Headed to the beach with your buddy this summer? Whether it’s lakeside or along California’s coast, it’s important to take precautions that keep your furry friend safe. As exciting and fun as the beach is (both for you and your dog), all that sand and water can come with a few surprising dangerous–some of which can be downright deadly.
But that doesn’t mean that you should write the beach off this summer entirely; in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Just like visiting the dog park or heading out for a road trip with your pup, a few summer safety precautions go a long way to keeping Fido safe.
If you’re a pet owner, your dog might be a fan of that misty breeze as well. It’s encouraged that you bring your pup along on your summer adventures, but taking all the necessary precautions to keep them safe isn’t always stressful. These fun tips will ensure that you and your pup have a paw-sitively terrific experience when you hit those sandy expanses this year.
Get informed and prepared for the upcoming beach season with these coastal cues for fun in the sun.
Keep Paws Protected
Have you ever stepped on hot sand and then dashed toward the water for relief like someone was chasing you? That kind of heat can pose a danger to your dog’s paws as well, and there are other dangerous buried in the sand, too.
Protect From Heat
Hot sand, hot pavement, and even sometimes hot earth can burn your dog’s sensitive paws. Use a good paw balm before you head out or don a thin, light pair of beach booties to make sure he’s comfortable and safe to frolic as he sees fit.
Your dog’s pads provide minimal protection, but it isn’t usually enough for the beach. Hot sand, coral, glass, and even sharp rocks and sticks can still do damage to those sensitive pads. If you want to give your dog’s feet some extra care, you can buy wax or paw guards to help protect them.
Protect From Injuries
Check sensitive paws every hour or two for sticks, twigs, shells, cuts, and other beach-related irritants or injuries. If they occur, rinse and treat them immediately to prevent infection. Be aware that cuts from certain shellfish may come with a high propensity for infection or irritation; these should be treated immediately with a thin layer of antibiotic spray.
For basic cuts and scrapes, a dip in clean salt water works wonders! Dip in salt water or just have your dog walk in. Then, pat it dry and inspect it for debris.
Make Sure Your Beach Is Dog-Friendly
Do you ever wish you could bring your dog with you everywhere? Pet restrictions can sometimes cause frustration. Whatever beach you decide to visit, the first step is making sure that it’s dog-friendly. One of the last things any dog owner wants is to drive all the way to a beach with their pooch in the back, only to find out that dogs aren’t allowed (cue sad music).
If you can, call ahead to make sure that your beach allows dogs to avoid any confusion or wasted trips. Some beaches have a central visitor’s office. If yours doesn’t, the county or nearest town’s visitor center should be able to tell you for sure.
Make Sure Your Dog Can Be Off a Leash
Whether or not your pooch knows enough to stay by your side and not take off running at the sound of unfamiliar voices, you should probably bring a leash or two to the beach with you. However, it’s so much more fun for you and your dog if you know you can trust them not to wander too far away. If your dog has to be tied up all day, they may not be suited for the beach at all.
Don’t Leave Your Dog in the Car
Even if you only plan to leave them for a few minutes, locking your dog in the car and walking away isn’t safe — not even with cracked windows. It’s especially dangerous during the summer months when temperatures climb into the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
As hot as it becomes outside, you can imagine it grows even hotter inside the enclosed car space. Research shows that the inside of your car can reach over a hundred degrees faster than it takes for you to get in and out of a convenience store. Your dog’s body isn’t equipped to handle immense heat, so they’ll be far better off if you avoid leaving them in the car alone at any point during your beach trip.
Use Pest Products in Advance
We’ve mentioned this in other blogs, but it bears repeating: be sure to de-flea, de-worm, or de-tick your dog in advance, not only when you’re headed out to the beach. It takes between 24 to 48 hours for flea and tick spot-ons to work. Deworming medications may take up to a week. As most are preventative, using them in advance is imperative.
Never dose your dog only on the day of your beach trip assume that’s enough. Though pest medications like Capstar are designed for daily use, they are often ineffective unless taken daily for some time.
