Keeping your Dog Safe this Summer

Summertime is great to spend some quality time with your dog by the water, but there are some things to keep in mind if you want to take your furry friend to the water.

“Overheating is something that you’ll see a lot with the dogs during the summer,” said Sarah Dolan, a medical technician at the Animal Hospital of Treasure Island.

Making sure the dogs have lots of fresh water will make sure that they keep from getting too hot in the Florida sun.

If dogs don’t have a supply of fresh water to drink from, they may try to drink the ocean water. Drinking the salt water will cause dogs to get bad cases of diarrhea that could require treatment, Dolan said.

Another hazard dogs face on the beach is sharp objects, like broken glass bottles and shells, Dolan said. Dogs can get lacerations across their feet and body from sharp objects that may be in the water or on the sand.

“Make sure to take dogs to dog friendly areas. There are beaches made specifically for dogs like the one on Fort DeSoto beach,” Dolan said.

The reason why it’s so important to take dogs to beaches specifically tailored to them is that they’re cleaned more thoroughly of sharp objects that could hurt dogs, Dolan said.

“The dog-friendly owners are (at the dog beaches) too and they’re looking out for problems,” Dolan said.

Most beaches don’t allow dogs on to the beach. A good rule of thumb is to only take your dog to beaches that specifically say they allow dogs. This will help keep you and your dog safe and out of trouble.

If problems do arise, there are emergency animal hospitals available to help out your dog in their time of need. One of the closest to the beach is the Animal Hospital of Largo.

If you have further questions about keeping your dog safe and healthy this summer, call the Animal Hospital of Treasure Island at (727) 360-5545.