{"id":3522,"date":"2011-07-09T09:58:27","date_gmt":"2011-07-09T14:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/?p=3522"},"modified":"2011-07-11T15:34:46","modified_gmt":"2011-07-11T20:34:46","slug":"summer-safety-dogs-kids-and-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/2011\/07\/summer-safety-dogs-kids-and-water\/","title":{"rendered":"SUMMER SAFETY – DOGS, KIDS AND WATER"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u00a0A favorite summer pastime for many of us is relaxing by a pool or swimming in the ocean while unwinding from the day or \u2014 better yet \u2014 even spending the whole day poolside blissfully relaxed. If your dog is included, here are some tips.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Not all dogs enjoy swimming or can swim particularly well. If it seems like your dog does not want to swim, it is important not to force him\/her.\u00a0 A safety vest such the canine flotation device, is designed to keep your pet afloat in the water. These vests are adjustable and designed to fit around your pet\u2019s chest. Having a ramp installed in the pool or around the dock may also help your pet exit the water without struggling.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If your furry family member is an avid swimmer who enjoys a refreshing dip, it is important for you and your children to swim at a safe distance to avoid getting scratched or pulled under while swimming. \u00a0It is also helpful to teach your dog the \u201cturn\u201d command so he\/she can swim around you to avoid those unwanted scratches. \u00a0When your kids are swimming beside or with your pet, make sure they have on their life vest.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Watch for water-related problems such as ear infections, a dull, dry coat and signs of dehydration. Dehydration can occur quickly \u2014 an easy way to check that your dog is not dehydrated is to lift your dog\u2019s lips and look for bright pink and moist gums.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Outdoor exposure to water can change your dog\u2019s vaccination needs. Know your dog\u2019s travel history, disease exposure, age, breed and health status to tailor a vaccination protocol. Pets can contract several contagious water-borne illnesses and intestinal parasites such as Giardia from exposure to outdoor untreated water.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Also, excessive ingestion of heavily chlorinated pool water, saltwater or stagnant lake water can result in vomiting and diarrhea. You might consider bringing plenty of fresh filtered or bottled water to the pool, ocean or lake to avoid intentional ingestion of these and other potentially harmful agents.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Be sure always to have plenty of fresh water available at all times to all pets in the home, year-round. Provide plenty of shade and a cool, dry shelter from the heat and the elements. To avoid burned footpads and heat exhaustion, exercise your pets during the early morning and at dusk when the pavement is cooler and heatstroke is less likely.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0A favorite summer pastime for many of us is relaxing by a pool or swimming in the ocean while unwinding from the day or \u2014 better yet \u2014 even spending the whole day poolside blissfully relaxed. If your dog is included, here are some tips.\u00a0 Not all dogs enjoy swimming or can swim particularly well. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,3],"tags":[456,458,457],"class_list":["post-3522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bcbsnc-insurance","category-fitness","tag-dog-safety","tag-summertime-tips-for-your-dog-and-children","tag-swimming"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3522"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3544,"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3522\/revisions\/3544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nchealthplans.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}