Charities share dog seaside guidance
The charities say that you should never attempt to rescue your dog yourself.
Dogs Trust and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) have jointly shared seaside safety guidance for dog owners, in an effort to reduce incidents involving dogs along the coast.
The guidance comes as the RNLI reports rescuing 164 dogs that have been stuck in the sea, trapped on coastal ledges or cut off by the tide in the past year.
Before going to the beach, the charities say that you should check the weather and tide times, to ensure that the conditions are safe. You should also be sure that it is a dog-friendly beach, as some beaches maintain a dog-free policy.
They particularly stress the importance of checking that the temperature is not too hot, as this can be detrimental to a dog’s health. As dogs can not regulate their temperature as well as humans, they are susceptible to heatstroke, which can be fatal.
To keep your dog safe while on the beach, they advise you to keep them out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Apply pet safe sun cream to their exposed skin, such as the tips of their ears and noses, and provide them with plenty of shade and fresh drinking water so that they can cool off when they need to.
They advise that you check that the sand or ground isn’t too hot for your dog’s paws. A test for this is to rest your bare foot on the surface- if it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog.
Dogs should never be left in cars, where the temperature can quickly increase to a heat that dogs can’t handle.
If your dog goes near the sea, pay close attention that they do not eat or drink anything from the water. Rinse off any saltwater after they have been in the water, as this can cause irritation. If your dog consumes anything from the sea or shows any discomfort, you should seek veterinary attention.
Finally, the charities say that you should never attempt to rescue your dog yourself if they are in a dangerous area. Instead, stand somewhere which they can reach safely and call to them.
Lewis Arnold, lifeboat coxswain at RNLI Newhaven Lifeboat Station said: ‘We will always launch the lifeboat if there is an animal in trouble on the coast, but there are a few things you can do to make sure it’s not yours that we are going to save.
‘Keep your dog on a lead when near cliff edges, harbour sides, or fast-flowing water, and if they do fall or enter the water unexpectedly don’t go in yourself. If you move to somewhere safe and call them, they will probably get out by themselves.
‘If you are worried about your dog, call 999 and ask for the coastguard – don’t go after them and put yourself in danger.’
RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.
