Dogs and water: How to play, exercise safely

LOS ANGELES -- When you think of four-legged swimmers, Labrador retrievers might come to mind. But any dog can take to the water if enticed properly.

"I don't think that every dog has an inherent skill," said veterinarian Karl E. Jandrey, who works in the emergency and critical care units at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis. "They might all have an idea what to do but some dogs do it much better than others. Some are born to swim. Some are never meant to put foot in the water."

Valentine is a 4-year-old, 42-pound, short-snouted English bulldog with stumpy legs who is heavy on both ends and looks like she would sink if placed in water.

For three years, James MacKinnon of Los Angeles went to great lengths to protect Valentine from the swimming pool at his home. Then a year ago, he started boarding her at Paradise Ranch Pet Resort in Sun Valley, a cage-free, luxury country club and water park for dogs about 25 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

It turns out Valentine loves the water. During the eight months MacKinnon traveled for work last year, with more time away this year, Valentine lost seven pounds, partly due to swimming. Her health improved, her endurance grew and she became fast friends with a Rottweiler named Chico who loves to dive off the dock.

This Tuesday, May 3, 2011 photo shows Chico, a 4-year-old Rottweiler, as he jumps up to catch water with his mouth at a fountain in a wading pool at the Paradise Ranch Pet Resort in the Sun Valley section of Los Angeles. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends introducing your dog to the water very early, as a puppy if possible, making sure the experience is pleasant and never letting the dog get in water over its head until it is an accomplished swimmer. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

She probably decided to try it when she saw how much fun all the other dogs -- including Chico -- were having, said Chico's owner, Cora Wittekind, an animal behaviorist who worked with Valentine.

The best way to turn your dog into a swimmer is to introduce water early, as a puppy if possible, making sure the experience is pleasant, according to recommendations from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Never let dogs get in water over their heads until they are accomplished swimmers, and don't force or toss them in water.

"Don't push them to do things they don't want to do," Jandrey said.

And beware of the risks. Based on emergency room visits, one of the most common backyard pool accidents happens when dogs walk onto pool covers. If the cover collapses, the dog gets trapped, struggles and inhales water, Jandrey said. Safety covers made of solid material can run hundreds of dollars, but are worth the investment if there's a possibility your dog might jump on a soft pool cover.

Another risk, if you are at the beach and your dog drinks salt water all day, is acute salt intoxication, Jandrey said. It's easy to prevent -- always carry fresh water for your dog and offer it often. A few gulps of salt water won't harm your dog, but watch for vomiting and early neurological signs of salt poisoning like dullness and depression. (The chlorine in pool water, on the other hand, is not considered a major problem for dogs.)

In fresh water, dogs can be infected by a parasite called giardia, which can hide in the most pristine of streams, Jandrey said. Usually dog and owner will get it by drinking from the same water source. Owners can also be exposed by cleaning up waste from infected dogs. Symptoms include mild diarrhea and vomiting.

Backyard ponds may bloom with mold intoxicants that can cause neurological problems, liver disease and liver failure in dogs, Jandrey said.

Owners should also know when their dogs have had enough water play. Dogs don't float, but constantly paddle with all four legs, so they might tire faster than humans, Jandrey said. Some dogs, like Chico, will just keep jumping in the water, retrieving the ball and returning for more, Wittekind said.

Panting isn't necessarily a sign of exertion, Jandrey said, it's the way dogs adjust their temperature after getting hot. But if a dog squeaks, rattles, snores or makes other unusual sounds while breathing, a break is probably warranted, he said.

During a dog's first few trips into the water, and for dogs that aren't as coordinated as Chico, life preservers or flotation devices can help, Jandrey said. Valentine wore a life vest when she went in deep water but was OK without one otherwise.

Dogs don't belly-flop like people, so dock-diving won't hurt a strong dog. And with four paws, most water landings are soft, Jandrey said.