Swamp Cooler for Dogs

Dogs are at increased risk of heat stroke during summer. Signs include heavy panting, glazed eyes, increased pulse, unsteadiness, vomiting or a dark red tongue. If you suspect heat stroke, apply cool water over his body and cold towels or ice packs to the head, neck and chest. Give ice cubes to lick and visit a veterinarian immediately. You can decrease the risk of heat stroke by using the Swamp Cooler vest by Ruff Wear.

  1. Function

    • To help keep dogs cool in summertime, the Swamp Cooler vest by Ruff Wear uses a proprietary evaporative cooling fabric. The fabric's light ice-blue color reflects sunlight and your dog's body will be kept cool by an inner layer that provides insulating protection. To activate the vest, soak it in cold water, wring it out and place it over your dog's head.

    Features

    • Ruff Wear made the Swamp Cooler with three layers of lightweight fabric that cools dogs by exchanging their body heat with the cold temperature of the water that gets stored inside one of the coat's other layers. This is modeled after swamp cooler technology used in home air conditioners. The vest's rugged fabric also repels dirt and abrasions.

    Benefits

    • Dogs that easily overheat, such as those that are short-nosed, dark or thick-coated, will benefit the most from the Swamp Cooler. The vest has a generous cut in the chest area which provides a good fit for deep chested dogs such as German shepherds and great Danes. The Swamp Cooler features easy-close buckles that provide a tailored fit so the vest stays in place during activity.

    Review

    • One product reviewer on the dog website Tripawds says that the Swamp Cooler works fast and stays cool to the touch for at least an hour. He discovered that cooling power can increase or decrease depending on the ambient temperature and exposure to sunlight. This reviewer also said that even if the vest dries out, it will still work to keep your dog cool by reflecting sunlight away from his body.

    Warning

    • Because the Swamp Cooler retains water, dogs should not be allowed to lie on anything that cannot get wet while wearing this vest. Also, Ruff Wear emphasizes that the Swamp Cooler is not to be used as a safety measure when leaving dogs unattended in a warm environment. Dogs should not wear this vest when left unattended, either in a car or outdoors, without supervision.