How To Prevent Your Dog Getting Heat Stroke On A Boat

What Is Heat Stroke?

 

Heat stroke also know as heat stress occurs when the generation of heat exceeds the body’s ability to lose heat. Generally speaking, heat stress is a condition experienced more in the warmer months of the year although it is not unheard of in the milder seasons. It all depends on the environment your dog is exposed to.

 

Typically, we relate heat stroke to dogs left in a hot car in summer time or kept outdoors without any shade. As dog lovers we are quick to jump to the rescue of the dog (while berating the owner under our breath). Both situations are well-known environments exposing dogs to heat stroke and just as lethal is leaving your dog on a hot boat.

 

All boats are different, some more open than others so it is up to the owner to evaluate the amount of ventilation your boat offers. Down below, the temperature of boats can become quite intense, especially when the wind is not blowing in the right direction to the open hatches or it is dead calm – boats have the potential to become a mini sauna.

 

Unlike humans who have a complex cooling system through our skin, dogs sweat glands are only located in their feet and around their noses, so they rely heavily on panting and external cooling to expel heat. Even this evaporative cooling method relies on good air flow to be able to cool down your dog adequately.

 

Prevention is better than cure with heatstroke especially when on a boat and a vet is not accessible. 


Tips To Help Keep Your Dog Safe From Heat Exposure On A Boat

 

Bear enjoying his sprinkler mat in the hot Australian summer.

 

  • Keep your boat cool and well-ventilated. Do not close the boat while your dog is inside.
  • Ensure your dogs have access to clean, fresh drinking water. Placing two-three water bowls in separate locations on the boat in case one of the bowls is knocked over always ensures your dog has plenty of water.
  • If your dog likes to hang out on deck, ensure that he has access to a shady area and encourage him to use that area. Place water in this space as well.
  • Exercise your dog during the cooler parts of the day.
  • Avoid hot sand, hot pavements, and hot roads. I’m always surprised during the height of summer here in Australia, how many people walk their dogs on scorching hot surfaces. Never assume that the ground is fine for your dog’s paws. Bend down and feel the surface yourself with your hand. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog.  Burnt, blistered paws are excruciatingly painful for your dog.
  • Keep coats clipped. Most pet clippers can be used off a marine 12-volt battery. Thinning combs are also helpful if you cannot manage a clipper. I’ve no doubt there are breeders out there who will disagree with me, arguing that a dog can regulate the temperature despite their coat. I’m speaking from experience. Witnessing my spaniels Maxy and Mel panting and lethargic with a longer coat compared to their change in energy and vitality following a haircut, they were without a doubt more comfortable following a clip.
  • Be aware that life jackets are made of synthetic fabics that don’t allow the body to breathe naturally. They are an important safety measure for all dogs onboard however, keep your dog cool when they are wearing the life jacket out of the water.

 

There are certain breeds such as pugs and bulldogs that are susceptible to heatstroke. Talk to your vet about how to best care for these gorgeous breeds when it comes to heat stroke.

Otto cools down in a baby bath in his Chill Out neck bandana.

 

Sometimes we take every precaution in life and still meet misfortune. Just in case something completely unforeseen goes wrong, let’s have a look at the signs of heat stress and what you can do to help your dog to cool down.

 

SYMPTOMS

 

According to Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals these are the main symptoms to look out for with a dog you suspect may have heatstroke.

 

  • Panting increases as heatstroke progresses internally.
  • Excessive drooling.
  • Your dog is unable to feel settled.
  • Red gums and a bright red tongue.
  • Distressed breathing.
  • The dog may appear confused. You know your dog’s personality and behaviour best, so you will know when they are doing things out of character.
  • They just want to lie down which is unusual for them.
  • Muscle tremors.
  • The dog collapses.
  • They are not going for a wee or have little to give when they do go.
  • Coma

This is a comprehensive list but one worth familiarising yourself with because your dog may not present with all these symptoms. Keep a close eye and don’t ignore symptoms – investigate them.

 

If you find your furry four-legged crew member is suffering heat stroke, then you will need to help them. Following is an emergency first aid list for your consideration:

 

EMERGENCY FIRST AID FOR HEAT STROKE

 

Belle & Lily on deck with full shade in their travel crate. Add a cooling mat for extra chill.

 

Aim: To normalise the body temperature of your dog.

  • Remove your dog from the hot environment.
  • Use wet towels or washcloths saturated with lukewarm or cool water and place on your dog’s body ensuring that the water is penetrating the fur to the skin.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not use ice or ice-cold water as this may create more problems for your dog. Extreme cold can cause blood vessels to compress or tighten which will prevent the dog’s body core from cooling which causes the internal temperature of the dog to continue to rise.

 

If necessary, wet down the area surrounding your dog.

 

Offer your dog water but do not force feed.

 

If you can monitor their temperature, you are aiming to get it down to 39.5 degrees Celsius (103.1 degrees Fahrenheit). Once you reach these temperatures, stop cooling the dog so you do not take him the other way into hypothermia – being too cold.

