Hot summer days are the perfect time for water fun, right? Sprinklers, hoses, boating, swimming, and wading pools are all fun activities for your dog to beat the summer heat. Here are some tips to keep them safe while they do!

 

Make sure they have a doggie life jacket! Even strong swimmers need help sometimes. Bonus for our senior pets…a life jacket can help them get the benefits of water exercise while helping them stay buoyant, taking some of the stress off their arthritic joints.

 

Start out small. If your dog hasn’t swam all winter, they likely need to build up the muscles needed to swim the same distances they did last fall. Start with some short ventures and work up to the longer ones.

 

Check your water toys! Does your dog live to fetch? Check your floating toys for wear and signs of aging before winging them across the water for them to retrieve. Make sure they aren’t weather worn and cracked before promising your dog a game of fetch.

 

Watch out for signs of water intoxication! This can be more common in small dogs, those who love to retrieve, and any that enjoy biting at the waves, hose, or sprinkler. Check out this great blog from Dr. Becker on the signs of water intoxication and ways to prevent it from ruining your water fun!

 

Make sure your dog’s ID is up to date. If you are separated for any reason, you want to make sure that they are reunited with you as quickly as possible. 

 

There are lots of ways to safely have fun in the sun and the surf with your canine companion. What are your dog’s favorite activities to stay cool?