Dog Seaside Safety (simple tips for days out)
If you take dogs to the seaside (as a resident or on holiday), here are tips to keep them safe. Always check for beach bans before travel, many are enacted during the summer season. A few beaches ban dogs year-round, often due to lack of shady places or due to beaches disappearing at high tide.
Also read how to keep pets cool in warm and hot weather.
For emergencies, call 999 or 112 and ask for Coastguard (RNLI will help pets). For marine creatures, contact British Marine Life Rescue.
Safety tips en-route to the beach
- Check tide times, as some beaches disappear at high tide.
- Driving with Dogs has details of walks near motorway exits.
- Take water and a bowl, and make notes of dog-friendly places.
- Don’t let dogs run for at least two hours before and after food (and car travel) to help prevent risk of bloat.
Never leave dogs in even warm cars (even windows ajar or air conditioning left on – the same dangers occur with glass conservatories). If you see a dog trapped in a car, break the window and move the dog to a cool shady area, pouring cool (not cold) water over their body (not head). Then immediately call the vet.
Likewise, a cold car can turn into freezing temperatures. Take dogs with you, or leave them at home to be looked after safely.
Seaside safety tips for dogs
- Humane dog training helps keep dogs safe at the beach.
- Keep dogs away from sand dunes (home to nesting birds and seal pups.
- Keep dogs away from jellyfish (even dead ones can sting). If your dog is stung, rinse area with sea water, remove tentacles/barbs and seek immediate vet advice. Keep dogs away from crabs, birds and dead fish.
- Don’t let dogs drink seawater (contains salt) or eat seaweed (can swell in the stomach as it dries).
- Don’t throw toys out to sea (dogs will keep playing, even if exhausted).
- Keep dogs away from palm oil (white waxy lumps that wash up). Report to your council if seen.
- Discourage digging near loose sand or near water lines (read how to get out of quicksand).
- Keep dogs away from toxic coastal flowers.
Keep dogs safe in warmer weather
- All dogs (especially large, elderly and flat-faced dogs) can get heatstroke. Read how to keep pets safe in warmer weather.
- If needed, ask vet about pet-safe sunscreens. Never use human sunscreens, and wash off your skin before pets kiss you, due to zinc oxide – same with deodorants, cosmetics and cocoa buter creams.
- Keep dogs away from adders. Dog-Friendly Cornwall has tips on when to avoid walking (‘safe hours’ were before 9am and after 7pm). Rising temperatures means times may change. Adder bites need emergency vet care (read how to avoid & treat adder bites).
- Heatstroke: If dogs are panting with red gums or vomiting/collapsing, move to a shady area and pour cool (not iced) water over the body (not head) until breathing normally. Give small sips of cool water.
- Use a fan (or place ice wrapped in a towel) on the groin and armpits. Don’t place wet towels on the body, this can raise temperature. You can however place a wet towel (cool, not iced water) under dogs to help heat escape. Turn on air-conditioning in the car, when driving to the vet.
Post-beach dog care
- After beach (and countryside) walks, check fur and skin for ticks (often found on grassy dunes). Check for cuts between toes and paw pads. If any concerns, call your vet.
- Rinse off seawater and sand (use lukewarm water around 37 °C) to avoid itchy skin, ear infections or stomach upset if licked. Give special attention to paws, bellies, ears and between the toes, but avoid getting water in the ears, mouth or eyes.
