Since it's summer, you might take your pet out for a dip in the pool – remember though, try to ask your vet at the animal hospital for advice first. A lot of dog breeds, along with some cats, love to take a dip in the pool, lake or beach. May it simply be to cool off with their owners or to play fetch, it certainly is a very fun activity, and great exercise as well. However, it's not always without problems: there might be some complications and dangers that may arise because of these types of activity. So, here are some of the dangers and some of the most effective ways to prevent them:
Drowning dogs and cats
There are no stats to show it, but there have been cases of drowning pets, although you may not stumble one soon in the animal hospital. It is a painful and a harrowing way to die – just imagine your pet struggling to keep its head above water and clinging to life in the middle of a lake. Anyway, preventing this is pretty easy. Just remember these tips:
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| Photo Credit: mypet.guru |
- Before taking a dip, make sure that your dog or cat actually knows how to swim. The best place to see that they do is in the swimming pool, given that it's a low-risk environment. Although some dog and cat breeds instinctively know how to swim, some might actually panic even with your guidance.
- See to it that they don't get too tired when taking a dip or playing. Muscle cramps and spasms are quite common in both canines and felines, and this might spell disaster if your pet is far off from the shore or in the middle of the pool. Remember, cats and dogs don't know when to stop, even if they're really tired.
- Cover the pool if you're out. Some pets may not know how to get out of the water without the presence and supervision of their owners. This is the main reason why covering it is a must: you wouldn't want to go home to see your pet desperately trying to get out.
- Lastly, teach your pet to safely get out of the pool using the stairs. This might save their life in the long run: at least they'll know how to get out of the water even without you, even in a state of complete and utter panic.
Heatstroke while swimming
If you went to the animal hospital recently, there might be a chance that you've encountered an animal with a bad case of heatstroke. Although this is usually caused by irresponsible owners leaving their pets inside hot cars without the air conditioning unit on, swimming during really hot weather can cause it as well, especially if you're on the beach. This may seem contradictory, especially if you ask this: how exactly can a pet get heatstroke it's wet? Well, it's still very possible, because the activity and effort exerted in the body can cause things to heat up pretty quickly!
Preventing this is pretty easy: just don't overexert your pet and be sure to provide shade and a lot of drinking water. Allow it to take a break once in a while, even if it's eager to get back into action!
Ear infections
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| Photo Credit: dailytelegraph.co.au |
One of the most common complications that form after pets swim is ear infections, usually caused by yeast. Treating it may only take a short trip to the animal hospital, but if left to fester, it can actually worsen and even cause the ears to close up, requiring surgery. In order to make sure that this does not happen, simply dry your pet's ears out gently with a clean towel after a nice swim.
Remember, the safety and well-being of your pet is of the highest priority. Regardless if it's a grouchy cat or hyper and hyperactive dog, bear the above mentioned facts in mind before swimming!
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