 

If you can’t lower your dogs temperature, you really must seek veterinary assistance.

 

I understand that with our cruising lifestyles we are not always able to access veterinary care. Where you can, at the very least try and connect with a vet via phone and, if possible, divert your sail course to get your dog to a vet as soon as possible for a check-up. You can always return to your sailing destination.

 

Lili enjoying a cool wet towel draped over her Great Dane body.

Impawtent Message

 

Living in a marina in Queensland, Australia can get ridiculously hot. We have installed an airconditioner for marina living but I hesitate to leave it on when we are away from the boat for long periods. Marina electricity can be turned off unexpectedly and because the boat is closed up to keep the cool air in, Harry could roast inside once the cool air disapates.

 

When the aircon isn’t on, our hatches are wide open but some days there is barely a breath of breeze to tickle a bird’s feather. To help keep the boat cool while we are marina-bound we have installed a full-length shade cloth cover that goes from the bow to the stern of the boat. Without a doubt, this shade shaves about two to three degrees off the internal temperature of the boat. Harry has access to fans and cooling mats and areas of the boat that have been kept dark and cool.

 

Impawtent Questions

  • Do you have a doggy thermometer on board, and do you know how to use it?
  • Do you have your vet or a list of vets you can contact, aligned with your sailing itinerary?
  • What measures can you take on your own boat to ensure your dog never has to experience heat stress?

 

Pop any suggestions in the comments below on how you keep your dog cool onboard. Here are some suggestions from our Dogs Who Sail members.

 

Dogs Who Sail are not affiliated with any brands. The links below are examples only. Please research your preferred pet supplier for similiar products. There are so many different brands and styles to choose from!

 

Cooling Bandana https://www.petbarn.com.au/all-for-paws-chill-out-dog-bandana-blue?sku=131902

Cooling Mat https://www.petbarn.com.au/all-for-paws-chill-out-dog-cool-mat?sku=127050

Dog Cooling Vest https://www.petcircle.com.au/product/zippypaws-dog-cooling-vest-blue/zp62zpc1513

Dog Sprinkler https://www.petstock.com.au/products/lexi-me-pet-sprinkler-pad

Dog Paddle Pool https://petpawz.com.au/products/dog-swimming-pool

Or be like Benji (below) and grab a plastic basin from your local hardware shop.

 

Benji is no frills or spills, happily cooling off in a bucket of cool water.

 

Bear has it all! A dog paddle pool to match his sprinkler mat seen earlier in the post.

 

Doggy Dyer has all bases covered. Just go for a refreshing swim!

 

Ewok Eric wrapped in his wet Dock & Bay quick dry towel.

 

Schooner chilling on his cooling mat with Trans Cool fan. As you do in Sicily of course.

 

Scout smiling in his cooling vest.

 

Gorgeous little Weezy cooling off in front of the fan after a swim.

Thank you to Dogs Who Sail members for your phots and ideas. xx

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Importing Dogs Into St Vincent & The Grenadines

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Thanks to our Dogs Who Sail member Samantha A who has kindly shared the latest information she has received from Dr. Malaika Glasgow, Veterinary Officer, St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

Also a big thankyou to Dr Glasgow for being so helpful.

NOTE:This is a guide only. Please contact authorities directly to confirm procedures as things change and you don’t want to get caught out.

 

In order for a permit to be issued, Application form for importation of live animals (2015) must be filled out and sent to animalhealthsvg@hotmail.com with the required documentation (Rabies test results and vaccination records – Rabies, Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza).  

 

The other records (heartworm test and the internal and external parasite treatment) must be sent to animalhealthsvg@hotmail.com prior to departure.

 

Please be advised that an import permit must be issued prior to departure to ensure all conditions are met to avoid delays or denial of entry. 

  

Also, an import permit is valid for three (3) months once issued and it takes a minimum of three (3) business days to process once all the documents have been submitted, therefore, you need to ensure that this process starts in a timely manner prior to your expected departure date.

  

Please note that you must make an appointment for your inspection in advance of your arrival so that your inspection can be scheduled.

 

As at 5th January 2023 the cost for each import permit was $55.00 XCD/ $21 USD.

 

If you require the inspection to be done outside of working hours (Mon – Fri after 4.00 pm or on the weekend or public holidays) there is an added fee of at least $125.00 XCD per animal.  We also require you to have the exact fees for ease of process.

 

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please also read the official General dog import conditions.

Yours in Agriculture

Dr. Malaika Glasgow

Veterinary Officer

Animal Health & Production Division
Ministry of Agriculture
Kingstown
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
VC0100
Tel: 784 456 1111 Ext 326 or 784 493 1749 or 784 457 2452
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Dogs Who Sail Weekly News – Issue 3

Welcome New Members

 

Piggeldy, The Netherlands

What a stunning breed. Piggeldy is a Podenco mix who sails in the The Netherlands with doting mother Sandra. Together they look forward to sailing next season on Lake Constance.

