I live next to a river and Loki swims pretty much every day. I'm training for an open water swim myself so Im in the river with him for about 30 min most days. He tends to potter around in the shallows 'fishing' rather than swimming if I'm not throwing things for him to retrieve so I'm not worried about him getting overtired but just wondered if it was bad for his skin or ears. He is prone to dandruff, vet was unconcerned, but I wondered whether swimming so much might be a factor.
That's good to hear. I think we are both at our happiest when in the water so I had a moment of panic when I thought I might be overdoing it!
Be aware that dogs doing a lot of ball retrieves in (fresh) water can swallow so much water that they get water intoxication (low salt hydration) which is potentially life threatening. Normal swimming probably is not a problem, and an hour or so retrieving shouldn't be either. Cooper was retrieving balls most all day last summer and did get water intoxication which resulted in a trip to the Emergency Vet and an over night stay with an IV. She was fine the next day. Salt water can cause the opposite problem, too much salt in the blood tissue. I don't think dogs that are just swimming will have an issue since they aren't taking in water accidentally.
I doubt it, labs are water dogs. They retrieve ducks shot by hunters, over water, and that is what they are bred for. I get in the spa everyday, and it hasn't hurt me in fact it helps a lot with pain.
