As a responsible pet parent, it’s important to educate yourself on the safety guidelines recommended for pets in and around water. Getting caught in currents, drowning, and dry drowning are very real dangers to pets, especially dogs.

The good news is that with a few precautions, you can minimize risk of drowning and other dangers. Read this article to learn how to keep your pet safe around swimming pools, lakes, and other bodies of water.

Below are some water safety tips that every pet parent should know:

Make Sure Your Pet Knows How to Swim

First and foremost, your pet should be taught how to swim. Swimming is fairly instinctive for most animals, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t practice with your pet before you go into any large, deep, or intimidating bodies of water.

Steps to help your pet swim:

1. Take your pet into the water with you and stick to a shallow area with little to no current.

2. Wait for your pet to start paddling, then support under your pet’s chest and abdomen so they can learn how to float properly.

3. It may take a few tries, but your pet will become a natural at swimming in no time.

4. If your pet doesn't seem to get the hang of it, or is panicking in the water, you may have a land lover and need to find other activities to enjoy.

Pets Can Get Caught in Water Currents

Currents and tides are just as dangerous to pets as they are to humans, and even pets who know how to swim very well can be swept away by rip tides or strong currents if you aren’t careful. Due to this, another important water safety tip to keep in mind is to pay close attention to any tide warnings for your destination and always check the current strength in any body of water before letting your pet swim.

Do not let your pet go out too far from the shore in any body of water. This way, he will still be able to make his way back safely if the current becomes too strong.

VEG emergency pet hospital is open 24 hours a day to provide highly skilled, compassionate medical vet care.

Supervise Your Pet In and Around Pools and Other Bodies of Water

Never leave your pet in the water unattended for any period of time. Only let him swim when you can keep a close eye on him. And of course, if you yourself cannot swim, make sure to have a family member or friend with you who can, just in case an emergency should occur.

Also, if you have a swimming pool in your backyard, make sure to keep it covered or install a fence around the pool to make sure your pet does not fall in or attempt to swim without supervision. This can prevent serious accidents, including drowning, which can be life threatening.

Use a Pet Life Vest

Any pet who is going to be spending time in a body of water that they cannot stand up in easily should wear a life vest. This way, the pet will be able to stay afloat even if something goes wrong.

A pet’s life vest should also have a built-in handle on top of it. This makes it easier for you or any other humans to grab hold of the pet and hoist him out of the water if they become fatigued, stressed, or experience difficulty. Easy pet retrieval in the water can help prevent accidents and can even save a life.

Rinse Your Pet Off After Swimming

Your pet’s fur and skin health both rely on your pet staying dry and free from exposure to harsh chemicals, minerals, and contaminants. However, when your pet swims, he is exposed to all of these and much more, so he will need to be rinsed off well after playtime is done.

Ideally, you should give your pet a bath after spending time in any body of water. If this is not possible—for example, if you are camping or on vacation and can’t bathe your pet easily—a thorough rinse will work in a pinch. Be sure to avoid the face, eyes, mouth, and ears when bathing.

Keep Your Pet Away from these Water Dangers

While not directly caused by the water, bodies of water can be sources of harmful bacteria, toxicity, and dangerous entaglements:

• Algae - keep pets away from any algae, especially blue-green algae. Ingestion of algae can be dangerous and even fatal

• Dead fish - it's natural for a dog or cat to be curious and drawn to dead fish, but ingestion poses serious toxicity risks like botulism and parasites. See an ER vet immediately if your pet eats a dead fish.

• Fishing gear - fish hooks, fishing lines, and bobbers can cause serious injury.

  • A fish hook may go down easy but can cause punctures along the esophagus and other areas that need to be addressed by a VEG emergency veterinarian.

  • Fishing lines are more than a nuisance for your pet; they can cause drowning if wrapped around their paws. Always monitor your pet's swimming activity.

  • Fishing bobbers are unfortunately the perfect size to get caught in a pet's throat and cause choking. Call an ER veterinarian and let us know you're coming in. They may instruct you to perform a pet Heimlich, which you can learn about here for cats and dogs.

For Pet Emergencies, Call a VEG Animal Hospital Near You

Always make sure you know how to get in touch with our ER-trained emergency vet if anything should go wrong with your pet while in the water. Save us to your contacts for fast help when you need us. If you have any questions or want additional advice on water safety tips for your pet, VEG has locations all over the country that each have a team of highly qualified emergency vets you can call who are always ready and willing to help you and your pet.