There are several points that dog owners should be aware of when they take their pets to the beach for some exercise or a swim in the sea.
There is a very common misconception that seawater is good
for the coat especially if the dog has some kind of skin complaint. This is
well wide of the mark, if your dog has an active infected itchy skin condition
the last thing you want to do is take it for a swim in the sea. Seawater has a
very high salt concentration, so even if the dog has temporary relief when in
the water this effect soon wears off as the water dries. The salt that dries on
the skin penetrates deep into the tissue as the skin has lost its protective
barrier as a result of the dermatitis, this then results in further irritation,
an increase in pruritus( itchiness), as a result of this scratching intensifies
and this spreads the infection further, which in turn causes more pruritus.
Even a thorough rinse in freshwater after a swim does not give much relief.
There is no major problem with a swim in seawater if the
coat is healthy, if possible give the dog a rinse afterwards to take away the
bulk of the salt. The seawater will dry out the coat and will have a bleaching
effect on the coat when combined with the effects of the sun.
On the other hand swimming is a fabulous way to exercise
your dog, in the same way that swimming is the best exercise for us. There is
no pounding of the joints, it builds up muscle mass that in turn helps protect
joints and is excellent for the cardiovascular system.
Another piece of advice that may seem obvious is to make
fresh water available and easily accessible at all times. Dogs when thirsty
have a habit of drinking seawater, this is a wonderful laxative, and the last
thing you want is a dog erupting from its backside on a beach. So please make a
conscious effort to make sure the dog drinks water, some forget with the
excitement of the occasion.
My last gem for today is please be aware that cement,
asphalt etc get very hot during this time of year and pad injuries are very common,
particularly when dogs are chasing objects as braking and sudden turns of
damage can cause extensive foot injuries.
Mark Pizarro BVM&S
MRCVS
