Cooling coats any experience please

[123lurcherlover]

hi,
Up till now Milly ( Black whippet lurcher type) only gets walked very early, or around 9 when its cool. she stays in during the day in this heat and has access to the usual, water in most rooms, paddling pool if ventures out side. Ive often used a damp bandana to keep her cool but in afew weeks were holidaying in a caravan ( hot box :/) and i was going to invest in a cooling coat. Do they work, or does anyone have any suggestions.
Thanks, clare x

[andywillow]

No advice on the coats but years ago I bought a cooling blanket (like a mat). None of mine would lay on it but I drape it over them when they are hot and it really does cool them instantly. Its being rotated here atm. It wasn't cheap, think it was around £35 (that's why we only have one with 6 hounds!)

[jodav]

A friend uses a cooling coat on her black dog she is pleased with it. Sorry no details of brand, all I know is the coat is silver and gets soaked in water.

[barbaranixon]

As mentioned on another thread, I had one of the cooling mats that you fill with water. They work very well, including cooling your feet, but there are a number of disadvantages :

Mine, and a friend's split when just over a year old, despite little actual use
They are very expensive; my medium one (big enough for two cavaliers at a pinch) cost over £40, some years ago and is over £60 now.
They are very heavy when filled and need to be stored flat.
They are bright turquoise, but using a cover would decrease the effect.

I still have mine, though repairing the seam would be difficult (impossible?) but Teddy has taken to lying on it, these days, so it must be slightly cooling, without the water.

[123lurcherlover]

Thanks all, I think Ill get one, on the grounds she will keep a cooling coat on easier than walking round the site with a mat balanced on her , and theyre £22 from viovets rather than £36 at the mo.

[vickyb]

I swear by these
www.keepcool.org.uk/dog%20coats.htm

The 3 girls have them in pink, this must be the 4th summer they've used them Gracie and Sapphy are both black and feel the heat a lot. It's been fantastic for Gracie as she only has 3 legs so gets very hot moving about. They are really strange things, stiff like cardboard when dry but soft and like an imitation chamoix leather when wet. They're not a perfect fit for sighthounds, tend to be a bit short in the back as the next size is too wide but they have started to make them to order if you send a template of one of their winter coats for the same price as the nearest ready to wear size. I've just ordered one for Gracie. They aren't very heavy when wet but I've seen a similar one, an easidri which is very heavy when wet and dries out much quicker - wouldn't recommend them. They don't make them wet or soak where they lie, but they leave it slightly damp.

Even though I've only taken them out early mornings in this weather without them I wouldn't have taken them out at all. They stay damp for hours and I just re wet them with a bottle of tap water when they start to dry. Some days they've had them on all day. They really are cooling, they feel lovely and cool under them and certainly don't pant as much as they would. They're machine washable in non bio powder on a gentle wash and come with a storage bag for winter, just make sure that they dry smooth and flat.

[vickyb]

Jul 19, 2013 16:45:51 GMT -5 123lurcherlover said:

Thanks all, I think Ill get one, on the grounds she will keep a cooling coat on easier than walking round the site with a mat balanced on her , and theyre £22 from viovets rather than £36 at the mo.

Which are you getting? be careful with the sizing. I really wasn't impressed by the easidri and they come up big. It as very heavy when wet and does dry out quite quickly and once they're dry they make them hotter - like wearing a coat.

[vickyb]

I know someone who has just bought a ruffwear swamp cooler on offer at Muddy paws and she's really impressed by it.
And someone who's happy with the prestige pets ones.

[julies]

Great experiences of the Cool Coats here on mine4 Really brill .. like barbara I'm reserving judgement on my Cool Mat .. its been very good (tho expensive) but has been warm in this heat I spoke to the people I bought it from and thye've said to cover it when I don't have the dogs with me and that does seem to keep it cool but ....

I got my coats from Xtra-dog.com

Julie xx