Summer is officially here! Hearing about incidents of pets dying in parked cars on the news and social media, I felt it important to create a post to help spread awareness and give pet parents additional ways to keep their pets cool and comfortable this summer. Speaking of which, did you miss my other post Tips & tools to keep your dog and cat safe in the summer heat! Check it out and be sure the share to spread pet safety awareness in extreme temperatures.
This post will give you creative ways to keep your furry family members happy and comfortable in the heat. So, based on what is trending and my own experience, here are 12 summertime essentials for you and your pets!
Affiliate Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the links. It’s my intention to only provide suggestions to you that I personally believe in, have experienced or find useful.
12 Summertime essentials for you and your pets!
1) COOLING MAT
Honestly, I had no idea about cooling mats until a few other pet parents brought it to my attention on my Facebook page as a great way to keep their cats and dogs cool. I remember when my cat Dusty was alive, she’d find her way into the tub in the bathroom to stay cool with her long Calico/Siamese fur.
A cooling mat, is a much better option. This way your pets can still hang out amongst family without being isolated. Check out this customer pick from Amazon!
Chaoguang Summer Cooling Soft Mat for Dogs Cats Kennel Mat Breathable Pet Crate Bed Liner Mattress
2) COOLING COLLAR /COOLING BANDANNAS
A cooling bandana or collar is yet another idea I had not heard of until recently. Sure, we know there are plenty of fashionable choices for cats and especially dogs, but cooling bandanas? What will they think of next! They come in a variety of colors, look super cute and will help to keep your dog cool this summer.
3) COOLING WATER BOWL/WATER FOUNTAIN
It should go without saying that when you are on the go or staying indoors, water is essential for hydration. Keep water temperature cool and replenished for your pet with fresh water throughout the day. A few options are available depending on your circumstance. You can go with a traditional simple bowl or you can look into having a water fountain in your home.
I know my cat Dusty was more of a fan of dripping or cascading water then still water. I suppose she was thoroughly entertained by it as well. It was not uncommon for me to catch her playing in her water bowl with her paws.
Anyway, if you are on the go there are options for portable combination water bowls you can store and bring on the road. Here are a few options to consider for your pet.
4) WI-FI PET CAMERA
If you are planning on taking a trip or even just leaving for an extended period of time (for work) this Wi-Fi Camera is a great summertime must have for pet parents. Pet parents that want to keep an extra close eye on their beloved furry friends will love this item. (Honestly, I think it would make for a great holiday gift idea too.)
The Wi-Fi camera allows you to monitor your pet from your phone while you are away. A bonus feature is that some cameras also have a treat dispenser so you can give treats to your pet. So not only are you able to be rest assured your pet is safe and sound, you can also reward them for being well-behaved and holding down the fort at home. How cool is that?
5) ELEVATED PET BED
Elevated pet beds are exactly what it sounds like; a bed elevated off the ground. This is a great option for pet parents that want to help keep their dog comfortable and off the floor. If you have tile floors or concrete paving around your house, think of how the environmental temperature impacts the floor temperature. In winter it’s too cold and in summer high temperatures can be damaging to your dog’s paws.
So, having an elevated pet bed is a great option to keep them higher off the ground and comfortable. Additionally, the elevated beds have the benefit of being portable, provide good even support and avoid being chewed up like bedding with cushions can. Here is just one of many options to consider.
K&H Pet Products Original Pet Cot Elevated Pet Bed Medium Chocolate/Mesh 25″ x 32″ x 7″
6) SUNSCREEN PROTECTION
Having sunscreen protection is a must in the summer for everyone. Both humans and pets need protection from the harsh weather elements. Whether that means having an umbrella to produce shade, or a sweater for a hairless pet, they need protection from the extreme temperatures.
Luckily, sunscreen protection is not just limited to use humans. Now they have sunscreen for dogs too. Who knew? I know I was unaware, but pleasantly surprised. To check out the options of non-toxic sunscreen for your pet, consider these options.
Petkin Doggy Sunwipes – 20 count
7) PET TRAVEL BAG/ ORGANIZER FOR HUMANS
If you are planning a day trip or family vacation with your furry friends it’s very helpful to have an organizer so you can pack the essentials you’ll need and store them easily. Don’t ruin your overnight bag with pet hair and odor. Get a portable pet organizer. This comes in handy when traveling on vacation or on a road trip.
Keep all your pets’ toys, grooming tools, water bowls, food and treats all in one place. Having a separate organizer for Fluffy’s essentials will make traveling on the road a little easier. Check out this customer pick!
