Summer is looming. I know—I keep saying that—but itÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ true. The next big thing is playing in the water, and we all know how much we love swimming in the lake.
OK, maybe not everyone.
LetÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ get real: except for a few brave adults, crazy kids who love the water no matter what, and of course, dogs, not too many people enjoy jumping into the cold lake and getting that jolt of fresh water. But now that the heat has set in, the water may be refreshing, but itÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ no longer icy cold.
The thing to think about now is—whatÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ in that warm water? We all know the usual stuff we try hard not to notice (and do our best to pretend isn’t there). But what about the things we can’t see?
Dogs can get swimmerÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ itch too, you know. And thatÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ caused by things that thrive in nice warm water, especially when water levels are lower than usual. Hot weather helps that itch sneak up on us after we’ve had a swim, dried off on a towel, and settled in to enjoy the sun. Humans can towel off, hop in the shower when we get home, or even rinse off with a hose in the yard. But a dog is stuck with whatever itÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ been swimming in. So their swimmerÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ itch can be more uncomfortable—and more persistent.
If your dog goes into the water daily, or even twice a day, swimmerÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ itch can get pretty annoying. I think toweling a dog off right after a swim helps, but I usually do more cleanup once I get home.
So what can you do for a dog who loves you for taking them swimming—but ends up itchy afterward?
I’ve found a simple solution: rinse them off with the hose and wipe them down with doggy wipes (available at most pet stores). The cleansing wipes we use on our hands might be too harsh for a dogÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ skin, so I stick with pet-safe versions. If your dog hates the hose, try filling a kiddie pool with clean water and letting them splash around a bit to rinse off. When the itching seems to get to Pearl too much, I give her a full bath to wash everything off.
Another thing I do—maybe a bit unusual—is add a small amount of oil to PearlÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ food to help prevent her skin from drying out. Just a little bit of cod liver oil does wonders. It doesn’t hurt your dog, helps their skin, and I’m sure they think it makes their food taste even better. Not a lot of oil—just a little dab’ll do ya, as they say.
We also try to visit the creek more often than the lake. I don’t know for sure, but I hope that the moving water has fewer of the things that cause itchy skin, and still lets the dog play and swim. But for some dogs, a creek might be too much of a challenge. Swimming in a current is different, and not every dog figures it out right away. Dogs don’t reason things out—they just react.
Start small. Find a gentle spot where the water flow is light, and let your dog experience how swimming in moving water feels. It takes a different kind of effort to make headway. I’ve noticed that dogs don’t always understand how to drink moving water either. I’ve seen a few try to gulp water rushing into their mouths, which can lead to coughing—or even choking. Take baby steps.
The creek slows down a lot this time of year, but for a dog who isn’t used to it, patience is key. Some dogs are full of enthusiasm to get into that cool, flowing water. They just need a little help learning how to do it safely so everyone can enjoy the fun. Maybe even get in the water with your pup—play together, learn together, and enjoy how nice an August swim can really be.
Cheri Kolstad is a certified dog behaviourist, dog groomer and trainer from Penticton.
Email: cakcanada@gmail.com