Is Ocean Water okay for doodles' skin and hair?

[Kathy Wilson]

I live in Southern California near the beach and hope to take my puppy there when she's old enough. Years ago, my 3/4 collie, 1/4 german shepherd, Jessy, used to LOVE to swim in the local harbor and didn't seem to suffer any ill effects. I likely won't let her swim there due to pollution, but I'd love to have her jump in the waves at the beach and/or take her to a quiet cove where she can swim. Any thoughts regarding skin care and safety?

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Our doodle has been swimming in the Atlantic Ocean since he was 4 months old. He;s now almost 9 months. We rinse him off well afterward and shampoo about every other time he swims with good doggie shampoo. THere have been no problems at all with his skin or hair. Our vet said to wash him each time he goes in the pool as the chlorine is more an issue than the salt water, but both need to be rinsed off.

One of my favorite things to do with our doodle is play in the waves and swim at the beach. Your puppy will love it. Every doodle I've met is just a natural born swimmer. But I usually meet them at the beach..,, that could have something to do with it.

[Kathy Wilson]

Thanks, Sue.....I'm looking forward to jaunts to the beach with her.

[Kathy Wilson]

Just wanted to share a funny that happened once when Jessy was swimming in the harbor (in the days where it was clean enough). Anytime I took Jessy down to swim, she wasted no time running to jump into the water and swim to her heart's content. There was a guy there with his gorgeous Irish Setter, a dog breed that I understand also loves swimming. He'd point to Jessy and try so hard to get his dog to jump in as well. This dog was having nothing of the water! But my girl just kept swimming until she'd had enough. She hopped out, walked up to me to be dried off and we'd go home. Poor guy looked at us and just shook his head. I've been blessed in this life with a couple of extraordinary dogs and Jessy was one of them.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Hi Kathy, We take Gracie Doodle to Dog Beach here in San Diego and she has no problems with the salt water on her skin or hair. We do bathe her almost immediately after she swims. The problem we do have is diahrreah!!! She goes in the water over and over after her tennis ball, therefore gulping in a lot of water. There are two other dogs that go with us and one of them vomits and both have diahrreah when they get home. Gracie gets it before we even get off the beach. It is like a waterfall!!! Gross but something you should be aware of. We walk her two blocks to the doggie wash and usually by then she has had three rounds of it and is ok there after. Though for the next day or so the stools are very mushy and soft. It all depends on how much salt water your Doodle takes in. Other than that, we have had no problems with Gracie's skin or hair. I really think it is her grabbing the tennis ball in the water over and over that allows her to take in huge quantities of water.

[Kathy Wilson]

Thanks for the info, Nancie! (ewwwww, what a mess!) Hadn't thought about that particular effect of swallowing the salty water. Yuck, but still I'll give it a try when she's older. As to our local harbor,sadly, too many folk who dock their boats there, use the harbor as a dump station and many folk don't consider the water fit to swim in. This is so sad as it has a very nice swimming beach for little kids and I cringe to think what they may be swallowing. I used to swim there daily during the summer but no longer. Sad. When my little one is old enough it would be fun to meet at the San Diego Dog Beach. I often pass by there on my way to Clairemont.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

When your Doodle baby is old enough, bring her down to the Ocean Beach Dog Beach in San Diego. You have the channel to swim in which has no waves and then you have the ocean where she can jump the waves. The water is not polluted and if it is, which is only when a sewer or storm drain breaks, it is always posted all over the beach to not swim.

[Sarina]

this is a sad situation. I do not want to offend yu but I hope u do not continue taking Gracie to this beach. have u talked to her vet?