Pets and humans alike have all felt the temperatures climbing in recent weeks, and summer is just getting started. With many more degrees of heat coming our way, it’s time to think about keeping our pets cool and hydrated to protect them during this hot time of year.
Water play is a popular tactic (not so much with cats!) as it keeps dogs active, entertained, and achieves coolness goals all at once. Cooling beds and blankets are also perfect for any kind of pet to keep them cool inside if you don’t have air conditioning, or if the A/C can’t keep up with the heat outside. You can also get creative at home by wrapping cool packs, or chilling tiles or other safe objects up on towels for your pet to lie on.
Lick mats in particular are a pet favorite because it checks the three boxes of keeping them cool, entertaining them, and most importantly- it’s food-related. With so many pets being food motivated, appealing to their appetites while you cool them down at the same time is genius.
Lick Mat Ingredient ideas
While most pets will eat just about anything spread on a lick mat, it’s great to keep things interesting and mix up the treats and tastes. Peanut butter, plain Greek yogurt, and canned pumpkin puree spread really well and also cover all the nooks and crannies for extra entertainment time. Popping them in the freezer really does the trick for keeping pups cool on lick at a time.
Leveling up the lick mat
If your pup is giving you the stink eye when they see the same ingredients over and over, then try kicking it up a notch. Layering in bits of kibble or small treats can really add fun mixed textures and challenges. Frozen mashed bananas are still lick-able but can be quite satisfying to a pup’s taste buds. For a flavor twist, bone broths can provide a savory switch to the traditional lick mat flavors and freeze up nicely into a popsicle texture.
Lick Mat Safety
Always check the labels on food products to make sure they don’t contain ingredients that are harmful to your pet. Artificial sweeteners and onions are just a few hidden ingredients that are not safe for pets. When in doubt, check with your veterinarian on ingredients. Of course, be sure to keep your lick mats clean. Especially in warmer weather, bacteria can grow and you always want to make sure to wash and sanitize them before using again.
As always, don’t forget to keep a pet tracker like Pawfit on your pets. The harsh temperature alert feature on the Pawfit 3 can be a crucial safety feature to alert you if the temperature is at a harmful level so you can protect your pet. You can find more summer pet safety tips from the American Red Cross. Summer is meant to be enjoyed by the whole family, so with a few cooling strategies, you can ensure your pet stays cool and happy all season long.
