With warm weather upon us, many pet parents have a beach day in the works. This can be a very fun day for your furry friend, but the sand, water and heat all pose potential risks to your dog. Follow these tips to ensure that you have both a safe and enjoyable beach day!
Not All Dogs Can Swim!
Contrary to popular belief, not all dogs know how to swim, this includes the doggy paddle! There are certain dogs, typically those with shorter legs and short chunky bodies that are not built to swim. This is not to say that these dogs can never go swimming, but being in the ocean makes this a bit more difficult. You should never force your dog to go swimming! Even if they are a breed of dog that is known to swim. Absolutely no throwing or pushing your dog into the water! If they want to go in, they will.
If your dog does love to swim, you should never leave them in the water unattended, even if you are just running to your beach chair. Just like people, they can get caught in strong tides and potentially drown. You should never let them swim out far. Swimming in the ocean is not like swimming in your backyard pool. There is no step they can swim to when they get tired and swimming in the ocean requires a lot more energy on their part. My golden rule has always been to never let them out further than waist deep. If they do need your help, you will be able to get to them a lot faster if you can still stand.
Salt Water
It is to be expected that your dog will ingest some salt water as they are swimming. If your dog seems to be in love with the taste of salt water, closely monitor them. Ingesting small amounts of salt water will not cause any long-term harm. Do not be alarmed if your dog has loose stool for a day or two after your beach trip. Drinking a larger quantity of salt water can negatively impact your dog’s electrolyte balance. This can cause dehydration, kidney failure, brain damage and even death.
Be sure to pack lots of fresh water along with a portable bowl for your dog. If you are providing your dog water throughout your trip, they will be less inclined to try the salty ocean water. Highwave makes an auto dog mug which makes traveling with water much easier. It comes with a bowl attached to the top of the bottle which makes for easy dispensary.
Sun
Tumors on dogs are more common than they are in people. Many pet parents don’t realize this but your dog should wear sunscreen. Especially dogs with short or lighter coats Make sure to apply extra sunscreen to the tummy area where the skin is more exposed to the sun. Swimming or rolling around in the sand causes the sunscreen to wear off so it should be reapplied every hour or so. You should not apply sunscreen to your dog that is made for people. There are various different sunscreen companies made for dogs. Epi-Pet and Petkin are just a few.
When applying sunscreen, make sure that you focus on the nose, lips, ear tips and any areas where skin is more exposed.
Sand
Leaving the beach with some extra sand is to be expected, but the one place you NEVER want to find sand is in your dog. If you have a dog who loves to dig and eat dirt at home, pay extra attention to what they are doing in the sand. Just like with the salt water, small quantities of sand will not cause harm, but if it is consumed in larger quantities there is a potential for long-term harm. Sand can get stuck in intestines or the bowel and cause a blockage. If your dog has a loss of appetite, excessive vomiting, abdominal discomfit panting, pacing or whining you should contact your veterinarian right away.
Heat Exhaustion
After a long day in the heat, we are exhausted so imagine how your dog full of fur must feel! A heat stroke is one of the most common pet sicknesses in the summer months. Dogs have trouble sweating because of their fur coats and as a result do not have an effective method for handling excess heat. Most dogs do not have the ability to stop playing and seek shade when they get too hot. Bring a tent or umbrella so that your dog has a shaded place to cool off periodically.
Just because your dog is in the water does not mean that they will not overheat. In the peak summer months the ocean can reach temperatures up to 75 degrees. If your dog is exerting a lot of energy while in the water swimming, they can overheat easily.
If you notice changes in your dog’s breathing; heavy panting or hyperventilating, changes in the color of their gums; healthy gums are pink and moist, but the gums of a dog with heatstroke will salivate more rapidly as they try to get rid of some of the heat in their bodies, they will then turn a grey color as the dehydration sets in, vomiting or diarrhea you should find a shaded area and begin cooling them off immediately.
Offer your dog some cool or room temperature water, steer clear of ice cold water. They will most likely not drink it once they are far into heat exhaustion but you should still cool of their bodies with the *salt free* water. Leave the beach immediately and get to the vet!
Wrapping it up
Before getting in the car and heading home, make sure to rise off any sand or salt water from your dog. This will not only keep your car clean, but will also help to prevent skin irritation. A trip to the beach should be fun! If you follow these tips and tricks you should have a successful and safe beach day with your furry friend.