Does your pooch engage in watery play during the summer months? Make sure to take preventative measures to ensure your canine companion doesn't suffer any trauma or illness from swimming in pools, lakes, oceans, or other bodies of water. Learn my top tips for AOL's PawNation: Dr. Patrick Mahaney Debunks Pet Swimming Myths.Most pet owners will admit that while their animal companions are wonderful, intelligent and talented, they can sometimes be a little confusing. And by a little, we mean a lot. Thankfully, there are experts who can help us better understand our furry and feathered friends. Celebrity veterinarian Dr. Patrick Mahaney is here to answer all of your perplexing pet questions about this upcoming summer and your concerns about your dog in the water.
Q: I'm planning on teaching my dog to swim in the pool. Should I teach her by using a life jacket first?
A: When it comes to taking your dog swimming in a pool, pond, ocean or any water it is best that the introduction to the watery body occur slowly and safely. Providing buoyancy with a life jacket appropriate for your dog’s body size will ensure that the initial dog paddles are not overly dramatic or deadly.
When you first get her into the pool, make it as positive of an experience as possible. In fact, start her out in a child’s pool where she’ll just get her feet wet and not have to paddle or submerge more than the height of her elbows. Incorporate a favorite toy into the routine so your dog has some sense of fun and familiarity with the experience.
When making the transition into the adult pool, start at the first step so that the sensation your dog has is similar to being in the kiddie pool. If there’s a decline or submerged platform, then spend time there before leaping into or paddling out to the deep end.Before any series of laps or ball throws occur during your dog’s first foray into the water, guide her to the steps, ramp or other means by which she can exit the pool. If these exiting options do not exist, then install one before engaging in regular use of the pool.
If taking a do-it-yourself approach to acclimating your dog to water doesn't work for you, then contact a veterinary physical therapy facility that has a pool where your pooch can have her water introduction overseen by an experienced professional.
Q: Whenever I take my dog to the beach, he always ends up wanting to drink from the ocean. Is this bad for him?
A: Your dog’s forays to the beach should always be accompanied by a means of providing fresh and clean water so that salty ocean water is less likely to be consumed.
If you have not met your dog’s biological needs for hydration, then the closest available option will be sought. On the beach, the most easily accessible water source is the splashing waves lapping at your dog’s toes. A few licks of salty water may be consumed simply because of the resource’s proximity.
That’s where your role as a responsible pet owner is essential. Having fresh and clean water available at all times and actively hydrating your pet before the urge to drink salt water occurs is part of that responsibility.If enough sodium chloride (the primary elements in salt) water consumption occurs, then the unpleasant phenomena of osmotic diarrhea will occur. As the mineral nature of ocean water causes more fluid to be drawn into the loops of intestine, what comes out the other end will be be watery, have an increased urgency, lead to straining (tenesmus) and could have some other unpleasant characteristics (mucus, blood, flatulence, etc.). This type of digestive disturbance is also called large bowel diarrhea, or colitis. Vomiting may occur in addition to or separately from diarrhea post-salt water ingestion.
Q: How do I perform doggie CPR?
A: Doggie CPR should be performed only under a limited set of conditions. The need for an owner to perform CPR on a pooch presents when major trauma, toxicity, progression of illness or other severe health conditions have occurred, and your pet appears lifeless.
Before performing CPR, you should feel no evidence of a heartbeat or pulses, nor see any
breaths. A heartbeat can be detected by cupping your hand on the underside of your pet’s chest and gently pressing your fingers into the tissue between the ribs. The best place to palpate the pulse is the femoral artery, which runs along the inner side of the femur (thigh bone) on your dog’s hind limb.
When no pulse/heart rate or respiration are apparent and pet is non-responsive, have someone call for help and start to perform CPR with the following technique:1. Rescue Breathing
Secure the airway by pulling the tongue to the front of the mouth (use cloth or gauze pad while avoiding teeth).Clear hair and obstructions from the mouth and nasal openings.
Elongate the neck to straighten the trachea (windpipe).Firmly breathe into nostrils to the degree that you see chest rise. (When you stop breathing, the chest will fall.)
Failure to see the chest rise necessitates checking the mouth and nostrils and neck position.Provide one breath every four to five seconds (12–15 per minute) between rounds of chest compressions.
2. Chest CompressionsPosition your pet on its side.
Bend the elbow back toward chest to locate the heart (in lower part of center of chest behind shoulder).While placing your supportive hand between ground and chest, compress the chest with the heel of your hand (small to large dogs) or fingers (heart “massage” for juveniles, fragile and small animals).
Provide 80–120 compressions per minute for medium to large animals and 100–150 times per minute for small animals.Check for respiration and heartbeat before starting another round of breaths or compressions.