 

Welcome aboard Dogs Who Sail.

 

 

 

 

I had never heard of this type of dog before and so I did some research and found that the Podenco are notoriously abused working dogs in Spain.

 

One of the oldest breeds in the world, the Podenco is related to the ancient Pharaoh Hounds of Egypt. These days they are bred as hunting dogs, reported to be chained up in horrible conditions when they are not working. To top things off they are not protected under Spanish law.

 

To learn more about this fascinating breed please visit Hope for Podencos, a registered charity who do their best to rescue this forgotten breed and find them caring families.

 

Benji & Daisy, Greece

 

In our last issue we looked at the challenges associated with adopting a stray boatyard dog. Today we meet Benji & Daisy, two gorgeous strays from Koronisia, a small village on the west coast of Greece. Benji and Daisy have joined Jill and her partner to become boat dogs.
Jill told Dogs Who Sail members, “They are so fond of each other, so we had to take both of them.😊“
The couple are aware of the challenges they face adopting strays and also introducing the dogs to boat life. The initial focus has been on gaining the dogs trust and gradually building a bond between one another. Being responsible guardians, Jill booked Benji & Daisy in to be desexed.
As boating dog parents, we have all asked (or ruminated) about one or both of the questions Jill presented to the group. I have added links to each question to interviews I conducted with sailing vet, Sheridan from Vet Tails Sailing Chuffed and Ken Innes, head trainer from Assistance Dogs Australia. All of the interviews go for about 30 minutes and are packed with professional, practical advice. Not every dog is the same and unfortunately there is no magic solution but we can do our best to learn from others.
Question 1
Peeing and pooing while out sailing. How did you go about teaching your dogs to do that onboard?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM0xw7AYgX4&t=13s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zVVBSpvTy8&t=8s
Question 2
Motion sickness. Daisy has been puking in the car a few times and we are of course worried about her being sea sick when it’s time for us to sail away from here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdhGvCX7TfE
One of the things I love most about our Dogs Who Sail community is the support that everyone gives each other. Where I can, I will add to that by brining in professional and personal experiences so we can enhance opportunities for our dogs to be happy, safe and comfortable onboard.

Dogs Who Sail Little Champion

 

 

 

 

Harley is a 14 year old Maltese Terrier and an adventurer of both land and sea. I have had the pleasure of spending time with Harley as we share the same marina and circle of friends here in Australia. This little dog has the softest, most pure nature you can imagine. Every single time I see her out walking, my heart melts for her Maltese ears that bounce as she trots along.

 

For the past six years, Harley has been living aboard with her humans Tanya and Danny, travelling the East Coast of Australia during cruising season. This year she had a new adventure, a road trip across Australia covering a whopping 14,800kms – (9,200 miles) over eight months.

 

Harley is a brave little warrior. When she was nine years old she was diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease, also known as hypercortisolism and hyperadrenocorticism. If left untreated, this illness can have detrimental outcomes. She has torn both rear ACL’s and in the past two years has developed late onset epilepsy. Despite all of this, Harley is always in good spirits and her humans go to great lengths to ensure she lives a life of luxury and has the best medical care wherever they travel.

 

During their recent expedition across Australia, something got stuck in Harley’s paw on a walk around Uluru. You can see in the photo below the poor little paw became inflamed with infection. Tanya and Danny jumped in the campervan and headed to Alice Springs to find a vet – only a short 460km away (285 miles).

 

Four days later little Harley collapsed in the harsh outback Australian heat of Camooweal while her little body was still recovering with the infection. Even though Tanya and Danny still had places they would have liked to have visited, they chose to return home to the East Coast where conditions were cooler for Harley.

 

There is so much I love about this Dogs Who Sail family. While Tanya and Danny live their dreams, it is never at Harley’s expense. If their little girl is not comfortable, they will unquestionably change their plans to ensure her wellbeing.

 

As Tanya says, “For all who are worried about cruising with your beloved fur baby in their senior years, just remember perseverance, understanding your dogs limitations and most of all loving them is all they and you will need to have a wonderful cruising life full of special moments and memories.”

 

 

Together We Walk In a New Way

 

These past few weeks we have bid farewell to some very special members of Dogs Who Sail who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I honesty feel that this is one of the toughest challenges we have to face in our lives.

 

It has been an absolute honor to witness a united Dogs Who Sail Facebook community being so incredibly supportive when there is a loss of one of our salty sea dogs. The love and compassion they share with each other melts away any differences in worldviews. All that matters is the understanding of the greatness of loss and the accompanying heartache.

 

No one truly knows what happens when life as we know it ends. The one thing we can be sure of is the love that we shared with our dogs, and the feelings that love evoked within us will never go away. It is this energy that remains in our hearts, our minds and our bodies and it is immortal.

 

As we take the time to remember another’s loss, may we be reminded of how precious the time is that we have with our furry best friends.

