www.silvershademesh.com/Shiver-Shirt.html

[D_BaldStockings]

If you run her… hose and kiddy pool between runs. Stop as the day heats up. Keep off asphalt and concrete, breaks in the shade.
Nothing better.

My dogs race and lure course.

[Sobriska]

PetCo had a cooling vest that has ice packs sewn into it. That is what I bought. Here in FL, no point in using the ones that cool by evaporation. I also have an ice vest for myself and WOW what a difference when working outside!

[S1969]

I agree that I would not run a dog with a cooling coat on. I don’t think they are made for that purpose and I wouldn’t trust that it wouldn’t absorb the body heat of the dog and then become a warming blanket. When you say she is intolerant of heat, what exactly does she do?’ If she cannot tolerate the heat, I am not sure it is safe to try to cool her while she is running; maybe it would be more useful to run her at cooler times of day…?

I would put a cooling coat on a dog after they run, and/or use a tub to cool them. Also, you can buy cooling crate mats which are useful.

[BostonBanker]

https://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=918&ParentCat=217

Is this the one you are looking for? I have this one for both of my dogs; it doesn’t hold much water, but even dry, it makes a huge difference if my dark-coated dogs are standing around in the sun waiting to run. I do soak it to increase the cooling sometimes.

[DoubleClick]

I used a Kool Coat on my Doberman when he was showing, and I was happy with it. A lot of the dog show folks use them or very similar versions. I always filled a cooler with water and ice and would store the coat in there when he was in the ring, etc. I could also use that cooler water to dunk the coat on a regular basis to keep it nice and wet for him. Since he’s a black dog, it helped a lot on those hot summer days. It’s big enough that I could also have him stand on it to help cool him through his pads if needed.

Here’s the link: http://www.pettemp.com/05koolkoatmai…atmain6-06.htm

[S1969]

Hmm…explain what you mean “run” – lure coursing? Just running for exercise? Or something else?

In re-reading your posts I think I wrongly assumed you were looking to run the dog in the coat. The hunting dogs owners I know don’t tend to use cooling blankets but use fans for before training and then water cooling afterwards. I have also seen a lot of Kool Coats at shows and they work well. But it is definitely different keeping a dog cool while just standing around doing nothing, and trying to cool them after a run.

Some of my friends have these fans and they work really well to cool a dog quickly and/or keep them cool at a field event. https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/18v-one-plus-hybrid-fan

[Marshfield]

@BostonBanker

https://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=918&ParentCat=217

Is this the one you are looking for? I have this one for both of my dogs; it doesn’t hold much water, but even dry, it makes a huge difference if my dark-coated dogs are standing around in the sun waiting to run. I do soak it to increase the cooling sometimes.

That’s what I use as well. Definitely makes a difference for the corgis

[vxf111]

I find these pretty much useless. I have the one from clear run. She is no more cool in it than without it. And it doesn’t really feel/seem cool to the touch to me. My dog is a rough collie though, so she’s got plenty of fur. Maybe on a short haired dog where the coat is closer to the skin it’ll make a difference.

[S1969]

@vxf111

I find these pretty much useless. I have the one from clear run. She is no more cool in it than without it. And it doesn’t really feel/seem cool to the touch to me. My dog is a rough collie though, so she’s got plenty of fur. Maybe on a short haired dog where the coat is closer to the skin it’ll make a difference.

I agree that they don’t do a lot to cool a hot dog; people use them a lot at dog shows, but not really so much because the dogs can’t tolerate the heat. It’s more about showing a dog that looks cool and collected rather than with its’ tongue hanging out - not that the dog cares either way.

When we run hunting dogs in hot weather we keep tubs of water in the field and put the dogs in them. Then, if possible, move the dog to the shade and put fans on. But unless it’s really hot that is more than most people do on a normal day. I would be more careful with a black dog and/or a dog that is known to be less tolerant of the heat. In test situations we are much more conscious of dogs overheating because they might be working hard in the field for 30+ minutes. A cool coat won’t do much for that.

[Dr_Doolittle]

Thanks to everyone for the responses! Interesting perspectives

She gets overheated when I run her UNLESS the temps are cooler (under 50 or 60), so yes - I’m looking for something to put on her right after the run to facilitate cooling…

I usually put water on her, sometimes a cool, wet towel - and obviously encourage her to drink.

I run her behind my townhouse in a grassy area on a long line; just use the Chuck-it and have her chase and retrieve back and forth. If the weather is cool she recovers quickly; obviously I try to run her during the cooler times of the day! She’s white, but that doesn’t seem to make a difference (I have a black horse, and in her case her coat color obviously does NOT help in the summer sun!) My last Whippet was also mostly white and had NO issues with the heat; he was “Mr. Cool” in general

I could conceivably put a wading pool in the small TH backyard (we can’t leave stuff like that outside, alas), and put some water in it for “post run”, but I thought a wetted cooling coat might enable me to help her cool down - maybe while walking her in the shade after a run.

Alas, our outdoor spigot does NOT work :(, so I would have to drag the pool over to the spigot (next to the backdoor) and fill it that way. This is probably why I haven’t considered doing this in the past! I usually bring her inside and put a cool wet towel on her, but immersion would obviously be better.

[S1969]

If you were going to go back in the house afterwards, you could look at a cooling mat in her crate instead. Some are pressure activated, and some can be stored in the fridge and/or a cooler. It might be a bit too cold to lie on straight from the fridge but a light crate pad on top might work. I’ve only used them at shows and inevitably they are not as cold as a refrigerator by the time I need them, but they do help.

[Dr_Doolittle]

@S1969

If you were going to go back in the house afterwards, you could look at a cooling mat in her crate instead. Some are pressure activated, and some can be stored in the fridge and/or a cooler. It might be a bit too cold to lie on straight from the fridge but a light crate pad on top might work. I’ve only used them at shows and inevitably they are not as cold as a refrigerator by the time I need them, but they do help.

How big are these mats? (Wondering because our fridge is small and freezer is usually full.)

This is a good idea, only downside is the walking part will have to be delayed

[Equibrit]

One of these; https://www.ebay.com/p/Inch-Frontpet-Foldable-Large-Dog-Pet-Pool-Bathing-Tub-50-X-12-Portable-50x12/691234462

And a HOSE?

[Dr_Doolittle]

Nice pool - a little on the spendy side, though.

The hose attachment to the spigot is faulty when the hose is attached and turned on, water sprays everywhere, all over the deck. We rent, don’t own – so it’s a matter of getting the owner to prioritize replacement or a fix.

[Equibrit]

Fixing a hose spigot does not seem like a huge thing to do for a hot dog. $63 is spendy ?

Put the dog in the shower/tub.

[Dr_Doolittle]

Hasn’t been a huge priority up to now (and we are discouraged from doing repairs since everything works through the rental company and they oversee things and get approval from the owner), and for a wading pool, yes - I think 65 bucks is a bit pricey

Thanks for your input.

[S1969]

We use these at our hunt tests. Small enough to be easily portable but big enough for most dogs to at least stand in while you splash their belly. About $25 at Tractor Supply for a 15 gallon.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/tuff-stuff-products-heavy-duty-oval-tank-15-gal?cm_vc=-10005

[D_BaldStockings]

You could try adding a second screw on spigot to the existing one, using white plumbers tape for the join if the hose to spigot join is the problem. That would be less than $15.

Of course if the pipe is cracked or there is a faulty valve causing the problem, you would need landlord input and repair/ pipe replacement.