Safety Tips for Dogs on the Beach
Come Prepared So You and Your Bow-Wow Beach Buddy Can Relax and Have a Blast!
- Dogs on the beach are vulnerable to many of the same hazards as humans, like sunburn, heatstroke and dehydration.
- Protect your pooch from high temperatures and the blazing sun by setting up his/her own shady spot on a towel underneath a beach umbrella or tree.
- Bring a bowl and keep fresh, COOL drinking water flowing.
- Apply child-safe SPF 30-50 sunscreen to your dog’s most sensitive areas like nose, earflaps, belly and bare patches.
- Remember dogs with short snouts are much more vulnerable to overheating than long-snouted breeds. Rapid panting, drooling, wobbling, vomiting, and diarrhea can be signs of overheating.
- Pack paw pads for days when sand is excessively hot. If it burns your feet, Fido will feel it, too.
- For especially active dogs who like to dig and kick up a storm, consider safety goggles to prevent sand from flying in their eyes.
- White dogs sunburn more easily
- Keep an eye out for hidden hazards that could hurt your dog like sharp shells, glass and jellyfish. Paw pads also help to prevent cuts. A small bottle of vinegar will come in handy if Rover gets zapped by a jellyfish. Douse the wound in vinegar to reduce pain and kill the stinging barbs before removing them.
- A dog’s ability to swim and enjoy the water varies greatly. Introduce your pet to the water gradually, starting out in an area with calmer waves. Many comfortable, sporty doggie lifejackets are now available and highly recommended, especially for puppies and short-legged breeds.
- Never leave your Dogs on the Beach unsupervised in the water or elsewhere.