 

RIP Stella, United States

 

This gorgeous smiling girl was a fulltime liveaboard with her human Karen and three other dogs. Well to be exact, two other dogs and a cat who thinks she is a dog.

 

Thank you Karen for giving Stella many adventures which would have enriched her life.

 

Blessings dear one.

 

 

RIP Temba, Australia

 

Temba also known as Flubbie to her human Nicky, has been sailing the beautiful east coast waters of Australia. Having the best of both worlds, Temba spent time on land and water. One of her favorite destinations was Great Keppel Island, a stunning tropical island where dogs who sail are welcome.

 

Darling Temba, thank you for sharing the past five years of your boating adventures with us. Run free Beauty. xx

 

 

 

 

Dogs Who Sail TV – Episode 5

DOG OVERBOARD

We’ve heard about it happening to others but never think it will happen to us. In this interview I chat with Dogs Who Sail member Esther Woodward about the day her black labrador Shelby fell overboard and they didn’t see it happen.
Thank you Esther for spending time with me. You have shared some valuable information that will keep other dogs safe on their boat.
You can view the interview by clicking on this link.
Thank you for being here and making this community so very special.
Until next time, fair winds and love.
Tanya xxoo
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Dogs Who Sail Weekly News – Issue 2

Meet Ren – Dogs Who Sail’s Birthday Girl

 

A big shout out to a little salty sea dog – darling Ren, Happy 2nd Birthday to you gorgeous girl.

Recently Ren has had to share her boat with a group of boys scouts. Ren’s human Thomas facilitates a High Adventure program at Sea Base in Islamorada. The program runs for about 13 weeks. Six kids, two adults and five days of sailing, snorkeling and fishing. All the things we love in life.

Ren & Thomas, we salute you.

 

Questions from Dogs Who Sail Members

Can you domesticate a stray boat yard dog?

Last week Dogs Who Sail member, Shane B is at the end of her tether. She reached out for advice to help her understand the behaviour of her newly adopted dog. Earlier this year while working on their boat in a boat yard in the Philippines, Shane and her partner fell in love with a stray puppy who was only eight weeks old. Six months later they are concerned as the puppy still won’t go to the toilet on the boat. Yes, that old chestnut many of us are familiar with.

 

To add to Shane’s dilemma, through persistent barking and whining, the puppy has successfully trained her humans to take her to land when she is ready to go potty. In a land home this is an ideal scenario but for boat life, we would love to train our dogs to go to the toilet on the boat. Acknowledging her puppy’s request, Shane gets her puppy into a collar and leash, and off to land they go. Once on land, the puppy is still demanding her independence and insists the collar and lead be removed before she will toilet.

 

Until recently, Shane was giving in to her puppy’s demands. Now, if puppy refuses to go potty with her leash on, the couple will take her back onboard without toileting. Here she will hold her bladder for 12 hours at which point Shane feels for her dog and ends up taking her to land. Back to square one.

 

Shane felt she was doing the right thing by taking in a stray dog and giving it a safe and comfortable life full of love and adventure. Clearly this adorable puppy who was born a boat yard dog has inherited her dog mother’s independence. If Shane wants to keep the dog and her dream of sailing across oceans alive, once they finish working on their boat, they will need to spend considerable time bonding and training with their beloved dog.

 

Where to from here?

As we support Shane through this period, we can also learn from her experience. When we commit to a dog, we commit for life, taking on all of their characteristics, and we work through the trials and tribulations together. Granted there are situations where a dog may not be a good fit due to some form of aggressive behaviour.

I am by no means here to sit in judgement of anyone for their choices, instead I am reminded that dogs and boats don’t always go together and as a dog’s guardian, I advocate the modification of our plans to fulfil the commitment we made when we brought the dog into our family.

 

Shane, we wish you and your free spirited little dog all the very best with bonding and training. Please connect with the Dogs Who Sail community whenever you need support or guidance. We are here for you.

 

Toileting tips and tricks offered by the Dogs Who Sail community

 

A significant number of our 3,000 Dogs Who Sail members can empathize with Shane because we too have agonized over the toileting issue onboard. Here are some the suggestions Shane received to help her toilet train her dog on their boat.

 

  • Collect some of your dogs urine by soaking it up with a paper towel and then rub it over the fake grass pee mat on the boat. For extra strength place the paper towel under the pee mat. Remember a dog’s nose is 1,000 times more sensitive than a human’s nose.
  • Be consistent with training. You must make a commitment to your dog.
  • Have a code word for your dog which they will always relate to going to the toilet – ‘Go potty!’ ‘Wee wee!’ etc. Use this same verbal cue on the boat and on land as well.
  • Take the pee mat to land with you. Use your code word and see if your dog will begin using the mat on land first.
  • When they do go to the toilet on the boat, give them lots of praise and treats. Yippee! Have a party!
  • If the dog goes to the toilet in the wrong place, don’t scold them.
  • Take your dog to the pee mat first thing in the morning.
  • Watch Dogs Who Sail TV Episode 1 – An interview with sailing vet Dr Sheridan Lathe from Vet Tails Sailing Chuffed about the health side of toileting your dog onboard.
  • Watch Dogs Who Sail TV Episode 2 – An interview with head trainer Ken Innes from Assistance Dogs Australia about how he trains their assistance dogs to go to the toilet on command.

