The weather is starting to warm up, which means that cool-down activities will soon be a necessity for you and your pup! This can be done in a variety of ways, but the most common way we like to cool down with our dogs is a swim. Whether you’re visiting a dog-friendly beach or hitting the pool, though, there are some tips on dog grooming that you should know to keep your dog clean and healthy so you can spend all summer happily swimming!

Bathe your pup after swimming

This is also important even if your pup has been swimming in a private pool. Just because the water doesn’t seem dirty, that doesn’t mean your dog is clean!

Ocean water is full of sand and salt, which will irritate your dog’s skin if you don’t take the time to bathe her. When it comes to pools, whether your dog has spent the day swimming in a chlorine or salt-based pool, there are chemicals that will need to be washed off your dog to avoid irritation. Other allergens can also be present in both the ocean and pools that can cause irritation as well. A thorough bath after a day of swimming fun will not only protect your dog from irritated skin, it’ll keep your home clean as well!

Don’t forget about her eyes and ears

As we all know, sand always ends up anywhere and everywhere after a day at the beach. Your dog is just as prone to this as you are, so when she gets her post-beach bath, make sure to wash her thoroughly, and don’t forget to wash her eyes and ears.

A great way to make sure that her ears and eyes are thoroughly washed is with the use of ear cleaning and eye cleaning solutions. Take some time to flush out her eyes and ears so you can rest assured that there won’t be anything left behind to cause irritation or infection. 

It’s also important to make sure that your dog’s ears are thoroughly dried following any swimming session. Leaving water in your dog’s ears, especially dogs with floppy ears can quickly become a dark and wet breeding ground for bacteria leading to an ear infection. Using a towel or cotton ball to dry your dog’s ears can prevent this, but if you notice your dog shaking her head or redness in the ear canal, consult with your vet. Your dog may need medication for an ear infection and it’s best to deal with that as quickly as possible.

Pre-swim tips on dog grooming

There are also some steps you may want to take before heading to the beach or jumping in the pool.

Before your dog jumps in the pool, spray her coat with conditioner. This will protect her skin and her coat from drying out, especially if she’s swimming regularly.

Applying dog-friendly sunscreen to her skin and coat will also help protect her from the sun whether she’ll be having a beach day or hanging out in the pool. Dogs can get skin cancer too, so taking the step to protect their skin with sunscreen is always worth it!

If your dog does a lot of swimming, you may also want to find a gentle shampoo without detergents or anything that will strip your dog’s skin and coat of oil so you can bathe her often, potentially even every day.

Get Dog Grooming Help From Fon Jon Pet Care

These tips on grooming will help you take care of your dog’s skin, coat, ears, and eyes following a beach or pool day. Post-swimming grooming is a necessity, but for some, it’s easier said than done. This is where our pet groomer can step in and help get the post-swim grooming done for you. We’ll ensure that your dog is clean from head to toe so you can always be assured that your dog is clean and free of any potential irritants after a swim.

Fon Jon Pet Care is a first-class dog grooming and general pet care facility in San Diego County that has been serving this community for more than 70 years. We know the importance of pet cleanliness, which is why we have a full-time pet groomer on staff who is here to provide all of your dog grooming needs. Whether your pet just needs a basic bath or a full spa day of treatment, we can provide it for you!

Dog grooming services can be added to any dog boarding or dog daycare reservation. We recommend scheduling grooming for the last day of boarding to ensure your camper comes home clean! Make an appointment online or call us at (858) 490-2117 to learn more about our grooming packages.