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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Dog Gone Swimming Safety Tips

First, check with community pools if they allow dogs for special sessions. Many offer canine swims as fundraisers during off-season periods. Make sure the pet is sociable and wears a life jacket.

The best swimmers include breeds used in water rescue or retrieval, such as the Newfoundland, Labrador retriever, Portuguese water dog, poodle and spaniel, as opposed to those with shorter snouts and airways. The stocky bodies and shorter legs of Scotties and dachshunds are also less conducive to water play.

Dr. Jules Benson, vice president of Veterinary Services at Petplan Pet Insurance, in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, lists three key safety tips: Be alert for signs of tiredness, like trouble staying afloat or struggling to catch their breath; watch for vomiting, diarrhea or fever due to harmful bacteria in some waterways; and don’t let dogs drink from the ocean. Ingested salt water can unbalance electrolytes and lead to dehydration, brain damage, kidney failure and even death.

Pet expert Eileen Proctor recommends dabbing sunscreen on pet noses and ears before swimming and putting on the dog’s life jacket before going into, on or near the water. Always ensure that dogs are well-trained to come when called, leave found items and to take a break to rehydrate and rest.

Supervise swimming dogs closely and make sure they aren’t drinking the water. If a dog hesitates to enter the water, leave his non-retractable leash on to reassure him he has assistance if needed, and stay in the pool with him. Establish a cue for entering and leaving the pool and use it before the dog overtires. Don’t allow a pet to climb the pool’s ladder to exit because a paw could slip, causing injury or panic.

When boating, pull into a secluded area with no running propellers, active paddling or underwater snags, and keep the pet on a non-retractable lead or trained to swim close by. Rinse fur immediately after every swim to remove chlorine, bacteria, dirt or salt, and then dry the dog’s inner and outer ears.

Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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