Swimming is a great way to exercise your dogs. It helps to tone the muscles, release stress and it's fun. But when it comes to their coat care, that's another story. The type of water they are swimming in can and will wreck a beautiful coat in several ways.
Pool Dogs
Chlorine dries out skin and hair and that leads to dry, itchy skin and a dry, dull, brittle coat. Because the chemicals in the pool water strip the skin and coat of their natural oils, you need to use a coat conditioner before your dog enters the water. You can help conditioners that contain sunscreen too. After your dog comes out of the pool, rinse his coat thoroughly with cool water. This will wash away the chemicals that are present in your pool water. Towel dry and you can use a finishing spray that groomers use to leave in the coat. Ask you groomer about conditioners to use.
These steps will help you pool dog to maintain his pretty coat. For extra protection for the skin, add an omega-3 fatty acid supplement to your dog's diet.
Lake and River Dogs
If you like to allow your dog to swim in lakes and rivers like I do, there are special steps to take. First, never allow your dog to swim in stagnant, fowl smelling water. Another one may be muddy lakes or rivers that crocodiles and alligators live in. Still another would be downstream from any kind of industry with pollutants.
But for those lakes and rivers that fit the bill for splash time fun, pre-condition like for pool swimming and add ear drops to your dog's ears before entering the water. After the swim, and full shampoo bath is required. Clean the ears out by using a wash to and wipe dry. Use a finishing spray to help restore coat luster and shine.
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