Summer is here, and swimming is a popular activity for staying cool in hot and humid weather. Taking your dog for a swim is the perfect way to help your pet cool down, but it’s not always easy to convince your dog to dive in a local pool or lake.
In order to help you and your pet enjoy the water during the dog days of summer, here are five easy tips for keeping your pet happy and safe while swimming:
1. All Dogs are Not Natural Swimmers
If you are considering taking your dog for a swim, don’t assume that he or she will able to swim. Dogs will instinctively paddle when they’re in the water, but that doesn’t necessarily ensure that they will stay afloat.
It’s best to introduce your dog to the water slowly to monitor its performance. Try training your dog in shallow water with at least two people. This way, you can help your dog practice its swimming by calling its name to come to you.
2. Purchase a Canine Life Vest
If you plan to spend any time with your dog in the water, you should invest in a great canine life vest. Primarily, a canine life vest can keep your pet safe near or in the water, and it’s perfect for lifting your dog out of the water.
Buying a bright-colored life vest will ensure that your dog can easily be seen in the water. Before you make your purchase, obtain your pet’s measurements to make sure you receive a vest that comfortably fits them.
3. Teach Your Dog How to Get Out the Water
If your dog falls into the water, they will instinctively try to swim to the edge to climb out. This can eventually lead to exhaustion, and your pet could drown as a result. At your pool, teach your dog where the pool’s exit is located.
In addition, take the time to repeatedly enter and exit your pool until your pet knows how to get out of the pool. Alternatively, you can try placing treats near the exit of the pool to help your dog understand where they can reach safety.
4. Provide Fresh Drinking Water
Pets won’t normally discriminate the water they drink on a daily basis for many obvious reasons. However, if you plan on taking your pet swimming, don’t allow them to drink the surrounding water. This water contains various harmful chemicals that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and upset stomach.
Provide your pet with with fresh drinking water to help them avoid heat stroke and dehydration. Also, don’t forget to dry their ears.
5. Find Shade
Summer heat can be deadly for pets. Dogs don’t have sweat glands like humans, so it’s much harder for them to cool down. Direct heat can cause your pet to collapse of a heat stroke. Also, hot sand and concrete can burn their paws.
Symptoms of heat stroke include: difficulty breathing, excessive panting, lethargy, and vomiting. To prevent your pet from suffering a heat stroke, find shade that will keep them cool during extreme temperatures.
Whether it’s a beach, a nearby lake, or your backyard pool, following these tips will ensure that your pet will become happy and safe this summer.
If you have any additional questions about the safety of your beloved pets, please do not hesitate to CONTACT US to discuss. We are here to help!
Founded in 2005 by husband and wife team Dr. Brent Bilhartz and Dr. Julaine Hunter, LazyPaw has been a Frisco vet clinic from day one. These Frisco veterinarians focus exclusively on the health, wellness, and care of local pets as well as to provide convenience and peace of mind for their families. We like to emphasize that we are not simply here for the pets, we are here to serve people first and foremost. Our call to serve others is why we jump out of bed every morning excited to turn on the lights.