 

 

Dogs Who Sail – Doggy Social Pages

 

If there was one thing you wanted for your dog onboard what would it be?

 

While Harry was watching me in the galley this week, he and I discussed this question. I suggested things to him and he twisted and turned his head which I took as a deep understanding.

 

When we posed the question to our Dogs Who Sail members this is what the answers were:

  • Comfort
  • A treadmill
  • Dolphins for her to talk to all day long
  • Seasickness prevention
  • A patch of green grass for Mindy to pee on, so training would not have to start all over again every season we go to live aboard
  • More dog friendly beaches
  • A playmate
  • A remote control ball
  • A really big comfy snuggly bed
  • Green fields to run and roll in
  • Grass
  • A larger yacht
  • To be comfortable and not stressed
  • A way for them to get on and off the swim platform that doesn’t take up too much room
  • A piece of land for their business
  • A solution to steep companionway stairs so Mila feels safe going up and down on her own
  • A dock
  • Another dog

Christmas is not far away. Maybe Santa will deliver some of these wishes – in particular the bigger yacht!

 

 

Ginger Dog Biscuits – A Seasickness Remedy Recipe

Ginger Biscuit Ingredients
  • 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 ½ cup unbleached all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger root
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons unsulphured blackstrap molasses
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup wheat bran or oat bran
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions for Homemade Dog Biscuits
  • Put all the ingredients in your bread maker and press dough cycle or knead together (the old fashioned way).
  • When the dough is ready to use, take it out of the bread maker or your kneaded ball.
  • Divide it into 3 portions.
  • Roll the dough into sheets that are ¼” thick.
  • Use a cookie cutter to make your desired shape.
  • Let the cookies rise for 45 minutes.
  • Bake the cookies in a 275 degree F (135 degree C) oven for 1 hour.
  • Turn off the oven and let the cookies finish drying overnight to make them nice and crunchy.
  • Store the cookies in an airtight container and in a cool dry place.

Recipe from Best Dog Treat Recipes

 

And that’s a wrap. If you have some news to share, please get in touch at admin@dogswhosail.com or we’ll see you in the Dogs Who Sail Facebook group.

 

Fair winds and big slobbery doggy kisses.

 

Tanya xxoo

 

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Weekly News From Dogs On Boats All Over The World

Meet Admiral Nelson – Dogs Who Sail’s Pinup Yachtie For The Month

 

Nelson is 11 years old and knows no other life than living on a boat. He is currently cruising the crisp clear waters in Greece. Nelson is a great example that there is no true rule about what dog is the best dog for being on a boat. He is happy and his family are happy. They wouldn’t have things any other way.

Admiral Nelson, we salute you.

 

Questions from Dogs Who Sail Members

Can we get a rescue dog and sail the world on a yacht?

Dogs Who Sail member Jen S and her family are considering adopting a rescue dog or two. Their three year goal is to buy a yacht and sail to Australia, southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. Here are some of the questions Jen asked the group this week.

What would be the breed most suitable for boating?

According to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (CFI) there are around 400 breeds of dogs to choose from but in my experience there is not one specific type of dog that could be considered the perfect boating breed. I like to reframe the question. Instead of asking what is the best breed of dog for a boat ask yourself what type of dog can I manage on our boat?

Some basic considerations are:

  • The size of the dog. Would you be better with a small dog that you can tuck under your arm? If you choose a larger dog, does your boat offer a swim platform or transom with stairs enabling easy access from the mothership to the dinghy?
  • Does your dog shed hair?
  • How much activity does the dog need and will you be willing to meet those needs on the boat?

Will the dog be comfortable on the boat?

There are thousands of dogs travelling on boats all over the world. If you think of a breed or a combination of breeds and boats, they will be out there on the high seas and loving life.

A dogs favourite place to be is right beside you. The truth is you will not know how your dog will take to boating life until they try it. This needs to be a slow and steady process of introducing your dog to boating life for them to get used to the noise of motors, unsteady surfaces, new sounds and limited freedom.

What paperwork will need to be prepared?

Paperwork varies from country to country and as our valued member and circumnavigator Lynne Dorning Sands from SV Armarula reminds us, ‘travelling has become more challenging for both people and animals since COVID’.

With two Jack Russell’s onboard for the past 15 years, Lynne recommends using Noonsite. This is a must bookmark link for cruisers worldwide, offering comprehensive information on what you need to enter a country and what to expect when you first arrive in port.

Noonsite offers a wealth of information but at the end of the day you are responsible for confirming the information is current and valid. Don’t rely on online forums, social media groups or websites alone. Where possible speak with the countries and allow plenty of time to prepare for some tests – this could be up to six months before your arrival.

