Dog vests (cooling)

[LORHEL]

I just found these in the latest Foster and Smith catalog...has anyone bought and used one?? It is for cooling purposes...it actually is a vest that goes around the dog... its roughly $50 which i would gladly pay for if it would allow us to walk in the late evenings on these summer evenings.... they have both a cooling bandana, and an actual vest

I'm tired of staying in, when I'm not too sure or when it is so muggy....didn't know if that would help or not...

Love to hear anyones comments.

Cooling Bandana

I can't copy the vest...you can just type in "pet wrap vest"

[spoiledbabies3]

I actually use something very similar that I purchased last year from QVC. The bandanas came in a set of 6 and divided them up...the dogs got 3 and my DH and I kept the other 3. We use them for running and/or exercising during the hot months. We use them for our oldest rottie just to help him cool off...he is on prednisone and is constantly "hot" and this makes a tremendous difference. The ones we use are dipped in water and then frozen and then when they are taken out of the freezer we simply tie them around a "rottie neck". All of them love them as it keeps them quite cooler...and the heat and humidity here is horrific right now. I don't leave them on when they are unattended because of the gel pack inside that keeps the bandana cool. Good luck!

[Miabella]

My dogs have crate mats that use the polymer crystals and they really do stay cool. However, it's pretty heavy when saturated, and I think that the vests are a bit heavy for the dogs to carry around on a walk.

I prefer this kind of cooling coat: Clean Run Cool Coat

[jas'smom]

While I have not used the vest .....I purchased the cooling pad last year......it does stay cool.....but is fairly heavy once you soak it with water....I can imagine the vest would get pretty heavy as well I have been looking into this myself and found this vest.....

ThermalWear Canine Cooling System

[fbkeays]

Originally Posted by Miabella

My dogs have crate mats that use the polymer crystals and they really do stay cool. However, it's pretty heavy when saturated, and I think that the vests are a bit heavy for the dogs to carry around on a walk.

I prefer this kind of cooling coat: Clean Run Cool Coat

Have you actually used this product? I bought two of these for my dogs but have not used it yet. I live on the coast where it is cool. But during the summer, if we go anywhere it is usually 30+ degrees hotter.
As an example, right now it is 60 degrees at noon. This weekend I am going to a herding trial and it will be 100 degrees by noon. That is 40 degrees difference. I am hoping to use this coat to keep Cipher cool until she does her HT.
I am hoping that it works as advertised.

[LynnS]

Originally Posted by jas'smom

While I have not used the vest .....I purchased the cooling pad last year......it does stay cool.....but is fairly heavy once you soak it with water....I can imagine the vest would get pretty heavy as well I have been looking into this myself and found this vest.....

ThermalWear Canine Cooling System

I bought something similar to this for Bella 3 years ago. It works amazingly well.

One of the best way to keep a dog cool is to keep their stomachs/chest cool which is one ogf the reasons this works so well (plus it does not go from super cold to luke warm like chammy cool coats)

[Miabella]

Originally Posted by fbkeays

Have you actually used this product?

It seems to work pretty well!

[Luvs]

We have some cooling bandanas that are very similar to those and they seem to work really well.

[LORHEL]

Thanks for that link Laurie... I never thought about the vest being too heavy...

I like that cool coat, and the price is about half of the other one...

[SABELLESMOM]

You can make them. You need a porous material like polyester mesh or cotton. You need Soil Moist granules (Agway, Home Depot) A sewing machine and a dog pattern for a vest: which you make two layered and stitch 1.5" channels into (it) lengthwise. The channels are filled with about 1/2-3/4 tsp of granules and sewn shut. I like velcro closures for securing it onto the dog.

Cool Ties/Cool Mats

The reason for an airy, (but sturdy) porous material is they take a l-o-n-g time to dry, you dont' want them to mildew. Directions at the bottom of the page include cleaning.

[fbkeays]

Originally Posted by SABELLESMOM

You can make them.

Years ago I made a mat. It takes about a week to fully dry out. They are heavy and bulky. I would not dream of putting a vest made of this stuff on a dog. Too heavy for the back IMO.

[LORHEL]

I guess maybe a cheap way, and alot of work for me...lol..
might be to just carry a spray bottle along the way...and a washcloth...with her hip problems, i don't want to add any weight...thanks for making me think of it, I probably wouldn't have. :)