Most dogs love playing in water. To keep them safe, focus on prevention, preparedness, and awareness
Andrews McMeel Syndication
It’s pool season!
Lots of dogs love to swim and splash around in a pool or other body of water, and it’s great exercise and play, but they aren’t natural swimmers -- not even water-loving dogs such as retrievers, water spaniels and Newfoundlands.
All dogs with access to pools, lakes, rivers and oceans need to learn how to swim (visit fearfreehappyhomes.com/how-to-teach-your-dog-to-love-swimming for tips) and have safety backups in the form of pool alarms, ramps and personal flotation devices. Whether your water adventures take place in your backyard, on your boat or at the shore, the following tips will help you and your dog have a wet and wild time this summer.
-- Supervise dogs any time they’re in or around water. If dogs have access to the backyard when you’re not home, the pool should be securely fenced.
-- Teach your dog how to navigate the pool. He should know where the steps are and how to use them. An escape tool such as a Skamper-Ramp (skamper-ramp-store.com) is a good backup, and it can also attach to docks and some boats. A pool alarm that sounds off when a dog or child falls into the pool is another smart idea.
-- A hard plastic kiddie pool is fun for all dogs who need to cool off in summer heat. Dump water after each use, since standing water is a breeding ground for heartworm-spreading mosquitoes. Rinse clean before refilling with fresh water.
-- Before letting your dog swim in ponds, lakes, rivers or the ocean, find out about currents and tides, potential underwater risks (snapping turtles or snakes, for instance), and surface hazards such as blue-green algae on ponds or lakes and red tides in the ocean, both of which can be deadly (we wrote about it here: uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2019/07/01). An area that was safe for swimming one visit can be treacherous the next.
-- Fit your dog with a personal flotation device, especially if she’s a puppy or senior, not much of a swimmer, or is a top-heavy breed such as a bulldog, French bulldog or pug. And just like people, dogs on boats should always wear a PFD. Choose one in a bright color that’s easily visible in water, with a handle for ease of pulling your pup out of the drink if she goes overboard.
-- Prevent a dog-overboard situation with a safety line. Run a jack line along the port and starboard sides of your boat, and connect it by a ring to safety lines that attach to your dog’s harness or PFD. He’ll be secured but can still move freely about the boat. Placing netting between the stanchions all the way around the boat provides added safety. Your boating dog should be microchipped and wear a collar with up-to-date ID tags.
-- Keep young and old dogs close to shore. Young dogs can panic if they’re not comfortable in water, and seniors may not realize they’re not as strong as they used to be.
-- In case your adventurous dog is heading farther out than you want him to go, have his favorite retrieving toy close at hand. You may be able to lure him back to shore by throwing it closer in. Better yet, teach your dog to always come when you call, even when swimming. It could save his life.
-- Offer fresh water frequently, and make sure your dog doesn’t lap up salt water at the beach. Drinking salty water can be a serious health risk. She’ll also need a thorough freshwater rinse after a swim to remove chlorine, salt and other contaminants. Take special care in drying skin folds and ears to prevent infections.
-- Take a course in pet first aid and CPR. You can find one through the Red Cross, your veterinarian or certified private trainers offering courses in your community or online.
-- Call it a day when your dog is tired -- or even a little beforehand. Tired dogs are at greater risk of drowning. Make sure he lives to swim another day.
Q&A
Parrots for beginners?
What to know
Q: I’m thinking of getting a parrot, and I’m new to birds. Are certain species good choices for beginners?
A: Parrots are wonderful companions -- smart, beautiful and entertaining -- but they are messier and more demanding of attention than people often realize. That’s the first thing to know. The other is that parrots vary widely in personality and amiability. A lot also depends on how well they were raised and socialized. It’s important to do your homework before buying. The following species may fit your bill.
-- Cockatiels are popular for their affectionate nature, and they come in a variety of color and pattern variations. Some cockatiels learn to talk, but most stick to whistling.
-- Budgies (short for budgerigar) are widely available and relatively inexpensive compared to other parrot species. They’re special for their affectionate personalities and can become good talkers, although they have teeny-tiny voices. With gentle, patient handling (something all birds need), they can become your best bud.
-- Lovebirds live up to their name, being affectionate and cuddly when hand-raised and socialized. They’re not overly loud, and they may even talk a little. Peach-faced lovebirds are most popular, but they come in other color mutations, too. And contrary to myth, they don’t need to be kept in pairs.
-- Senegals are members of the Poicephalus family. These small, handsome parrots have a gray head, green back and wings, and a yellow-orange belly. They’re friendly and affectionate, and although they’re not big talkers, they may pick up a few phrases.
-- Members of the Pionus family are midsize parrots with winning personalities. They aren’t as flashy as some species, but they are easy to keep and handle, with a sedate attitude and a voice that isn’t excessively loud.
Other possible “starter birds” include green-cheeked conures, lilac-crowned or other small Amazons, caiques and parrotlets. -- Kim Campbell Thornton
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
Maps show
parasite risks
-- Are you and your pets at risk for tick-borne diseases? A new map from the Companion Animal Parasite Council can help you and your veterinarian determine the need for tick preventive treatment or other prevention methods. Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis are among the diseases affecting both humans and pets, and they are transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. Pets don't directly spread tick-borne diseases, but they can bring you into contact with ticks -- and vice versa. If your dog hikes with you on a regular basis or your cat goes outdoors, tick prevention can help protect all of you from disease. You can find CAPC’s parasite forecast maps at petdiseasealerts.org.
-- A Jack Russell terrier named Patron -- the name means “ammo” in Ukrainian -- received an award for valor from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after detecting more than 200 undetonated explosives since February, when Russia invaded Ukraine. The 2-year-old bomb-sniffing dog, who began life as a pet, was trained at the beginning of the war to sniff out mines and other explosive ordnance. When he smells gunpowder, he signals his human teammate, Mykhailo Iliev, who then defuses the device. Patron is world-famous now, with 243,000 Instagram followers. When he’s not working, Patron enjoys cheese, naps and playing with friends.
-- Have you ever wondered which cat breeds are largest and smallest? Compared to dogs, cats don't vary a great deal in size: There might be a feline equivalent to the Chihuahua, but not to the Great Dane (lucky for us!). Among the heaviest breeds are Norwegian forest cats and Maine coons, weighing 7 to 22 pounds; Siberians, 10 to 20 pounds; Turkish vans, 7 to 19 pounds; and Savannahs, 20 pounds or more. Falling into the featherweight category are the Singapura, 4 to 7 pounds; and the Cornish rex, Devon rex and Japanese bobtail, all weighing 6 to 9 pounds. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.