Cooling Treats for Hot Dogs — How to Keep Your Dog Safe, Happy and Cool This Summer

When the sun comes out in the UK, most of us are delighted. Our dogs, on the other hand, are working a lot harder than we realise to stay comfortable.

Unlike us, dogs can't sweat through their skin. They rely almost entirely on panting — and on a really hot day, panting alone isn't always enough. That's why a little extra help from us goes a long way.

This recipe is one we put together on a warm day with ingredients from our own kitchen and a couple of pots of Content treats. It takes ten minutes to make, costs almost nothing, and keeps dogs genuinely occupied and cool for a good while. But first — a few things worth knowing about dogs in the heat.

How do I know if my dog is too hot? Signs of heatstroke in dogs

Heatstroke in dogs is a genuine emergency. Knowing the early signs can make all the difference.

Early warning signs:

• Excessive, heavy panting — more than you'd expect for the conditions
• Glazed or distant look in the eyes
• Red gums or tongue
• Drooling more than usual
• Restlessness or inability to settle
• Runny poo

Signs it's becoming serious:

• Weakness or difficulty standing
• Stumbling or collapsing
• Laboured breathing
• Vomiting

If your dog shows any of these signs, move them to a cool, shaded area immediately. Pour cool (not cold or iced) water over their body — avoiding their head — and contact your vet right away. Do not place a wet towel over them as this traps heat against their body rather than releasing it.

When is it too hot to walk a dog in the UK?

This is one of the most searched questions every summer — and the honest answer is: sooner than most people think.

A useful rule of thumb is the five-second pavement test. Place the back of your hand on the pavement surface and hold it there for five seconds. If it's uncomfortable for you, it's too hot for your dog's paw pads.

As a general temperature guide:

• Below 20°C — usually fine for most dogs, adjust for breed and age
• 20–23°C — take care, especially with flat-faced breeds, older dogs and puppies
• 24°C and above — high risk; walk early morning or late evening only, keep it short
• 28°C and above — consider skipping the walk entirely

The most important thing to remember: a dog never suffered from missing a walk. The same cannot be said for heatstroke.

Breeds at higher risk in hot weather:

• Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds — French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Shih Tzus — whose shortened airways make panting less effective
• Heavy-coated breeds — Huskies, Samoyeds, Chows
• Overweight dogs
• Senior dogs and puppies
• Dogs with heart or respiratory conditions

If your dog falls into any of these categories, be even more cautious than the temperatures above suggest.

How to keep your dog cool at home in hot weather

If it's too hot to walk, it doesn't mean your dog has to be bored, uncomfortable or understimulated. There's plenty you can do from home.

Practical cooling tips:

• Fresh cold water at all times — replenish it regularly, not just once in the morning
• Draw curtains on south-facing windows to keep rooms cooler
• Create airflow through the house with open windows at opposite ends
• A paddling pool in the garden is brilliant if your dog will use one
• Cooling mats give dogs a dedicated cool spot to lie on
• Damp towels on the floor (not on the dog — see above)
• Move food and water bowls to the coolest room

Mental stimulation instead of physical exercise: Hot days are perfect for sniff games, food puzzles and enrichment activities. A dog that has spent twenty minutes working for their food is often more content than one who's been on a long walk — and enrichment activities like lick mats have the added benefit of being genuinely calming, since the repetitive licking releases endorphins.

Which brings us neatly to the recipe.

Cooling Frozen Lick Mat Treats — the recipe

This works beautifully for any dog who'll use a lick mat or silicone mould. The ingredients are all dog-safe, genuinely nutritious, and things most people already have in the kitchen.

What you'll need:

• Content 80% Fish Treats (Salmon, White Fish & Trout) or Content 80% Poultry Treats (Chicken, Duck & Turkey)
• Fresh mint — naturally cooling and dog-safe
• Carrot — hydrating, naturally sweet, great for teeth
• Peas — frozen or fresh, both work well; high in vitamins and easy to digest
• Strawberry — a little natural sweetness; fine in small amounts
• Carob chips — a dog-safe alternative to chocolate (never use actual chocolate)
• A splash of water to help everything bind together
• A lick mat or silicone mould
• A freezer

How to make them:

1. Chop the fruit and vegetables for a mould or if making a licky matt mash them with a little water until you have a rough paste — it doesn't need to be perfectly smooth.
2. Spoon the mixture into your lick mat or layer the items in your silicone mould, filling the grooves or sections generously.
3. Press in Content treats so your dog has something to work toward and find as the treat melts.
4. Place in the freezer for at least two hours, or overnight.
5. Serve straight from the freezer on a hot day. Some dogs go straight in; others prefer it slightly thawed for a minute or two.

Why this works beyond just cooling:

The licking action itself is genuinely calming for dogs — it releases serotonin in a similar way to how repetitive actions calm humans. A frozen lick mat on a hot afternoon does double duty: it brings body temperature down and it keeps your dog calm and occupied during the hottest part of the day when exercise isn't an option.

Because Content's Fish and Poultry Treats contain 80% real named meat with no fillers or artificial additives, you're not undoing any of the good work with a poor quality treat. Everything your dog is licking is genuinely food.

Other dog-safe ingredients for frozen treats

Once you've tried the recipe above, here are other dog-safe ingredients worth experimenting with for future frozen treats:

• Watermelon (seedless) — extremely hydrating, dogs tend to love it
• Blueberries — antioxidant-rich and easy to press into lick mat grooves
• Banana — binding and naturally sweet; useful for holding a mixture together
• Plain Greek yoghurt — a popular base for frozen treats; choose full-fat and unsweetened
• Cucumber — cooling and very low calorie
• Cooked sweet potato — filling and nutritious; works well as a base

Ingredients to avoid completely:

• Grapes and raisins — toxic to dogs
• Onion and garlic — toxic
• Xylitol (found in some peanut butters) — highly toxic
• Actual chocolate — always use carob as a substitute
• Macadamia nuts — toxic
• Avocado — toxic

Always check any new ingredient before introducing it to your dog's diet if you're unsure.

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Hydration and diet in hot weather

One thing that's worth mentioning on the food side: dogs eating a highly processed diet with a high cereal or grain content may become more uncomfortable in the heat, since these diets tend to produce more metabolic heat during digestion. A high-meat, grain-free diet like Content is easier for a dog to digest, and easier digestion means less internal heat generation — which matters more than most people realise on a very warm day.

Fresh water is non-negotiable. If you're heading out, take a collapsible bowl and a bottle — communal water bowls, while better than nothing, can harbour bacteria, especially in summer. Your own supply is always safer.

A final note on cars

It bears repeating every summer because dogs still die from it every year: never leave a dog in a parked car in warm weather, even with a window cracked, even in the shade, even for a few minutes. A car in 22°C ambient temperature can reach 47°C inside within an hour. It doesn't need to be a heatwave for a car to become fatal.

If you see a dog in a car on a hot day in obvious distress, call 999. The police have the authority to act.

Shop Content treats

Our 80% Fish Treats and 80% Poultry Treats are available here: Dog Treats by Content – Content Pet Food

Real named ingredients, nothing artificial, perfect for cooling treat recipes or everyday rewarding.

Stay cool out there. 🐾

Author Sam Randall

Content Pet Food — human-grade dog food, made in the UK.
For behaviour advice, visit our co-founders at dogabc.co.uk