Lake water looks clean enough. It's blue, it's pretty, and your dog is already halfway in. But still or slow-moving water, including ponds, puddles, and lake edges, can carry things you can't see.
This isn't a reason to skip water days. It's a reason to have one short, useful conversation with your vet before the season starts. Here's what to bring up.
The Two Names Worth Knowing
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection. The bacteria are spread through the urine of infected animals, which can include rodents, raccoons, and other wildlife, and they can linger in standing water and wet soil. A dog can pick it up by swimming in contaminated water, drinking it, or even just through cuts on the skin. It can seriously affect the kidneys and liver, and it can also spread to people.
Giardia is a microscopic parasite found in contaminated water. In dogs it most often shows up as diarrhea, sometimes with weight loss or greasy-looking stool.
Good to know: there is a vaccine available for leptospirosis, and many vets recommend it for dogs who swim, drink from puddles, or spend time near wildlife. Whether it makes sense for your dog depends on where you live and what you do, so it's a question for your vet, not a guess.
Questions Worth Asking Your Vet
- 🐾"Is leptospirosis a risk in our area?" Local conditions matter a lot.
- 🐾"Should my dog be vaccinated, and is it up to date?" Timing and boosters are your vet's call.
- 🐾"Which other lake and pond risks should we screen for?"
- 🐾"What symptoms mean we should call you right away?"
Symptoms That Deserve a Call
After a water day, watch for vomiting, diarrhea, fever, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, or a sudden change in how much your dog is drinking or peeing. Any of these, especially in combination, is a reason to phone your vet and mention where your dog has been swimming. Because lepto can spread to people, it's worth washing your own hands well after handling a sick dog or cleaning up after them.
Small Habits That Help
- 🐾Bring your own drinking water. Don't let your dog gulp from the lake or puddles.
- 🐾Skip stagnant, scummy, or heavily wildlife-trafficked water.
- 🐾Cover or avoid swimming with open cuts and sores.
- 🐾Rinse your dog with clean water after swimming.
None of this takes the fun out of a lake day. It just means you're prepared, and a dog who spends less time with their face in the water is a dog with fewer chances to swallow any of it.
🌊 Enjoy the Water, Skip the Gulping
Explore Lazy Dog Loungers® — a place to rest on top of the water instead of treading through it all day.
Shop Lazy Dog Loungers® →