 

 

Dogs Who Sail – Doggy Social Pages

 

Dogs Who Sail Commodore Harry Turns 1

 

It was a day of celebrations at FetchnFun Wellness and Daycare on Wednesday 13th October 2021 when our boy Harry turned one. He celebrated in fine form with his doggy daycare buddies playing chasies for a solid 10 hour stint. The doggy mates celebrated with Harry at morning tea time chowing down on a delicious meat and veggie cake. Harry’s chop licking says he was pretty satisfied with the unfolding of his birthday event.

 

 

Mojo Sets Sail In Singapore

 

It’s been a long week for Cocker Spaniel Mojo as he finally slips the lines and heads out for the weekend singing the Easy Beats tune Friday On My Mind. Mojo sails with his Cocker Spaniel sister Bella in Singapore. This pair would have to be Dogs Who Sail’s coolest sailing dawgs.

 

 

Stanley Heads Back Out Onto The Water After Maiden Voyage

 

This weeks bravery award goes to none other than Stanley, another Dogs Who Sail Cocker Spaniel. In news received from Stanley’s human Sophie earlier in the week, the young Spanner ventured out for his second trip under what she described as ‘a gentle motor’ in Plymoth Sound, UK.

 

Stanley’s big brother Barney, known as Captain Cool onboard, is a salty sea dog in his element. It would be easy for Stanley’s parents to assume that because Barney is fine with sailing, Stanley will enjoy it too.

Small incremental steps are the best technique to introduce your dog to being on the boat. You will need to be calm and patient while they take their time to adjust to their new environment.

Easy steps to introduce your dog to your boat:

  • Start by taking your dog down to the boat for the day. Hang out onboard together. Take his bedding, some toys, lots of treats, praise and love. No boat jobs where there is the potential for chaos and swearing. Just chill.
  • Next time you might start the engines. Find a way to distract your dog at this time. Give them their favourite toy to play with prior to starting up. Fill up a Kong, licky mat or other chew toy with peanut butter. Remember, lots of TPL ~ Treats ~ Praise ~ Love.
  • The next time you are at the boat with your dog and you have benign conditions, go out for an hour or two on the water. If you are a sailboat, bare poles for this first ride. The less action going on onboard, the better.
  • Always keep an eye on how your dog is behaving to determine how long you stay out for. More TPL ~ Treats ~ Praise ~ Love.

You get the picture. You are adding layer upon layer of small changes so your dog doesn’t get freaked out right from the start. All dog training is performed in this way. It might feel tedious at times but believe me, this process is much more rewarding than scaring your dog from the beginning and then trying to undo fearful behaviour.

 

My next post will cover the story of a young couple who have adopted a boat yard dog and the challenges they face.

Until then dear friends and salty sea dogs, fair winds and lots of scrumptious treats.

 

 

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MUTINY ON THE DOG BLOG

The Take Over

As Commodore of Dogs Who Sail, I will be taking over the blog posting from Tanya. Now that’s worth a round of applaws don’t you think. Oww-woof-woof-woof.

Tanya’s great and I love that she’s my human/servant but you see, the thing is, she is a bit boring – all she does is work with boats, write about boats, and live on a boat. Boats, Boats, BOATS!

Me on the other hand, I have THE MOST exciting life in the world and I’m only six months old. Actually, I am quite certain that I OWN the world and EVERY human in it. Why be humble, right?

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Dogs on Boats – First Aid Kit

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By Tanya Rabe

You have one for yourself and your crew so why not have a First Aid Kit for Fido?

First Aid is help given to a sick or injured dog until full veterinarian treatment is available. On land, if our dog falls ill or is hurt, we have the luxury of jumping in the car and getting our dog to a vet relatively quickly. Our boats don’t travel as fast as a car and we may find ourselves hours, days or even weeks from a veterinarian.

I encourage all boating dog owners who may find themselves in remote areas to gain a knowledge of basic First Aid for your dog and yourselves before you embark on your journey. There are many courses to choose from or books to read. It is much better to be prepared before an emergency happens.

In this article, I have prepared for you a list of items that we have used in our First Aid kit for our Cocker Spaniels Maxy and Mel. Our kit was put together with recommendations from local vets and our own research. Dogs Who Sail good friend, Dr Sheridan Lathe from Vet Tails’ Sailing Chuffed has also taken a look over our kit and given it a thumbs up.

I am not a veterinarian and at no time am I giving you advice on what to medicate your dog with. It is your responsibility to visit your vet and have a lengthy conversation around such things as the health of your dog, what meds they will tolerate, when to use medications, dosage and for how long your canine friend should remain on them. Please don’t rely on Dr Google and social media to treat your best furry friend.

