Life StyleDog Friendly Beaches: Safety Tips for Enjoying

Dog Friendly Beaches: Safety Tips for Enjoying

Have you been counting the days for summer? One of the most fun ways to warm yourself with the warmer weather is to visit the best dog-friendly beaches. Here are ten safety tips that will keep you and your dog away from accidents on the beach.

Sun, surf, and safety tips for dogs at the beach

The beach that you visit with your dog could be one of the dog-friendly beaches. You celebrate the moment with great pleasure. You may think the place is safer, but still, it has potential hazards that require careful planning and vigilance. No matter whether your dog is friendly, a strong swimmer, and obedient to your commands, unexpected situations could arise. So, you have to monitor your dog closely at all times on the beach. Your dog’s safety should be the top priority.

Socialize Your Dog

dog friendly beaches
Image-Source: dogstrust

If you let your dog be off-leash while you are in public, you must ensure that your friend behaves well with other people and animals. They might be friendly with each other, yet there could be misunderstandings.

If your dog has not yet been properly socialized or isn’t consistent with recall commands, you must keep them on a leash in public. You will have to keep your dog leashed even if it’s an off-leash premise.  It’s recommended to always keep your dog leashed.

Finding the right dog-friendly beaches

Before you plan your trip, you must research the top dog-friendly beaches. Check out their reviews and the ratings and visit the beach without your dog first. You may ensure the beach is clean and risk-free for your dog to visit.

If your dog is nervous about crowds, pick a less crowded beach and visit when it’s less busy. When you arrive at the beach with your pup, check the safety flags that indicate potentially hazardous conditions.

Good Dog Swimmers should have dog life jackets

Your dog could be a great swimmer. But do not let your dog swim off-jacket. Dog life jackets are so important. If your dog gets pulled unexpectedly away from shore, he may not have the strength to swim back. They may get exhausted, lost, confused.

So, make sure to have a dog life jacket when you take your dog for a beach visit.

Keep dogs cool at the beach

Never usher your dog to the area where people enjoy the beach. He needs to have an area with shade, water, and cool. Heat stroke and dehydration can occur, even when dogs spend time in cool water. Bring your dog a bowl and fresh water so they have something clean to drink. Have towels you can get wet and place on your dog if they need to cool off quickly. Keep a cooler with ice packs when you take your dog to the beach. Dog cooling vests also reduce UV exposure and reduce your pup’s temperature.

Encourage your pup to take water breaks and hydrate himself. Pay attention to these actions, even if your dog is fine. When dogs enjoy, they never realize how hot and tired they are. It can be very dangerous. However senior dogs from brachycephalic breeds, or other breeds can’t tolerate warmer weather, as they can be more susceptible to heat.

Prioritize dog sunscreen

Dogs’ fur keeps them away from sunburns, Yet canines still benefit from sunscreen. Dogs who are losing hair, have thin hair or have lighter-colored coats might need sunscreen protection to reduce the risks from the conditions. You may ask your veterinarian about dog sunscreen to decide which is best for your pup. Never apply human sunscreen on your dog, and avoid sunscreens with zinc oxide, which can be toxic to canines if ingested. When you apply sunscreen, put it on areas with thin fur, such as the snout, face, and ears of your pup.

Supervise your pet when on the beach

You may see your dog is safe and have a good time on the beach. Yet, you must be constantly vigilant, especially if your dog is off-leash. There may be many other dogs with their owners. You may inquire them whether it’s fine to keep your dog off-leash. You can keep your dog off-leash if he is confident in recall commands. Watch for fights with other dogs, signs of heat stroke, dehydration, and hypothermia. Additionally, examine their paws for any signs of wounds as many sharp objects could be accumulated around the beach.

Pick suitable toys

Tennis balls contribute to dogs swallowing sand. It can cause gastrointestinal blockages.  Thus, you have to pick toys that do not accumulate sand quickly. Your dog will probably still swallow some sand. However, it is less likely to cause severe problems in sand swallowing.

Have a first-aid kit, leash, and other supplies Packed

You must have a leash, in case your dog gets into trouble. So you must have a way to take control of your dog.  The leash helps control and move your dog safely. Towels are also necessary, as your dog’s fur can trap moisture that turns into steam and overheats their body. Make sure to dry your dog once he gets out of the water. Moreover, include medication, food, extra water, and any other supplies to use in need of emergency.

Update Identification

The worst thing that could happen is that your dog runs away and gets lost. You can easily get them back by having updated identification. Put an up-to-date collar tag, as well as their microchip information and any other identification they might have. Always have an updated photograph of your dog. Thus, you should always have recent info about your dog.

Wash up 

Rinse your dog off quickly after a beach visit and bathe them more thoroughly after you get home. Beach water might have harmful bacteria, parasites, chemicals, and toxic substances that can hurt your dog.

If your dog has not been vaccinated against leptospirosis and giardia, vaccinate to keep your dog up to date on recent vaccines. Never let your pup drink from any lake or river water, no matter how tempting it may be. They can also get exposed to bacteria through cuts around their legs and paws.

Clean ears, paws, and anywhere with skin folds thoroughly, as these are the places parasites and bacteria like to hide the most. Being aware of fresh bodies of water and oceanic occurrences like red tide reduces the chances of your dog getting sick from something they pick up from their fun beach day as you do not let your dog be exposed to it.

In conclusion, with these safety tips, you may enjoy a risk-free beach visit with your pup.

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