Dog Days of Summer

Summer is here and it gets so hot here in Santa Clarita With temperatures soaring, many families will be heading out for day trips to the beach. Take advantage of the many dog-friendly beaches here in Southern California and bring your furry friend with you! Here are some tips to help make your beach day fun, safe, and problem free:

First of all, the beach can be a popular place. If your dog is not well socialized with other people or other dogs, it may be best to leave him at home. Even though the beach rules are to keep all dogs on a leash, we all know that many people don’t, and this can prove to be very problematic especially with an un-socialized or dog aggressive pup.
Make sure you bring plenty of fresh water for your dog to drink. It is never good to allow your pet to drink the salt water from the ocean. Drinking salt water in any amount can lead to vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.
If your dog goes wading or swimming in the ocean be sure to rinse him off in fresh water afterwards. This way the salt won’t dry out his skin and coat and you can rinse out the sand from his fur and reduce the chances of skin irritation.
Even though the nice beach breeze may make it feel cooler, the sun is still hot and straight overhead and our pets need shade just as much as we do. Be sure to provide them with some form of shade to get out of the sun.
You will likely be eating in front of your pup and he will be begging for some items from your picnic. Remember to bring some dog-appropriate treats for your pup to enjoy instead. Everything in moderation!
Finally, be sure to bring plenty of baggies in order to clean up after your pup. Make sure you leave the beach as clean as you found it. Nobody wants to accidentally step in something worse than tar!
Cinema Veterinary Centre is located at 23460 Cinema Drive, suite L in Valencia 91355, (661) 253-9300.

​