The Basics

Adhesive tapes

A variety of bandages

Cotton Tips

Cotton Wool

Eye Wash

Gauze and other wound dressings

Glue

Non-Stick Pads

Scissors

Thermometer

Anti-Diarrheal 

If you haven’t experienced doggy diarrhea on a boat yet, let me tell you, be armed for it when it does strike. Generally, you will need something a little stronger than your broad-spectrum antibiotics to target the inflammation of the large intestine. Maxy was diagnosed with the pesky little parasite that is Giardia, in fact we were all treated for it after discovering our water tanks were in need of a good flushing and cleanse.

You will know when you need to administer this medicine. The causes of diarrhea are relatively straight forward. Often there has usually been a change in the food you have been serving your dog or they have eaten something they shouldn’t have, causing an imbalance of the gastro-intestinal flora. Stress can be another factor that is behind diarrhea.

It is helpful to feed a bland diet that is low in fat and high in carbohydrates; potatoes, pumpkin, pasta, white rice and a little boiled chicken or turkey. Small amounts of natural yogurt and cottage cheese that are low in fat are also nutritious options to be added to your dog’s meal.

If their poos are watery, ensure they have access to fresh, clean water as this means they are losing water and there’s a possibility they may become dehydrated.

Have clear instruction from your vet at what point do you give your dog the anti-diarrheal medication.

Antibacterial Wash

There are specific doggy washes you can purchase from your vet or you can simply use something off the supermarket shelf.  The antibacterial wash is used to clean wounds to safeguard from infections.

Antihistamine

Your vet may offer an antihistamine that can be given to your dog for any allergic reactions. Seasonal, food, environmental and bites are most common allergies in dogs. The antihistamine eases swelling, inflammation and irritation.

Apex Antibiotic Lotion

A broad-spectrum anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory cream used to treat dermatitis and eczema related infections.

Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic

A broad-spectrum bacterial antibiotic is used primarily for skin, periodontal and soft tissue infections (soft tissue being wounds, abscesses, cellulitis etc).  The last thing you want is for an infection to spread when it can be treated by medication. Yes, there is the argument around overuse of antibiotics but for the sake of your dog, have a supply of broad-spectrum antibiotics onboard and become knowledgeable as to when to use it by being guided by your vet’s advice.

Cerenia

This is an anti-emetic which helps relieve your dog of vomiting and the prevention of vomiting caused by motion sickness.

Liquid Bandage Spray

This stuff is brilliant for doggy and for human. It’s no fuss application of spraying onto a clean, minor wound takes the fiddling out of wrapping a bandage wondering if it’s too loose, only to re-wrap and wonder if it’s now too tight. Liquid bandages look and act like a second skin and they are created with compounds that allow the wound to breathe. The ingredients also promote healing and offer a waterproof seal and some even have a bitter tasting agent involved to stop Fido from licking the area. This is a great bandaging solution to keep a wound clean.

Not all wounds can be treated with a liquid bandage. Gaping wounds or lacerations, meaning cuts which go all of the way through the skin should not have a liquid bandage applied. Instead you are considering the need for sutures or old-fashioned gauze and supportive bandaging until you are able to receive veterinarian attention.

Magnoplasm

This substance is a thick paste made from glycerol and magnesium sulphate which has the potential to draw out infections. This has been used successfully for boils and also grass seed infections.

Metoclopramide 

Is another anti-emetic option that is also really common in humans, might be easier for people to get and have onboard.

Muzzle

We know that our dogs would never intentionally hurt us but when they are in pain and we are trying to help them they may feel inclined to protect themselves by giving us a nip. Putting a muzzle on your furry crew member doesn’t mean they are a vicious dog. I have found the best muzzles are the soft ones with Velcro strapping. So very easy to pop on and off.

Neotopic – H

This is an antibiotic topical cream used to treat infections and skin conditions. It contains Hydrocortisone, Neomycin and Lignocaine. The hydrocortisone eases the itch and swelling of skin irritations and the inflammation that comes with them. Neomycin is the antibiotic which will fight infection and Lignocaine offers effective pain relief.

Numbing Agent – Anaesthetic 

This may be a little challenging to get from your vet but if you have a long-term relationship, they may be happy to give you a script for this medication. Once again, this medication would only be administered in extreme medical emergencies when you may be required to suture a wound or splint a break.

Pain Relief and Anti-inflammatory

Ask your veterinarian for something they would use for stronger pain such as postoperative pain and inflammation associated with soft tissue surgery. If Maxy and Mel are in excruciating pain from a broken bone or sting ray barb, I want something that is going to bring them some relief quickly.

Pheromone Spray

Scientists have managed to replicate the pheromones emitted by mother dogs to communicate with their puppies. It is the messages from these pheromones that helps the dog feel calm and peaceful, just as their mother would make them feel. A simple spray is all that is needed.

Saline

Little tubes and pouches of saline are found in every First Aid kit and remain the go-to for flushing out wounds. Saline is defined as extremely diluted salt water. The salt has mild antiseptic properties while saline, when made to a specific recipe, has the same makeup as body tissue, tears and blood and is gentle on essential healing cells.