8) GROOMING
When the weather gets hot or there is change of season my cats used to shed, shed, shed and then shed some more. One thing that is important to do to help keep your furry family member comfortable is stay on top of your grooming routine.
I loved a tool called the Furminator back in the day and it helped removed several ounces if not a full pound of hair from my Dusty. (We used to call her Fluffy butt for a reason! She had that much fur everywhere!)
Removing excess fur not only is beneficial for you (and your furniture) it helps reduce matting and excess fur or insulation that keeps pets warm. In extreme heat like summer anything you can do to help them keep cooler and be more comfy is beneficial to their health and well-being.
My pick!
Furminator Long Hair deShedding Tool for Cats, Large
9) TRAVEL TOWEL
Sometimes when you are on the move with your pet, they may get wet at the beach or playing in water. So having a handy towel to help dry them off would be helpful. Consider getting a travel towel designed especially for your pet and keeping it in the car trunk or packing it with your pet’s essentials.
These towels are handy for drying off pets, especially dogs/cats with lots of hair which means drying time is cut in half instead of taking forever. These handy towels work well for drying your cat/dog, also absorbing water from outside the tub on the floor or even using at the beach after playtime in the water.
They come in all different colors and designs. Here are few Amazon picks!
10) MOBILE PET BEDS/PET STROLLERS
If you are on the move and traveling but still wish to keep your pets as calm as possible, you may want to consider getting a mobile pet bed as an option. For example, have you heard of Sleepy Pod pet beds? These mobile pet beds are designed for small dogs and cats. What makes them so special? They are designed to be used at home like a regular bed but have a zipper closure so when it’s time to go to the vet or on the road, you can zip on a cover and go!
Since your pet is already used to their mobile pet ped all the time, they are more relaxed than if you had to go through the whole pre -vet visit let me get the carrier out situation that makes them anxious and on edge. You know what I’m talking about!
Sleepy pods make for a great option. They also are designed so you can put them in the backseat of your car and strap in your pet safely for that road trip. Additional accessories and attachments are available too.
GET SOME WHEELS
If a mobile pet bed isn’t quite for you and you have an elderly pet, one with mobility issues or a special condition that limits their ability to get outside in the sunshine, consider a pet stroller. Oh yes! If you didn’t already know, pet strollers are growing in popularity. We know time waits for no man and that includes pets too. However, just because they are getting older or may have a disability, does not mean they are doomed to stay indoors 24/7.
A great way to help assist your pet is by getting a pet stroller. This is beneficial because there is no extra effort needed from your pet. Also, as a pet parent it is more comfortable to get around with your pet by pushing a stroller vs. physically carrying them.
Also, additional benefits of a stroller include sun guard/visor attachment to keep the hot sun from harming your pet if out too long, also think about their paws. They don’t have to walk on the hot pavement and burn their paws. Does this sound like a good idea to you? Check out these customer picks!
BestPet Purple Pet Stroller Cat Dog Cage 3 Wheels Stroller Travel Folding Carrier T13
Sleepypod Medium Mobile Pet Bed, Dark Chocolate
11) PAW BALM
Speaking of burning paws, it’s extra helpful to be prepared in the summertime, especially knowing extreme temperatures can harm your beloved furry family members. If you have a dog and they love to spend time outdoors on the pavement or the sand, take heed. When the temperature is scorching hot, they can burn their paws and damage them.
If this happens, of course please call and check with your vet first. However, one item I came across that has great reviews from dog parents is Paw balm. This product is great for keeping paws moisturized, reduce inflammation, healing and conditioning of skin on the paw beds. If your dog has issues with cracking skin this may help.
Could this product help your dog? Here’s a customer pick!
12) PORTABLE PET TENT
I remember as a young adult buying a tent for the beach and loved it! My own secret hideout, out of the glaring sun and could have a picnic unbothered if I wanted to as well. Now just imagine this for your pet. Bring them along on your camping trip or beach vacation getaway and pack the pet tent.
While you are on the beach sun bathing your pet can be safe inside the tent napping without overheating. Secondly, a pet tent is great for other outdoor activities like camping as well. This is another great option for sun protection and also protection from those pesky mosquitoes. Your cat or dog can have a space they can have on their own.
Looking for options? Take a look at these customer picks!
Those are my top 12 summertime essentials for you and your pet! Would you add anything else? What must have items do you use that you cannot live without in the summertime? Do you use any special items to keep your pet cool and comfortable during this time of year? Share your thoughts and tips below.
