How do I keep my silly dog cool?

[SunnySkiesSleepsintheMorning]

I love him dearly but he’s not the most intelligent. :) I lay down wet towels and he lies near them and pants. I leave extra water bowls and he eyes them up as if they’re evil. He’ll drink cold water when I offer regularly from a cup though. I worry because he’s getting on a bit. I’ve tried treats on each corner of the towel but he takes the treats and leaves. I keep the house as cool as possible and he has a short hair cut in the summer. Maybe a fan? I don’t love them on if I’m out of the house though. I’d appreciate any ideas please. He’s not getting dementia, he’s always been like this but we love him anyway!

Well this isn’t evidence based but mine likes to crunch ice cubes in this weather....

Wet neckerchief / bandana / vest: www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/pets/go-fresh-pet-ice-cooling-dog-vest-medium

I bought a bandana in B&M for about £2.

Paddling pool?

I've been tipping a bottle of water over the dog. It's effective, and has the advantage that unlike a coolcoat, it isn't counterproductive when it dries out.

I’ve made my cat some ice lollies with tuna water. Big hit so far! Make sure you use spring water though.

I saw a great thing on tv where they made a doggy ice lolly by taking a cake tin, putting a few toys in there, pouring chicken stock over and feeezing!

Ha my dog is the same..absolute wally! We put the towels down..not interested, fan on..scared of it..,bought him a cheap paddling pool (he loves swimming/water)..drinks the water from it etc etc!
I buy him neckerchiefs (basically small scarves) from charity/vintage shops and soak these in cool water for him to wear. I've seen a local doggy day care company putting cool towels on dog's backs like capes too so maybe try this if he won't lie on it? I also pat him down with a wet towel on his tummy/arm pits. Apparently cooling down their paws is a very effective way to cool them too as most of a dog's sweat glands are in the paws.
He likes ice cubes and I might try making some dog ice lollies this weekend (seriously this is a thing..google it :-)

LEave the fan on they are safe to blast air for hours. Dog will appreciate it and will actually hog the fan so you won’t get near it

I’ve had my fan on continuously for past 48 hours..I don’t care if it could catch fire I’m bloody roasting anyway so what’s more heat

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I thought dogs weren’t meant to have ice but if it’s ok, I’ll give him a bit.

It’s fine when we are around but I worry about when we are out. Our fan is a bit ancient, perhaps I’ll upgrade and just leave it on.

I know someone who just bought one of these or similar for her dog. Very good from what I hear cool coat

Mine is currently lying in the living room snoring away, curtains closed and a fan on the side positioned to blow around her. She's quite old too but she loves her fan.

I've just bought mine a cool gel mat from Amazon, it's brilliant. As he lies on it the gel cools down, even our house rabbit has been sitting on it.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B06XJXKLTG/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ref=plSrch&keywords=cool+mat+for+dogs&dpPl=1&dpID=41D5V6oyN%2BL&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1530286515&sr=8-3

Hopefully this works.

Please do not ever leave a dog in a cool coat unattended. They can hugely increase body heat if they are allowed to dry out or the gel get warm- they need to be checked frequently to ensure they are still cool.

Good advice about the cool coat. I think my dog would hate it anyway.

I added loads of cold water with his dinner tonight and he lapped it up. He’s happily lying on the cool floor now instead of insisting he wants to lie on his fluffy bed. I might take it away during the day.

I got him a cooling mat one year many moons ago and he ignored it. I gave it away in the end.

Mine is also a daft sod. Cold wet towel over him, or a good dowsing with a watering can. He will also crunch ice so I've been putting a few in with his feed.

Mine loves ice in his bowl (not necessarily in water, just to chew and crunch on/play with), frozen veggies (carrots especially) and we occasionally give him a bit of ice-cream too. Or he has doggy ice-lollies - a very, VERY weak gravy/meat broth with veggies mixed in, and frozen, either in popsicle containers or as little ice cubes.

What's wrong with ice cubes? Mine snaffles them like treats.

Ice cubes are fine unless your dog is really aggressive chewer or has problem teeth as they can cause breakages.

Mine is half retriever, half collie so has a thick undercoat and lots of fur. She's also insane and likes to bake in the sun (she's only allowed to for a few minutes). She does adore ice cream, but I've actually stocked up on natural (organic and fat free!) yoghurts which we freeze and then give to her each day. She's also got a wet, cool towel draped over her (she walks around with it on!) and we've got some calming and relaxing treats which keeps her, well, calm and relaxed. The pavements here have been way too hot for her to walk on so she's not being taken out this week. She's hot by 6am so we've kept her in and chilled and not forced her out except to do her business. Whatever some people on here may think, a dog isn't going to suffer for not having a walk for a few days.

We are very lucky to have a pond on our off lead walking area so ddog is currently splashing about in that . He will still try to lay out in the sun later though .
I've put evening walks back by a good couple of hours as the pavement is too hot ( can feel the heat through sandals)

Chicken stock ice cubes

If you go out and leave your dog in the house, keep the house as cool as possible. Curtains all shut - shut the sun out. When I get home from work walking into the part of the house the dog is in is blissfully cool, and it's the side that gets all the sun.