pets and water - not always a good mix

With summer’s sweltering temperatures ravaging much of the United States, people and pets want to find ways to cool off. Perhaps a dip in the pool, a sojourn to a nearby lake, or wading in a creek or river – these can be fun activities. But, when it comes to pets and water, there are a few things to keep in mind:Swimmer? Not always. Not all dogs are natural-born swimmers, therefore, investing in a floatation device (life-jacket) for your dog is a good idea, especially for trips to lakes. Water depth is steep in these spots so keep your pet safe with a specially-designed life jacket, and keep the life jacket on your pet just as you do a child while in the boat.Algae awareness. Stay away from ponds and lakes with blue-green algae – the algae contains bacteria that can make your pet very ill and even cause death. Therefore, animals shouldn’t drink or even swim in waterways with blue-green algae. Read more about this toxin here: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2017/06/14/toxic-blue-green-algae.aspx.Beware of ocean hazards. Watch out for strong currents and riptides that pull you and your pooch out to sea. Also, be aware that objects like sharp rocks, shells, coral, and jellyfish can also injure you as well as your four-footed beach buddy.Don’t drink the water! Also, don’t let your pet drink ocean water –your furry friend can become ill. Salt water is unsafe for either people or pets to drink.Take precautions with your pool. If you have a pool, make sure your dog knows how to get in and out. Even steps into and out of a pool can be very slippery for an animal and your pet may panic and drown while trying to get out. If you have a pool at your house and you have pets, consider investing in a Scamper Ramp, which helps pets safety get out of the pool. Also, read this interesting article of another escape ramp called the Frog Log, created for small animals: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/genius-invention-saving-dozens-animals-drowning/. It’s a good idea also to keep your pool covered so animals and children don’t accidentally fall in and possibly drown. Find more water safety tips at http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/pets-water-safety#1,
http://www.petsmart.com/learning-center/dog-care/water-safety-tips-for-dogs/A0161.html,
and
http://blog.gopetfriendly.com/keeping-your-dog-safe-at-the-beach/.