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Originally published 7/2018. Updated 6/24/2020.
These are great ideas! My cats absolutely love their Furminator. That helps a ton when they are shedding. We love our SleepyPod carriers too. It is really nice to know that when I take my cats in the car with me, they are just as protected as I am.
Robin,
I’m glad you liked these ideas too! Yes, that Furminator does a great job of removing excess hair…it’s almost too good! LOL I’ve always heard great things about SleepyPods and it continues to be on trend.
I love the idea of a cooling mat and the bandana. Our house stays pretty cool, but occasionally we have a hot day, and I know Sophie would appreciate the mat.
🙂
Great products for summer! So glad I pinned this post. I got a cooling mat for my hot St Bernard mix. He doesn’t use it, the other one does! He does use theoffthe floor bed which is good for keeping cool too. I might get him the cooling bandana. I really about heat exhaustion for him.
Joelle,
Thanks so much for the pin and sharing your insight. There are so many options out there for pets, so the good thing is if they don’t like one thing there are other options that may work better. 🙂
Great products. I already own a few of them like the cooling mat, bandanna, and stroller. Others I may try when I have a more active dog. Buffy prefers staying at home when it is hot and does not like hiking far.
Hee hee. Buffy sounds like me!
I provide plenty of fresh water for my girls and use several pet fountains throughout the house. I’m lucky that my AC vents are near the floor, so the girls tend to rest near them when it’s so hot.
Oh that’s convenient! I bet they love that!
We have many of these – our preference is cooling vests. With super tiny dogs the bandanas aren’t that effective. or they are too big. The vests allows for a full body cool down.
Rather than the pop up tent (we do have one mind you!) we find ourselves loving the WrapSit. It turns the bottom of your portable chair into a crate. Sweet. 🙂
Now my BIG search is for a water fountain that is battery operated or rechargeable … I don’t want the wires! SO far no luck!
Sonja,
Ah! That WrapSit sounds like a great product. Good point. I have yet to see a battery operated fountain. Only the traditional water bowls with standing water are cordless. I’m sure someone is working on that as we speak!
I love all your suggestions, we have a cooling mat, the bandana, the collapsible water bowl for when we are out, but I love the idea of the pet tent and the rucksack too! Great tips!
Michelle,
Glad you liked this additional tips. Sounds like you are already well prepared.
Mr. N has a cooling coat that works quite well for city walks. I bought him a cooling mat too but he refuses to use that one.
LOL. You take good care of Mr. N. I guess he can be quite particular at times, eh?
These are great things to have for Summer fun with pets! I especially like all the cooling products. We have a cooling for Icy, which works great.
Love & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Cathy,
Nice! I know you are well prepared!
Having read about cooling jackets on Layla’s Woof I am going to look out for them here in New Zealand, they really are a clever idea and a cooling mat might be something I can try with our cats too.
Yes! I know if I knew about cooling mats before, I’d definitely give them a try for my fur kids. It beats hanging out in the bath tub for sure!
Cooling beds and vests can be life-saving. My girls adore(d) the Cool Beds. We tried out some of the cooling vests as well. They work, though what we found was the one that held more water was more effective but quite heavy (and made the dog damp as well) and the one that was lighter didn’t hold enough water and dried out and stopped working quite fast.
Jana,
Thanks for sharing some first hand insight! This is invaluable for anyone considering the pros and cons! Thanks for sharing!
So many cool products! I live in Florida so I keep a cooling pad handy as Bella has a double coat and she likes to stay cool. Having a good drinking fountain is a must too. I didn’t know about a sunscreen for dogs need to buy some!
Adriana,
Honestly I didn’t know such a thing existed either. I learned something new too when researching this topic on trending items for the summer. Who knew?!
Great tips and confessing here that Layla has a lot more to keep her cool than me LOL but I would not change it for anything
Ruth,
LOL Layla doesn’t need or want for nothing! Trust! I get it! Much love!
Great tips and great products!! Jack doesn’t do well in the heat so I bought him a cooling bandana, which seems to help a little. I had thought of the cooling mat but he has a stubborn streak, so I’m pretty sure he would avoid it. The organiser bag is perfect for car trips. I use a knapsack for supplies, but it’s the worst because I can never find anything. I’ve had my eye on that bag for awhile, might be time to buy it already!
Hindy,
That knapsack is a great idea right? I know many folks that could use that, especially outdoorsy types on camping trips!