Keep in mind that pest products do very little to protect your pup from common beach-oriented pests like deer flies, horse flies, black flies, and mosquitos. Treat itchy fly bites with a topical Benadryl stick to reduce irritation for your dog..
Nix Painful Jellyfish Stings with Rubbing Alcohol
Dogs love visiting the ocean. Whether it’s the fresh salty air or the crabs they get to chase, coastal beaches just seem to be incredibly interesting for our canine friends. For dogs that love water, running down the sand and straight into the ocean is a cherished favorite activity that inspires giggles and smiles from human companions.
Unfortunately, more than one dog has flounced into the water in belly-flop fashion only to land on a jellyfish. Depending on where you live, that jellyfish sting could range from incredibly dangerous to mildly annoying, so it’s important to first understand what you’re up against.
Both the pacific and atlantic waters contain an endless array of jellyfish. Of these species, only a few of the larger species are dangerous enough to cause potential fatalities in dogs:
- Box jellyfish.
- Portuguese man-of-war.
- Sea nettle.
- Lion’s mane jellyfish.
The first two of these jellyfish only live in subtropical or full tropical locations. The sea nettle and lion’s mane jellyfish, however, have been found as far north as Northern California and New England. If your dog is stung by one of these jellyfish, you should seek immediate vet care even if he or she doesn’t show immediate symptoms.
For all other jellyfish stings, flush the sting site off with rubbing alcohol. Be sure to wear rubber gloves to avoid being stung yourself. Never flush tentacles away with water or vinegar; these will only cause the tentacles to release more venom, resulting in even more sings.
After you clean your dog’s sting site, monitor him carefully for the next 24 hours. Vomiting, convulsions, tremors, diarrhea, and other neurological symptoms could occur in rare situations. Seek vet care if you have any concerns.
Keep Cool Rest Areas Accessible
Hitting the beach for the afternoon? Find a shady spot to sit or bring an umbrella. Even though your dog can cool off in the water, having a cool place to relax is still important to prevent heat stroke.
If there’s no shade available, pop back to your vehicle every couple of hours for 15 to 30 minutes in your air conditioning.
Be sure to encourage your dog to relax throughout the day — it’ll prevent overexertion, which can lead to heatstroke or other heat-related health problems.
Find Shade (or Make Your Own)
We’ve already talked about how your dog can overheat quickly on a hot day if you don’t take precautions, especially inside a vehicle. But even just sitting in full sun on the beach can be a problem, too. You can reduce sun exposure by finding a shady spot to sit.
Long exposure to direct sunlight can be harmful to your dog, but a shady tree or rocky outcropping will protect both of you and keep you cool, too Can’t find any natural shade? You can bring along a beach umbrella or a screen tent instead.
After spending enough time in sun, you’ll probably be thankful to have some relaxing time in the shade, too.
Bring Extra Fresh Water
Just like humans, dogs get thirsty and need a drink every now and then. When you have your dog out in the hot sun all day, it’s especially important for them to have as much water as they need. With all that fur, they overheat quickly, so make sure to pack extra water bottles and an unbreakable bowl in a cooler before you leave for the beach.
Headed to the ocean? Be careful not to allow your dog to lap up salt water. Some dogs seem inexplicably drawn to it, but the extra salt can dehydrate them further.
Use Canine Sunscreen When Needed
Have a hairless or thin-haired breed? Sunburn is possible along any area where skin shows, and can sometimes even occur under existing fur. It’s just as important for dogs to be protected from the sun’s rays as it is for humans. Your dog’s ears and nose is especially sensitive, so fixing them up with a layer of sunscreen made for pets before your trip can help them stay clear of a sunburn.
Preventing sunburn is vital; just as with humans, repeated sunburns can be painful and may even induce melanoma cancers in some dogs. Preventing sunburn isn’t only beneficial because it’s uncomfortable; excessive burns can lead to canine melanoma in your furry friend, too. Your dog will be glad that you prevented them from having to deal with the red, aching, peeling skin that most people have experienced in their lives.
