Page 18 - Boca Club News - July '19

Page 18, Boca Club News
Pet News

You and Your Pet: Pool Safety Tips for Your Canine Friend

By Dr. Nadrea Sookhoo, Hons. BSc, Hons.DVM, Calusa design. Heavily muscled dogs (Pit Bull Terrier, Boxer) exert 7. Plan for an accident. You have read about pool safety,
Veterinary Center, 6900 Congress Avenue, Boca Raton, FL a lot of energy in the water due to their greater body mass. but will you be able to respond if you had to rescue your pet
33487 (561) 999-3000. www.CVCBoca.com Sighthounds (Whippets, Greyhounds, etc.) often have the from the water? It is important to think ahead of what you
It’s summertime in South Florida! The weather is warm double disadvantage of heavy muscling plus little body fat would do if you were faced with this situation. How good a
and humid. What better way to cool off than to go into the to help with buoyancy. For these breeds, a well-fitting life swimmer are you? Having a human life jacket near the pool
pool and relax, right? Having a pool is a wonderful addition jacket can be used to provide an additional layer of safety could help in this situation. Make sure to know where the
to a home; however, it does come with certain risks. Most during water play. The use of a pool ramp can also help aid closest emergency veterinary clinic is and have a First Aid
people know about pool safety for children, but what about your pooch getting into and out of the pool. Pet Kit at home. There are places (ie: American Red Cross)
our four-legged children? They, too, are at risk of drowning. 6. Avoid floating pool covers – Floating covers are very that can also offer CPR classes for your pets.
Drowning ranks fifth among leading causes of unintentional dangerous. Dogs and children have died after falling into a 8. Watch, monitor, and supervise! The best way to
injury and death to humans in the United States. Every day, pool with a floating cover. Falling underneath, or even on top make sure your four-legged best friends do not end up in an
according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, of a floating cover is extremely disorienting and it becomes emergency situation is to be vigilant and keep a close eye
about 10 people die from unintentional drowning. There isn’t almost impossible for the dog to find his way out. Purchase while they are in the pool.
an equivalent government agency to compile statistics for a pool safety cover that is anchored in place and fits over the Pool time should be a fun time for both you and your pets.
dogs. One pet insurance agency reports that about 1 of every entire pool. As always, remember rule #1: a gate around the Hopefully, these simple tips will help keep them safe!
34,000 submitted insurance claims are related to drowning pool is the first line of defense.
or near-drowning.
Let’s go over some pool safety advice/tips to help prevent
our loving pets from a pool disaster.
1. Get a Pool gate/fence. Limiting access to the pool is an
easy and effective way to prevent your pet from accidentally ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE
falling in. A good pool gate or fence around the pool is a BOCA RATON
way to limit a pet’s access. Remember to keep the pool gate
closed at all times. Older dogs and dogs with poor vision are
more likely to end up falling into the pool, especially when
in unfamiliar areas (i.e., a friend’s house, in-laws). If they Sonata Empowers
do not have a pool gate or fence, it is important to be more
vigilant. A pool gate is the first barrier to prevent an accident!
hope • understanding • support • confidential • safe
2. No toys in or around the pool area. Avoid temptation hope • understanding • support • confidential • safe
for your dog to want to jump into the pool. Do not leave your
dog’s toys in the pool or around the pool area.
3. Teach your dog how to swim. Just as with small
children, learning how to teach your dog to swim is important
to prevent drowning. The American Kennel Club (AKC)
recommends that you take your dog into the pool and guide
him into the water gently. This may be unfamiliar to your
dog, who may be unwilling to swim. First, see how your
pet responds and be patient. Always praise his efforts as he
learns. Inexperienced and frightened dogs will thrash around
using their front limbs to swim. They will forget to use their
hind end. Front-end-only swimming is ineffective and uses a
tremendous amount of energy. It is best for you to get into the
pool and help support the back end as your dog swims. This
will help your pet begin to use his back legs when swimming.
A life jacket can also help with these anxious swimmers.
4. Teach your dog how to exit the pool. OK, so now
your dog is in the pool, but how to exit? As you guide your
dog into the pool it is important to teach him where the exit
is. Allow your pet to try to paddle, and help him swim to the
steps to get out of the pool. It is important for your dog to Caregiver Support Group
reach the steps and find the exit from any entry point. Try
putting your dog in the pool from different points and then
guide him to the exit. Your pet will know how to exit the pool Every FIRST THURSDAY of the month
in case he should accidentally fall in.
5. Make sure your dog is comfortable in the pool.
Please join us
Some dogs love water and thrive in it. However, not all Connecting with others who have the same Please join us
dogs are going to feel comfortable in the water. If your pet kinds of struggles as you do is an important
Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018
seems unsure of the water at first, be patient and try again part of coping with Alzheimer’s disease. Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019
next time. Some dogs are more comfortable after the second Groups are facilitated by trained profes-
300PM - 4:00PM
or third time in the pool. Not all dogs are able, however, to sionals or former family caregivers, whose 3:30PM - 4:30PM
swim properly. The anatomy of your dog effects how well primary purpose is to provide knowledge
Every First Thursday of the Month
your dog will swim. Breeds with broad chests and shorter about Alzheimer’s disease while allowing Every First Thursday of the Month
legs (Pugs, Corgi, Bulldogs) are not effective swimmers by members to receive emotional support and Seating is limited
Seating is limited
encouragement from others in a similar
Attention Dog Owners situation. Come See What We
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It is your responsibility to pick up after your Our Support Group Can Help You:
dog. It’s the law. Some of you have been • Get practical advice and information
negligent in doing so. • Feel less lonely, isolated or judged • Help you keep your loved one at home longer
• Gain a sense of empowerment and control
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• Improve coping skills
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• Reduce distress, depression or anxiety
• Develop a clearer understanding of what to
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