The heat wave plaguing Europe and the world is having serious repercussions on everyone’s health. Not only humans have to deal with high temperatures, our pets are also vulnerable. To try to lighten the load a bit, a Japanese company has developed special clothing to keep dogs and cats cool.
Known as COOL DOG, this t-shirt integrates a fan that helps to circulate the air through the body of our pet. According to its creators, the fan allows to reduce up to 3.8 degrees Celsius of body temperature after one minute of activation. The device weighs just 80 grams and is powered by two AAA batteries that could last up to three months, considering a daily walk of 20 minutes.
Sweet Mommy, the company responsible for its manufacture, said the fan was designed in conjunction with veterinarians and is easy to transport. Due to its weight and size it can be well integrated into clothing and has a mechanism that prevents hair from snagging. The shirt is made of a special mesh that works in conjunction with the fan to efficiently reduce temperature.
Rei Uzawa, creator of the COOL DOG, said she designed this device with the idea of helping her Chihuahua deal with the heat wave. “There are a lot of fans you can put on your dog’s neck, but they don’t last very long,” she said. “I often see that there is air-conditioned clothing for humans, so I thought it would be a good idea to have a similar product for pets,” she said in an interview for South China Morning Post.
the cool dog It is priced at 9,900 yen (73 euros) and is available in five sizes. For now it is only for sale in japanalthough due to their popularity they could spread to other countries.
How to protect our pets from the heat in summer
Uzawa, like many owners, considers it to be impossible to go for a walk with pets during the heat wave. In some parts of Spain, the ground temperature could reach 50 degrees Celsius, according to predictions. Therefore, it is necessary to take additional considerations, such as protect their paw pads to prevent them from burning, or keep them hydrated.
According to Lucía Lahoz, a veterinarian at the Tomelloso Veterinary Clinic, it is recommended go for a walk in the morning or in the evening. It will also be necessary to adjust the feeding routine at this time. “In summer the amount of food that is put is reduced and it will always be put at cooler times of the day, so that the animal wants to eat more,” he explained to hypertextual the expert.
Have them all day at home with air conditioning is also not advisable, since their mucous membranes can dry out or get sick due to sudden changes in temperature. exist gel filled cooling blankets that will keep our pets cool. Even clothing like the COOL DOG could help.
Although technically it would be possible to achieve a similar result by trying to fit a computer fan to a mesh shirt (or buy one at aliexpress), the grace of the COOL DOG lies in the quality. The fan integrates a Mabuchi motor, one of the most prestigious brands in Japan.