Check your dog over before you hit the beach to identify potential problem areas. Of particular note is along the spine, inside the ears, the upper nose, and the area at the base of the tail where the fur parts–these all carry a higher risk for sunburn.
To prevent sunburn, work preventatively first. Stick to the shade and limit the amount of time your dog spends in the midday sun (12 p.m. to 4 p.m.). When he does venture out, spray him down with a good dog-safe sunscreen like Epi-Pet’s Sun Protector Spray – it’s the only FDA-approved formula on the market to date.
Make Sure Your Dog Can Swim
Many breeds of dogs enjoy the water, but if you aren’t sure about your dog’s comfort level, it may be best to find out before taking a beach outing. Finding out how they feel around a smaller body of water first might help you decide if they’ll be able to handle the beach or not.
To be clear, this is mainly a “know your dog” situation. If you’re worried about your dog’s safety in the water, buy a dog life vest online or at your pet store.
Even if your dog can swim, you shouldn’t assume that he’ll be okay swimming alone at the beach. Undertows and rip currents can pull him out in seconds. Keep a vest on them at all times just like you would for a human child.
Beware Strong Currents & Undertows
The ocean (and even particularly large lakes) are wondrous, amazing bodies of water that capture our hearts and enchant our minds. While most of us have the sense to respect their power, your pooch doesn’t have the same ability. You must be his protector when it comes to strong currents and undertows, keeping him away from dangerous areas before accidents occur.
Particularly strong currents and undertows are most common wherever tides are high, but they can happen in harbors, coves, and even along piers, too. Know tide times and how currents change before you let your dog swim.
If you know a place has a particularly strong current, keep your dog on a long leash and stay on the shore while he frolicks; you can pull him in if he gets caught up in the current. A canine life vest is also wise–it could buy you the time needed to rescue him if an accident happens.
Bring Sterile Saline Eye Rinse Along
The beach is full of potential irritants, both for you and your dog. Sensitive canine ear canals, gums, eyes, and noses can become clogged with tiny grains of sand that cause everything from sneezing to irritation and redness.
A can of sterile saline eye rinse works wonders for issues like these, letting you flush the area out without stinging or pain. Best of all, it’s gentle enough to be used for any part of the body with no stinging.
If your dog gets a face full of sand or sand in her ear, don’t attempt to brush it out with your fingers. Instead, flush it out with fluid. Tilt the area to the sound and gently pour or squeeze the eye rinse into the area, letting it drip out again afterward. Repeat until you’re confident the debris is removed.
Make this year’s beach or lakeside adventure better than ever by being prepared and ready for what may come. Most importantly, never venture out without a microchip–collars can be lost and tags may fall off. If your dog is spooked or happens to run off, a microchip could very well save his life and see that he makes it back to his beloved home.
Watch for Dangers in the Water, Sand
You never know what might be in the water. Some beaches are riddled with shells or broken glass that could easily cut your dog’s feet. Razor clams and oysters are also a risk; not only can they cut your pup’s feet, but if eaten when bacteria counts are high, they can make him sick, too.
Even small sharks and jellyfish can pose a danger to your pup, as can very large crabs.
Realistically, it’s a situation where you should monitor the environment carefully and just be smart about the time you spend at the beach. To have issues with any of these dangers is rare. You can ameliorate most problems just by taking a good look before you run or swim.
If you visit your beach and you find a mess of litter, it may not be the safest place for your furry friend to play. Likewise, if the shoreline is packed with seaweed that obstructs the bottom, it may be best to move on.
It’s best to head to the beach alone at least once so you can check out the surroundings. Remote beaches with fewer people, or those with specific dog-friendly areas, are likely to be more welcoming than busy public beaches.
Safety is a huge priority when you bring your dog to the beach. They are vulnerable to dangers that we, as humans, don’t necessarily consider a problem. But that doesn’t mean the fun should stop! It’s possible for both you and your best buddy to have a blast playing on the and soaking up the sun. Just use your veterinarian’s advice in tandem with the tips above when you head out for seaside fun. Pack a bag, take along a cooler, bring some chew toys, grab a blanket, and soak up that Vitamin D!