Taking Your Pet to the Beach
By Beverly Eschberger
Now that the summer months are here, you are probably ready to hit the beach for some sun, sand, and surf. If you are like my husband and me, you want to take your dog with you to enjoy the trip. But before you grab your swimsuit and hop into the car with your pet, there are a few things that you will want to consider.
First, be considerate of your fellow beach goers. Many beaches do not allow dogs at all, or allow them only when kept on a leash, so be certain to check the signage before you venture onto the beach. Your fellow beach goers do not want to step in anything left behind by your dog, so try to get your dog to relieve himself before you get onto the beach. If your dog is like our Clancy, he has a “reserve tank” that seems to be specially designed for marking new territory. So keep on eye on your dog as you walk, and if he starts to exhibit the “pee” or “poop” postures, whisk him away from the main walking areas. Also, be sure to carry a few plastic bags with you, just in case of accidents. (We find that the produce bags from our local grocery store work great for poop scooping. Just use the bag as a “glove” that you turn inside out, tie up, and toss into a nearby garbage can.)
Next, be considerate of your dog’s health while you are on the beach. Take a water bowl and fresh, cool water to keep your dog from becoming dehydrated. Make certain that you offer your dog frequent drinks of water to keep him cool and hydrated. The new sights and sounds of the beach may distract him, and you may have to draw his attention to the water bowl repeatedly before he drinks. Bringing a cooler with ice with you onto the beach is a good idea, Clancy likes to chew ice that we put into her water bowl.
If you are walking or playing in the surf, your dog may take a slurp of salt water. He won’t like the salty taste, so he will probably not drink a large amount of salt water. If your dog does drink a large amount of salt water it can cause him to vomit, making him dehydrated.
Early signs of dehydration and heat stress are difficult to recognize in dogs. Redness of the gums, weakness, and non-stop panting are signs of severe heat stress. If your dog is panting so hard that he cannot stop to take a drink of water, this is a sign of severe heat stress. You will need to cool your dog down by immersing him in or pouring cool or tepid water over him and using a fan, if available. Do not immerse your dog in cold or ice water!
As odd as it may seem, it is possible for dogs to get sunburned. If you have an older dog whose fur is starting to thin, or a breed that has naturally thin fur, he may be susceptible to sunburning. This is a concern when you are at the beach, as the sunlight is reflected by the sand and water, even on an overcast day. You can apply regular sunscreen to protect your dog from sunburn, but be careful that he does not lick it off, as it can make him sick. When you get home, give him a bath to wash off the sunscreen.
Most dogs are natural swimmers, but you will need to watch that your dog does not show signs of tiring while swimming. If you are swimming in an area with a strong undertow, you will want to keep your dog on his leash while you are swimming, or have him stay on the beach, especially smaller breeds or puppies. After swimming, make certain that your dog gets a thorough bath to wash all of the salt out of his fur. Because dogs wash themselves with their tongues, your dog could ingest a large a large amount of salt from his fur while bathing, and become ill.
Lastly, keep an eye out for beached jellyfish and other sea-creatures that may sting or bite. Dogs are curious by nature, and this curiosity can result in a painfully stung nose. Also, watch for glass or sharp seashells on the beach, and dead things that your dog might want to taste. If you keep your dog on a leash, you can prevent him from running ahead to check out something new and dangerous.
If you keep these things in mind, you and your pet will have a fun and safe trip to the beach.
Many thanks to veterinarian Dr. Linda Kalmar DVM for answering my beach-related questions!
About the Author:
I live with my husband, Everyday Geology editor Geoff Habiger, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. We have three children of the furry variety--two cats, Motley and Nero, and an Irish Setter named Clancy Marie. By day I am a chemist with Abbott Laboratories.
When I am not writing about Paleontology or Travelling with Pets, I like to spend as much time as possible outside, I enjoy hiking, bird-watching, and gardening. I am an avid reader of "just about everything," and I love to visit museums of all types, especially those that feature science and natural history.
My husband and I enjoy travelling to all sorts of different places whenever we get the opportunity, and we like to take Clancy with us.
In addition to writing about science and travelling, I enjoy writing fiction and poetry, and I enjoy combining my love of science education with my love of the literary.
Beverly may be contacted by email at paleoartisans@hotmail.com.
Article courtesy of Suite101.com.
