TulsaPets Magazine July 2022

44 TulsaPets • July / August 2022 Beat the Heat Keep Your Dog Safe for Summer by Mary Green CPDT-KA: Certified Professional Dog Trainer Knowledge Assessed, CDBC: Certified Dog Behavior Counselor CNWI: Certified Nose Work Instructor K9 Manners & More, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma S ummertime in Oklahoma hit early and hard. We struggle to find enough exercises to keep ourselves and our pups active in summer without the dire consequences of overheating. Here are some great activities for sum- mertime fun! SWIM IN A POOL At K9 Manners & More, we have a competition dock-diving pool. We hold several competitions throughout the summer, and we have lots of classes for dogs to learn how to swim and eventually how to dock-dive. To keep your dog safe swimming in a pool, here are some tips: Start her out wearing a life jacket. These are available online and in some dog-supply stores. Let your dog become acclimated to the jacket indoors while the jacket is dry. Let her figure out that she can move around, and that it’s not a big deal. Then acclimate her to wearing the jacket while it is wet. It feels different! Be sure it is well fitted to your dog. Never push, pull, or force your dog into the pool. The first experience she has can be crucial to how she feels about water forever. Encourage her to get into the pool with you slowly. If you have a bench in the pool or a tanning platform, let her become comfortable on that first. Always start by teaching the dog how to exit the pool. If it has stairs, teach her to navigate those. If it doesn’t have steps that the dog can use, find a ramp to help her get out. One brand is called Skamper-Ramp. Allow your dog to be in the pool only when you are supervising and outside with her. You should use the same safeguards for your dog that you would use for a child. Find some toys that your dog likes to play with in the water — be sure they float! Let her play with those toys only when you are playing with her or supervising. Some dogs prefer to float around the pool on a mattress or boogie board. SWIM IN A NATURAL BODY OF WATER Follow the same steps as above. Life jacket, safety, voluntary swimming, and supervi- sion…. Be sure the area where you are swim- ming allows dogs. This might be the only time I would use a retractable leash. It would allow my dog to have some freedom while letting me keep a handle on her. Many dogs love to be on a kayak or pad- dleboard or in a boat or canoe with their people. Out on the lake, be sure that even your strongest-swimming dogs are wearing life jackets. Be aware of the blue-green algae (cyano- bacteria) that can form in any body of water and are common in late summer in Oklaho- ma. It is dangerous for you and your dog. Water intoxication can occur in any water play. It happens when a dog con- sumes excess water. It is not common but can occur when the dog is swimming and retrieving or even playing in the sprinkler or water hose. Water intoxication can be fatal. Early symptoms include stum- bling, disorientation, nausea, vomiting, excessive drooling, and other symptoms. Water intoxication progresses very quick- ly, so do not hesitate to seek emergency veterinary care. FIX FROZEN DOG TREATS Go to a drive-through that sells ice cream and ask if they have a pup cup. A small amount of ice cream is OK for most dogs. If you have a dog with a sensitive tummy, be sure to ask your veterinarian if ice cream is OK. Make frozen pupsicles! There are lots of recipes online for every flavor — yogurt based, fruit, peanut butter, and other dog-friendly ingredients. When making your own treats, check the ingredients care- fully to be sure nothing contains xylitol (an artificial sweetener), which is toxic for dogs. KEEP NEAT WITH SUMMER GROOMING Although many people choose to shave their dogs in summer, some research shows that it might not be the best idea. Double-coated dogs have a coat designed to help them regulate their temperature. Shaving your dog doesn’t always help her to cool down and could expose her to other unintended problems, including sunburn. After swimming, rinse off or bathe your dog. Be sure your dog gets completely dry and brushed out because mats can form easily, and dog fur can become “felted” down to the skin. Clean your dog’s ears! Dogs are good at shaking the water off their fur and out of their ears, but sometimes the water gets down deep into the canal. If you see your dog scratching her ears, shaking her head, or holding one ear or both in a wonky position, take her to the veterinarian. Ear infections, if left untreated, can cause significant long-term problems. TRAINING TIP