Q: Can dogs hold their breath underwater?
A: Yes, dogs are able to hold their breath underwater. Those dogs that are more comfortable being in the water tend to have better breath control. A dog that is distressed by falling into the water inadvertently is not likely going to be able to slow down its breath in order to have it come to a stop as needed to technically hold the breath.
I've witnessed dogs put their faces underwater to either quickly grab at an object or creature, or to slowly patrol the underwater world for an item of desire. In general, the average dog is not going to fully submerge itself in order to swim underwater like a person would.
Never force your dog’s body or face underwater in order to test its ability to hold its breath.
Q: Do dogs need goggles for swimming in the pool?
A: Dogs do not necessarily need to have goggles in order to use a swimming pool, yet all pet owners need to consider the characteristics of the water in which our dogs are going to swim.
Chlorine or the presence of other chemicals and water can have an irritating effect on your dog’s eyes upon contact. As a result, the whites of the eyes may become inflamed. This is called scleral injection. Additionally, other parts of the eye, such as the conjunctiva (pink tissue lining the inside of the upper and lower eyelids) and the nictitating membrane (third eyelid) can become irritated, appear more red and even secrete an increased amount of discharge. The discharge may be clear or colored (green, yellow, gray, etc.) and thin or thick (mucus).
If your dog comes into contact with any irritating liquids (pool water, etc.) or aerosolized chemicals, then other clinical signs may also be seen such as pawing at the eyes or rubbing the face on environmental surfaces.You can reduce the likelihood your dog will suffer eye inflammation associated with pool swimming by placing a few drops of eye-irrigating solution into each eye.
If any degree of ocular irritation occurs that leads to squinting, photophobia (sensitivity to light), or mucus discharge, then immediately pursue an examination with your veterinarian or emergency veterinary facility.
Thank you for reading this article. Your questions and comments are completely welcome (I’ll respond).
Please feel free to communicate with me through Twitter (@PatrickMahaney) and follow my adventures in veterinary medicine by liking Patrick Mahaney: Veterinarian Acupuncture Pain Management for Your Pets on Facebook.
Copyright of this article (2013) is owned by Dr Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Republishing any portion of this article must first be authorized by Dr Patrick Mahaney. Requests for republishing must be approved by Dr Patrick Mahaney and received in written format.
Does your pooch engage in watery play during the summer months? Make sure to take preventative measures to ensure your canine companion doesn't suffer any trauma or illness from swimming in pools, lakes, oceans, or other bodies of water. Learn my top tips for AOL's PawNation: Dr. Patrick Mahaney Debunks Pet Swimming Myths.Most pet owners will admit that while their animal companions are wonderful, intelligent and talented, they can sometimes be a little confusing. And by a little, we mean a lot. Thankfully, there are experts who can help us better understand our furry and feathered friends. Celebrity veterinarian Dr. Patrick Mahaney is here to answer all of your perplexing pet questions about this upcoming summer and your concerns about your dog in the water.
Q: I'm planning on teaching my dog to swim in the pool. Should I teach her by using a life jacket first?
A: When it comes to taking your dog swimming in a pool, pond, ocean or any water it is best that the introduction to the watery body occur slowly and safely. Providing buoyancy with a life jacket appropriate for your dog’s body size will ensure that the initial dog paddles are not overly dramatic or deadly.
When you first get her into the pool, make it as positive of an experience as possible. In fact, start her out in a child’s pool where she’ll just get her feet wet and not have to paddle or submerge more than the height of her elbows. Incorporate a favorite toy into the routine so your dog has some sense of fun and familiarity with the experience.
When making the transition into the adult pool, start at the first step so that the sensation your dog has is similar to being in the kiddie pool. If there’s a decline or submerged platform, then spend time there before leaping into or paddling out to the deep end.Before any series of laps or ball throws occur during your dog’s first foray into the water, guide her to the steps, ramp or other means by which she can exit the pool. If these exiting options do not exist, then install one before engaging in regular use of the pool.
If taking a do-it-yourself approach to acclimating your dog to water doesn't work for you, then contact a veterinary physical therapy facility that has a pool where your pooch can have her water introduction overseen by an experienced professional.
Q: Whenever I take my dog to the beach, he always ends up wanting to drink from the ocean. Is this bad for him?
A: Your dog’s forays to the beach should always be accompanied by a means of providing fresh and clean water so that salty ocean water is less likely to be consumed.
If you have not met your dog’s biological needs for hydration, then the closest available option will be sought. On the beach, the most easily accessible water source is the splashing waves lapping at your dog’s toes. A few licks of salty water may be consumed simply because of the resource’s proximity.
