HERE AT COMPASSION VET, WE KNOW DOGS LOVE TO HAVE A GOOD SPLASH.  WE ALWAYS HAVE A POOL AVAILABLE IN GOOD WEATHER FOR OUR DAYCARE DOGS TO ENJOY! 

(BY THE WAY THE SHETLAND SHEEPDOG IN THE MIDDLE IS MY OWN GIRL, PATSY....SHE THINKS SHE IS A LABRADOR)

FROM ICE OUT IN THE LAKES HERE IN NH....TO THE FIRST FROST.....SOME DOGS STILL WANNA SWIM!

HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS TO KEEP THE FUN SAFE....

IF YOUR DOG IS NOT USED TO SWIMMING, GO SLOW AND EASY WITH THE FUN AT THE LAKE.....IF NOT MANY DOGS WILL DEVELOP "COLD TAIL" OR "SWIMMER'S TAIL"... THIS IS A VERY PAINFUL CONDITION WHERE THE TAIL IS VERY SORE AFTER BEING USED AS A RUDDER ALL DAY SWIMMING. THE DOGS ARE OFTEN IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN AND REQUIRE VETERINARY CARE. SO A FEW TOSSES OF THE BALL BUT THEN KEEPING THEM ON THE DOCK TO WATCH MAY BE A BETTER OPTION. WE ALL KNOW THE DOGS THAT WANT TO KEEP UP WITH THE KIDS ALL DAY....BUT THEY MAY REALLY END UP HURTING IF THEY ARE NOT USED TO IT. 

SORE EARS....WHILE MOST EAR INFECTIONS ARE BROUGHT ON BY ALLERGIES TO FOOD OR INHALED ALLERGENS IN THE AIR....SOMETIMES WHEN THEY SWIM AND GET THEIR EARS WET THEY CAN GET A SECONDARY INFECTION. TO HELP PREVENT THIS, FLUSH THEIR EARS OUT RIGHT AFTER THE FUN IN THE WATER IS OVER WITH A GOOD EAR FLUSH THAT CLEANS AND DRYS THE EARS AND MAKES THE EAR SLIGHTLY ACIDIC. THIS WILL HELP PREVENT EAR INFECTIONS. 

OVERHEATING....SURPRISINGLY, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL DOGS HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ACTUALLY DIE FROM A DAY AT THE LAKE WHEN THEIR WELL MEANING OWNERS HAVE TAKEN THE DOG TO COOL OFF ON A HOT DAY. THE DOG IS LOADED UP IN A HOT CAR, THEN EXERCISES FOR A LONG TIME CHASING A BALL IN THE WATER OR SWIMMING. JUST BECAUSE THE DOG IS WET, DOES NOT MEAN IT ISN'T GETTING OVERHEATED! DOGS CAN ONLY COOL THEMSELVES WITH PANTING, SO IN A HUMID ENVIRONMENT, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT A WET DOG EXERCISING MORE THAN USUAL MAY BECOME OVERWHELMED. MAKE SURE THE PUP GETS BREAKS AND HAS ACCESS TO ICE WATER. 

DOGS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN. GO HAVE A GOOD SPLASH WITH YOUR FUR BABIES!