after the swim.

Between-grooms know-how from scruffyboy

A dog who swims is a happy dog, and a wet one, and whatever he swam in is now in his coat. Pool, lake or sea, the after-care is nearly the same and takes five minutes. Skip it and the water makes its own plans: itchy skin from salt or chlorine, a musty coat from lake water, and the swimming dog's speciality, the ear infection.

what each water leaves behind

The pool. Chlorine is drying. One dip is nothing; a dog who swims in the pool all summer without rinsing ends up with dry, flaky, itchy skin and a faintly bleached, straw-like coat. Rinse after proper sessions.

Lakes and rivers. The wildcard. Fresh water carries mud, algae and bacteria, which is where the musty wet-dog smell that outlasts the walk comes from. One serious caution: if the water has a blue-green scum or an algae warning posted, keep him out entirely, and if he has been in, rinse him immediately and call a vet if he seems unwell. Blue-green algae is genuinely dangerous to dogs, mostly because they lick their coats.

The sea. Salt, which dries skin and coat as it dries out, plus sand in everything. The full treatment is in sand and salt.

the five-minute routine, whatever he swam in

1. Rinse with fresh water if you can. At the tap, with a carried bottle, or a shower at home. You are diluting and flushing whatever the swim left. No shampoo needed; this is a rinse, not a bath.
2. No water available? Wipe instead. A damp towel or a waterless wash over the coat gets most of the residue before it dries in place.
3. Dry him properly. Shake first, then towel to the skin: undercoat, armpits, groin, tail. A swim is the fastest route to the damp undercoat that starts the smell cycle, and thick coats hold water for hours. The drying guide has the method.
4. Do it before the car. A soaked dog on the back seat gives the car everything at once. Towel at the water's edge, and the car guide stays theoretical.

the ear rule

Ears are where swims go wrong. Warm, wet ear canals, especially under floppy ears, are exactly what ear infections like, and swimming dogs get more of them than any other. After every swim, dry the outer ear and the entrance to the canal with a corner of towel. Do not push anything down into the canal itself: a wipe of what you can see is the job. If he shakes his head for days after swimming, scratches at an ear, or an ear smells sharp and yeasty, that is a vet visit, not a home fix.

swim-heavy season

For a dog who swims most days in summer, the routine matters more, not less: rinse the chlorine or salt after real sessions, dry the ears every time, and resist the urge to shampoo constantly, which strips what the water already stressed. Keep the towel and the rinse bottle in the boot as standing kit, and let the weekly routine catch the rest.

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scruffyboy makes the post-adventure kit for wet dogs and the cars that carry them. Join the list for first dibs, or read the other guides.