Other than birds, which are highly-intelligent and can communicate with humans, pets can’t tell us when they’re hot or need help. Check out our tips for keeping your pets cool over summer. 

How it works

• Preparedness: Pets can’t tell us when they’re too hot — so we have to pay attention and make sure we’ve given them everything they need to cool themselves down.
• Safety: Pets can overheat in a hot home which can be dangerous for their health and survival. 

Advantages 

• Flexible: Many of these tips can be used by different types of pets.
• Simple: Many of these hacks are relatively simple and easy to set up.
• Empower your pets! Some of the tips will allow your pets to cool themselves down when they need to, without you needing to know exactly when that will be.
  

Limitations 

• Not preventative: You are still better off trying to cool your whole home and outdoor area. These tips will help to provide some relief, but won’t beat the heat completely. 
• Ongoing: Most of these hacks require some ongoing set up, and are not a ‘set and forget’ solution.
• Cost: Many of these tips have some cost involved, i.e. buying a cooling mat.
  

Hacks

1. Pet cooling mat: Purchase a pet cooling mat and put it on the floor. This is a gel mat that your pet can sit or lie on to cool down. They are designed to remain cool for a long time and can provide some relief for your pet! You can set up a few of them for multiple pets, or for different areas of the house. For maximum effect, put the cooling mat in a shaded area near some drinking water, to encourage your pet to stay hydrated.
   
2. Kiddie pool: Use a kiddie pool and fill it with water so your pet can jump in to cool down. Try to pick sturdier materials, like hard plastic so your pet cannot rip holes in the pool. Put the kiddie pool in a shaded area to prevent the water from heating up or evaporating from direct sun exposure. Check out secondhand websites like Facebook Marketplace for cheap options.
3. Lots of drinking water: Make sure your pets have plenty of drinking water, to prevent them from becoming dehydrated through the day. You can set up multiple bowls to make this even easier.
   
4. Frozen treats: Prepare treats suited for your pet by putting them in the freezer. A good method (depending on the pet) is to freeze a lick mat with treats on it. Your pet will be able to have treats and cool down in the process, a win-win!
   
5. Cooling vest: You can buy cooling vests for your pet (easiest for a dog). This can be especially useful for walks on hot days and to stop your pet from overheating. Make sure to get the right size and type of vest suited for your pet!
   
6. Shading: one of the best things you can do for your pet is to create internal and external shading so they have plenty of cool spots they can go to. For external shading, check out Throwing Shade. For internal shading, check out Blackout Curtains.
7. Grooming: Keeping up to date on your pets’ grooming can help to prevent them from overheating, especially if they have thick coats. Brush them regularly to help shed winter coats and keep cool.
8. When to walk: Think strategically about when to walk your pets during the cooler hours of the day or at night. You may also want to consider shorter walks, or visiting local creeks, lakes or beaches where your pet can swim to cool off.

You can also review advice from RSPCA Queensland on keeping pets cool.