When the weather is hot, many dogs like to take a dip in the lake or a pond. It’s perfectly fine to let your dog swim around, but you should make sure you rinse him off before he comes back inside.

There is a lot of bacteria swirling around in lakes and ponds. Although it isn’t likely to hurt your dog while he’s swimming, there’s no reason to let him drag that bacteria into your home. Hose him off first.

Rinsing him off is also a great way to keep your house from getting messy. Wet dogs have a way of dirtying carpets and making furniture smelly.

If you have a pool, it’s a good idea to rinse your dog off too. All that chlorine smells bad, but it can also make your dog’s skin really dry.

Your veterinarian Livonia, MI can tell you more.