Don't forget the sunscreen — for your pet

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Does your dog love swimming in the pool or riding on the family boat? Be sure he knows how to get out of the pool or onto the boat. Problems occur when pets fall into pools or off boats and panic.

“Take your dog into the pool and show him how to find the stairs and climb out,” Davis says. “Then put him into the pool and see if he can get out on his own. Repeat this until he can consistently get out of the pool on his own. If you have a boat, put the dog in the water next to the boat and then ‘rescue’ him. This way he’ll be prepared if he falls off the boat unexpectedly.”

You may also want to consider purchasing a product such as a Skamper-Ramp, which can be used in pools and on boats to help the animal get out of the water.

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“Skamper-Ramp works because all living creatures see white,” says the company’s marketing director, Carrie Agnew. “They see the ramp because it angles down, breaking the surface of the water and placing it at eye level to them.”

Of course, not even a Skamper-Ramp will help if your pet can’t see. “Pools are especially hazardous for blind dogs,” Davis says. “If they fall in, they cannot get out. It is important to not let your blind dog go anywhere near swimming pools.”

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Wave-riding dogs — whether they're body surfing for the joy of it or chasing after toys their owners throw into the surf — face other water hazards, she adds. “They can injure their legs, especially their knees. The jarring force of the waves is hard on the ligaments. Also, dogs will occasionally drink sea water. This can be poisonous or even fatal.”

Finally, don’t forget to apply sunscreen when your pet goes outdoors.

Yes, dogs and cats are susceptible to sunburn, especially if they have thin or light-colored coats, and cats that get sunburned are more likely to develop skin cancer.

Dogs that lie on their backs enjoying the sun have gotten painful sunburns on their abdomens, Schaer says, but the areas most prone to sunburn on dogs and cats are the nose, face and ear tips — so cover them with sunscreen. Also be sure to cover the bodies of hairless pets and those with thin coats such as Whippets and Pugs.

You can find sunscreen made for pets at pet supply stores, or you can apply zinc oxide or PABA-free sunscreen. Be careful not to get it in your pet’s eyes.

Now that you’re prepared, enjoy the dog (and cat) days of summer.

Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning author who has written many articles and more than a dozen books about dogs and cats. She belongs to the Dog Writers Association of America and is past president of the Cat Writers Association. She shares her home in California with three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and one African ringneck parakeet.

Creature Comforts appears the third Monday of every month.

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