The tubes often have a twist top or require a snip with scissors. Once opened apply liberally to wash the wound thoroughly. In some instances, you may use a syringe for a more precise cleanse.

Skin Stapler

An extension from sutures is the skin stapler. This is my preference for closing wounds. They are well known for their quicker application compared to traditional stitching, many brands claiming up to six times faster. The stapler is easier than making thread and needle sutures.

Due to its ease and speed of use, it is believed skin staplers are less painful for the dog. Just as you can buy Suture Kits you can also purchase Staple Gun Kits. There are a variety of staple guns on the market, many offer a count feedback and some even give you confirmation of a successfully closed staple.

As with conventional suturing, learn how to use the staple gun before you actually need to and know when to put the staples in and when to take them out. There are devices to assist with easy removal of the staples when the time comes.

Please don’t scrimp on an el-cheapo Skin Stapler. They are not expensive items ranging from $10 to $30. The higher end of the scale will often include a staple remover.

Suture Kit

I pray to the God of Dog that I never have to perform this procedure on Maxy or Mel or any other dog for that matter but, if they were hurt and the wound needed closure, I would without a doubt, step in as their Suture Nurse.

In reality, suturing a conscious dog is going to be nigh on impossible, especially if you don’t have experience. I therefore do not recommend this procedure willingly. Instead, I will encourage you to talk to your vet about suturing or at the very least, take a look online at some videos from reputable sources to see how a suture is performed.

For some of us, this is hard to stomach, but in an emergency, you will be better equipped to deal with a serious wound having educated yourself prior to the event. The ultimate education is doing an Advanced First Aid certification which covers minor medical procedures.

The professional advice I have been given by vets is to ensure I have a skin stapler onboard.

A Word About the Cone of Shame

Last but not least I will include some thoughts around the Elizabethan Collar or E-Collar. This is the big plastic cone that goes around your dog’s head to stop them from interfering with wounds.

In a recent discussion on Dogs Who Sail, a member brought up a good point. She was hesitant to use the big cone collar on her dog onboard because she feared if her dog fell overboard while wearing it, he would be a greater risk of drowning.

There are alternatives to this style of collar including surgical t-shirts for dogs and different collars which are less hazardous such a blow-up doughnut style or a pool-noodle necklace.

Whatever option you use, ensure your dog is always supervised when onboard.

Important Reminders

  • Always check used by dates of medicines.
  • Don’t use medication that your vet hasn’t advised you about.

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Dogs Who Sail TV – Toileting Your Dog On A Boat

In this episode of Dogs Who Sail TV I chat with vet, Sheridan Lathe from Vet Tails’ Sailing Chuffed about toileting dogs on a boat.

Sheridan sheds some light on those concerning topics we have as dog parents such as how long is too long for our dog to hold on and signs from a vets experience about what to look out for if our dog chooses not to go to the toilet and so much more.

If you would like to know more about Sheridan and her floating vet clinic, you can read about her adventures at https://www.vettails.com/about-me.

I hope you enjoy the interview and if any questions arise please pop them in the comments on YouTube or send me an email to admin@dogswhosail.com

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Lifeline Netting Installation

Maxy feeling so relaxed knowing he is safe with lifeline netting installed.

One safety measure I have sworn by as a liveaboard dog owner is lifeline netting. It isn’t guaranteed protection but it significantly minimises the risk of a dog overboard situation.

I’m not a DIY person, so to me installing lifeline netting on our boat was a tedious task. However, in saying this, I was driven by two things. One, was to ensure Maxy and Mel were as safe as could be onboard. The second, was finding fabulous instruction that I could easily follow without getting myself into a tangled mess; literally and figuratively.

Thank goodness for Sailrite! If you haven’t heard of this wonderful organisation and you enjoy DIY boat projects, I encourage you to check out their amazing website.

Sailrite was founded 50 years ago in California by Jim and Connie Grant who developed an interest in making their own sails and sharing their instructions with other boat owners via a correspondence course. The old style internet back in 1969.

Today the business is still operated by the Grant family and has an astounding following of boating DIYers. To help boat owners, Sailrite generously share instructional videos via YouTube. If anyone can teach you how to install secure lifeline netting, it is Sailrite.

 

 

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10 Tips to Help You Find The Pawfect Dog Lifejacket

 

Most sailors with furry four-legged crew members who join Dogs Who Sail will often request advice about dog lifejackets.

Before introducing Maxy and Mel to the boat, I invested in lifejackets for them.

Looking back I cringe at the first lifejackets I bought them. My intention was with the greatest love but my choice was completely misinformed.

The jacket was called by all the right names and had a reputable brand associated with sailing but no thoughtful design to save my dogs life.

Like many of you reading this article for your research, I regarded Maxy and Mel as my fur-kids. If anything happened to either of them, especially from my carelessness, I would live with the heavy burden of regret to my last day. They deserve the same safety measures as I apply to myself, our crew and guests.

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