Splish,Splash with the right precautions.....

Whether the body of water is an ocean, lake, pool or even a tub, the health benefits are immense for dogs coping with arthritis, post surgical recovery, limb problems, extra pounds or simply extra energy."Water therapy is a great aerobic erercise, particularly because the water provides resistance. People are becoming more aware of canine rehab and the benefits.
Water also offers natural buoyancy far kinder on dogs than long walks on concrete walkways or arduous hikes on rocky terrain. If you face a mismatch...having a hyper dog who needs a lot more exercise than you do....wading and swimming are ideal options. With the right safety measures your dog can benefit from exercising in water.

Picking a body of water that is safe for your dog is the 1st step.
Avoid rivers with strong currents.
Stay away from water that has algea or that is stagnant.
Beware of your dog jumping into stick ponds, where broken branches and stumps may be lurking under the water.
Never let a dog swim in small ponds, especially if it's a drainage area for housing developments. They contain a lot of chemicals , such as lawn treatments and insect control..
Another NO, NO.....ponds on a golf course. If you would take a microscopic look at what lives in these ponds, you would totally freak......Just think lots of parasites.
No matter where your dogs swims, always rinse him or her off in clean water.
For regular water lovers, visit your vet to have your dog vacinated against a water borne parasite called Giardia for an extra barrier of protection.
Finally discourage your dog from drinking salt water, which can cause diarhea, vomiting and dehydration. Always carry a water bowl with you and offer your dog plenty of fresh water or ice to keep him or her hydrated.

It is also important to know when enough is enough. End the water work out before your dog becomes overttired. Some dogs are so happy to please and so ball motivated that they won't stop.....and risk drowning.
Look for signs such as your dogs breathing heavily, seems to sit lower in the water, or taking more time to come back. These signs are telling you to stop and let your dog rest. Pay particular attention to dogs with barrel chests or flat noses, such as bulldogs, pugs, shih-tzus, etc....Their build does not allow for their noses to poke far enough out of the water.
Never assume a dog is a natural swimmer just because of their breed....that is definitley not the case.......Not all water dogs like water.

lil Country Paws

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