In today's issue:

-Meet our dog of the day

-Enjoy a laugh with our dog meme of the day

-Get great information in our featured article

-Take our action of the week

-Check out our family photo of the day

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The Ultimate Guide to a Fun and Safe Dog Beach Day

There is nothing quite like watching a dog experience the beach. The sheer joy of a pup bounding through the wet sand, biting at the breaking waves, and shaking a cloud of sea spray over everyone nearby is pure, unadulterated happiness.

Whether you are heading to a bustling lakeside designated dog beach or a wide-open ocean shoreline, a sun-soaked day by the water is the ultimate summer milestone. But while the beach feels like a care-free paradise, it comes with a unique set of hidden hazards for our four-legged family members.

The Freshwater Rule: Hydration is Everything

When dogs get hot and active, they look for the nearest liquid to cool down—which happens to be the massive body of water right in front of them.

• The Danger of Saltwater: If you are at the ocean, drinking seawater is a major hazard. The high salinity acts as a rapid laxative, causing vomiting, severe diarrhea, and dangerous electrolyte imbalances that can require immediate hospitalization.
• The Peril of Lake Blooms: If you are visiting a lake, keep a sharp eye out for stagnant water or a paint-like, pea-soup sheen. This can be blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), a toxic bacterium that can grow rapidly in hot weather. Ingesting even a small amount can cause fatal poisoning within minutes.

The Fix: Bring twice as much fresh, clean water as you think you will need, along with a familiar portable bowl. Offer your dog water every 15 to 20 minutes before they get thirsty enough to lap up the lake or ocean.

Sun, Sand, and Sensitive Paws

We wear sandals to cross the blazing sand, but our dogs rely entirely on their bare paw pads. A good rule of thumb: If the sand is too hot for your bare feet, it is far too hot for your dog’s paws. Hot sand can cause painful blisters and burns.

Furthermore, dogs get sunburned just like we do. Pups with short, light-colored coats, pink noses, or thin fur on their bellies are highly susceptible to UV damage.

• Protect the Paws: Stick to the cooler morning or evening hours, or invest in a pair of breathable dog booties.
• Lather Up safely: Apply a pet-specific, zinc-free sunscreen to their nose, ears, and belly. Never use human sunscreen, as ingredients like zinc oxide or xylitol are highly toxic to dogs if licked off.
• Bring Your Own Shade: Pop up a beach umbrella, canopy, or pop-up tent so your pup has a cool pocket of shade to retreat to when they get tired.

Play It Safe in the Surf

Even if your dog is a natural-born swimmer, open water is vastly different from a calm backyard swimming pool or a quiet backyard pond.

[Open Water Current] ------> Can overpower even strong canine swimmers
[Hidden Drop-offs]   ------> Can cause sudden panic
[Snagging Hazards]   ------> Underwater debris or heavy seaweed

Consider investing in a high-quality dog life jacket equipped with a sturdy top handle. Not only does it keep them buoyant when they tire out, but the handle allows you to quickly hoist your pup out of the water if a strong current or rogue wave catches them off guard. If your dog doesn’t have a flawless, immediate recall command, keep them on a 20-to-30-foot-long training leash so they can frolic safely without drifting too far into the surf.

The Post-Beach Ritual: The Deep Rinse

The fun doesn't end when you pack up the car. Before heading home, give your dog a thorough rinse with fresh water.

Salt, sand, and lake microbes can become deeply trapped in a dog's thick coat and between their sensitive toes, leading to intense skin irritation, hotspots, and scratching. A deep rinse also ensures that if they stepped in any unseen algae or microscopic hitchhikers, they won't accidentally ingest them later while grooming their fur at home.

With a little preparation and a watchful eye, you can ensure the beach remains your dog's absolute favorite place on earth. Pack the fresh water, secure the umbrella, and enjoy making those beautiful, sandy memories together!

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• Steve's Real Food - Freeze-Dried Chicken Recipe Cat and Dog Food: Possible Low Thiamine Levels (B1)
• Raaw Energy - Dog Food: Potential Listeria Contamination
• Albright's Raw Pet Food - Chicken Recipe for Dogs: Potential Salmonella
  Exposure

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