That’s where your role as a responsible pet owner is essential. Having fresh and clean water available at all times and actively hydrating your pet before the urge to drink salt water occurs is part of that responsibility.If enough sodium chloride (the primary elements in salt) water consumption occurs, then the unpleasant phenomena of osmotic diarrhea will occur. As the mineral nature of ocean water causes more fluid to be drawn into the loops of intestine, what comes out the other end will be be watery, have an increased urgency, lead to straining (tenesmus) and could have some other unpleasant characteristics (mucus, blood, flatulence, etc.). This type of digestive disturbance is also called large bowel diarrhea, or colitis. Vomiting may occur in addition to or separately from diarrhea post-salt water ingestion.
Q: How do I perform doggie CPR?
A: Doggie CPR should be performed only under a limited set of conditions. The need for an owner to perform CPR on a pooch presents when major trauma, toxicity, progression of illness or other severe health conditions have occurred, and your pet appears lifeless.
Before performing CPR, you should feel no evidence of a heartbeat or pulses, nor see any
breaths. A heartbeat can be detected by cupping your hand on the underside of your pet’s chest and gently pressing your fingers into the tissue between the ribs. The best place to palpate the pulse is the femoral artery, which runs along the inner side of the femur (thigh bone) on your dog’s hind limb.
When no pulse/heart rate or respiration are apparent and pet is non-responsive, have someone call for help and start to perform CPR with the following technique:1. Rescue Breathing
Secure the airway by pulling the tongue to the front of the mouth (use cloth or gauze pad while avoiding teeth).Clear hair and obstructions from the mouth and nasal openings.
Elongate the neck to straighten the trachea (windpipe).Firmly breathe into nostrils to the degree that you see chest rise. (When you stop breathing, the chest will fall.)
Failure to see the chest rise necessitates checking the mouth and nostrils and neck position.Provide one breath every four to five seconds (12–15 per minute) between rounds of chest compressions.
2. Chest CompressionsPosition your pet on its side.
Bend the elbow back toward chest to locate the heart (in lower part of center of chest behind shoulder).While placing your supportive hand between ground and chest, compress the chest with the heel of your hand (small to large dogs) or fingers (heart “massage” for juveniles, fragile and small animals).
Provide 80–120 compressions per minute for medium to large animals and 100–150 times per minute for small animals.Check for respiration and heartbeat before starting another round of breaths or compressions.
Q: Can dogs hold their breath underwater?
A: Yes, dogs are able to hold their breath underwater. Those dogs that are more comfortable being in the water tend to have better breath control. A dog that is distressed by falling into the water inadvertently is not likely going to be able to slow down its breath in order to have it come to a stop as needed to technically hold the breath.
I've witnessed dogs put their faces underwater to either quickly grab at an object or creature, or to slowly patrol the underwater world for an item of desire. In general, the average dog is not going to fully submerge itself in order to swim underwater like a person would.
Never force your dog’s body or face underwater in order to test its ability to hold its breath.
Q: Do dogs need goggles for swimming in the pool?
A: Dogs do not necessarily need to have goggles in order to use a swimming pool, yet all pet owners need to consider the characteristics of the water in which our dogs are going to swim.
Chlorine or the presence of other chemicals and water can have an irritating effect on your dog’s eyes upon contact. As a result, the whites of the eyes may become inflamed. This is called scleral injection. Additionally, other parts of the eye, such as the conjunctiva (pink tissue lining the inside of the upper and lower eyelids) and the nictitating membrane (third eyelid) can become irritated, appear more red and even secrete an increased amount of discharge. The discharge may be clear or colored (green, yellow, gray, etc.) and thin or thick (mucus).
If your dog comes into contact with any irritating liquids (pool water, etc.) or aerosolized chemicals, then other clinical signs may also be seen such as pawing at the eyes or rubbing the face on environmental surfaces.You can reduce the likelihood your dog will suffer eye inflammation associated with pool swimming by placing a few drops of eye-irrigating solution into each eye.
If any degree of ocular irritation occurs that leads to squinting, photophobia (sensitivity to light), or mucus discharge, then immediately pursue an examination with your veterinarian or emergency veterinary facility.
Thank you for reading this article. Your questions and comments are completely welcome (I’ll respond).
Please feel free to communicate with me through Twitter (@PatrickMahaney) and follow my adventures in veterinary medicine by liking Patrick Mahaney: Veterinarian Acupuncture Pain Management for Your Pets on Facebook.
Copyright of this article (2013) is owned by Dr Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Republishing any portion of this article must first be authorized by Dr Patrick Mahaney. Requests for republishing must be approved by Dr Patrick Mahaney and received in written format.