The benefits and precautions for dogs to exercise and swim in summer💦

  During the hot summer months, dog exercise and recreation become an important topic of concern for pet owners. Swimming, as a form of exercise that is both cool and full-body, has many benefits for dogs. However, while enjoying the fun of swimming, you also need to pay attention to some details to ensure the health and safety of your dog.

First, the benefits of swimming for dogs

Dogs usually walk on tiles and other hard surfaces, it is easy to form external eight feet. When swimming, dogs need to straighten their feet to maintain body balance, which helps to correct their bad walking posture and make their physique more elegant.

Swimming is an ideal form of exercise for dogs with hip problems. The buoyancy of the water reduces the weight of the dog's body, which in turn reduces pressure and wear and tear on the joints, helping to relieve joint pain and promote healing.

Swimming is a high-intensity exercise that can burn a lot of your dog's energy. After a swimming workout, the dog will be less destructive to the furniture when he gets home, helping to reduce family conflicts.

Summer heat can easily cause dogs to be irritable and anxious. When swimming, dogs can play freely in the water and interact with other dogs, which helps to stabilize their mood and relieve anxiety.

Summer heat often causes dogs to lose their appetite. After swimming, the dog will feel hungry because of the amount of energy it has consumed, thus increasing its appetite and helping to maintain its health.

During the moulting season, dogs shed a lot of hair, causing a nuisance in household cleaning. When swimming, your dog's hair will naturally fall off with the current, thus reducing the amount of hair flying all over your home.

During the swimming process, dogs need to tread water, stretch and curl up their bodies, these actions can exercise the dog's whole body muscles, so that the muscles are more firm and powerful, and the joints are more stable.

Dogs find it difficult to dissipate heat through sweating in the summer, and swimming is an effective way to cool down. When dogs play in the water, they can dissipate heat through the contact between the skin and the water, and relieve the discomfort caused by the high temperature.

Second, the precautions for dogs swimming

When choosing a swimming place, first check the water quality. The quality of the water is directly related to the health of the dog. If conditions allow, it is best to choose a swimming pool specifically for dogs and ensure that it is often sterilized and water changed. For natural waters such as rivers and lakes, check the depth of the water, the current and the presence of dangerous objects (such as debris, water plants, etc.).

Before taking your dog swimming, prepare the necessary items, including plenty of clean drinking water, the right amount of dog food and eating utensils your dog is accustomed to; a sturdy, good chest and back leash and muzzle (if necessary); a large towel, bedding, and mats to keep the compartment clean; and medication to prevent motion sickness, allergies, and to treat injuries in an emergency.

One hour before swimming, the dog must not eat, so as to avoid gastric torsion during swimming. At the same time, take your dog to the toilet to urinate and defecate to avoid defecating in the water. Before swimming, you can take your dog for a walk, a trot or a game of fetch to move the muscles and bones, and have a warm-up exercise for 5-10 minutes.

Pay attention to your dog's emotions

Dogs that are new to swimming or are not familiar with water may feel insecure. Owners can hold their dogs in their arms, wait for their emotions to stabilize before releasing them, and stay next to them until they get used to the water. Meanwhile, you can prepare some toys to interact with your dog to increase its swimming fun.

During the swimming process, the owner should always observe the state of the dog. If the dog is panting, slow or panicked, it means that it has reached its physical limit or is in discomfort, so it should be taken out of the pool immediately. For dogs with hip diseases and old dogs, it is recommended to wear a life jacket before swimming to avoid over exertion or accidents.

Swimming time should not be too long, especially for dogs that usually lack exercise, have poor physical strength or are new to swimming. Every 5 minutes or so, you should let your dog go ashore to rest for a while before going back into the water. For dogs that use swimming to lose weight, you can use a rope to keep them focused on swimming and control the number of times and time in the water.

Owners of short-nosed dogs should be especially careful because dogs with short noses tend to choke on water and cause lung problems. Dogs with severe hair loss, skin or infectious diseases, and those with major illnesses are not recommended to swim in the water to avoid aggravating their condition or infecting other dogs.

Wash your dog promptly after swimming to prevent infections such as skin diseases or conjunctivitis. Make sure to rinse off the shampoo thoroughly to prevent any residue from itching the dog's skin. Use an absorbent towel to wipe your dog's body before blow-drying the hair to prevent humidity from causing an itchy skin.Wipe your dog down with an absorbent towel before blow-drying the coat to prevent humidity that can lead to eczema and mold growth. Brush the coat after blow-drying to make your dog more comfortable.

Avoid taking your dog swimming in the summer when it is hot to prevent heat stroke. Don't expose your dog to the sun for long periods of time after swimming to prevent sunburn. Choose a cool, well-ventilated place for your dog to get plenty of air.