The Basics of Pet Water Safety
It would be very fun to watch your adorable pooch having his time playing and swimming in the pool or in the beach. Bringing your pet to swimming pools, lakes or beaches and engaging yourselves in water sports and other water recreation is one way of bonding with your pet. Most dogs, if not all, enjoy having fun in cool and refreshing water, most especially during the summer season when the weather is very warm.
Being a mature dog owner, you should always ensure your pet’s safety when bringing him into this kind of environment. Never allow your pet to wander into the water without your supervision just because he seems to have a lot of fun waddling into the water. Always take notice of warning signs such “No Swimming Allowed,” “No Entry: Beach Closed,” or “Caution: Thin Ice” when getting into any body of water or frozen lakes during winter season. Warnings like these signify danger for you and your pet and should not be ignored.
Like people, dogs also love taking a dip in cold water to freshen up. Taking your pet for a swim can prevent him from suffering heat stroke during extremely hot summer months. But always test the temperature of the water before you let your dog to take a dip. If it is too cold for you then it is definitely too cold for your pet, fur or no fur. Bear in mind that too much cold water can quickly lower your dog’s body temperature and can lead to hypothermia.
It is a common misconception that all dogs are great swimmers. To think that your pet pooch can paddle gracefully like Lassie is a bad idea. The truth is, not all dogs are natural swimmers; some breeds have a hard time keeping up their noses in the water and surprisingly, some are even afraid of getting into the water. Dogs with short legs, dense body conditions, and cropped tails find difficulty staying afloat while dogs with flat noses have a more difficult time breathing when in the water. Aside from breed, age and physical attributes also contributes to your pet’s swimming capability. Overweight dogs as well as older dogs are easily tired out when swimming. Take proper precautions when taking your pet for a swim; make sure he is very capable of swimming beforehand.
Beaches, public pools and rivers may contain bacteria and chemical contaminants that may bring hazard to your pet’s health. Algae and other microorganism are almost always present at any body of water, especially still waters like lakes and ponds. These microorganism and chemicals can be ingested or contacted by your pet during swimming. Always check the body of water you will be swimming in; avoid those that emit a stinky smell and displays an unnatural water color. If you are near an industrial area, avoid going into beaches, lakes or rivers that receive runoff from industrial firms, farming activities or municipal sewage.
Always bring with you a fresh drinking water for your pet when swimming in pools and beaches. Chlorine and other chemicals as well as infectious organisms that are present in pool and beach waters may cause gastrointestinal upset if drank by your pet. Encourage your pet to drink from your fresh water supply and he will be less likely to drink water that may be harmful.
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