Our pets are our best friends, and it is more than logical to want to share our passion for sailing with them! But is bringing your pets on board a good idea? Can your pets die if they drink seawater? How to keep your pets cool on a boat? Navily users wanted to know for sure, so we interviewed two veterinarians from the French Riviera who also love boating with their dog and they answered all your questions!
In this article, you will find everything you need to know on the precautions you need to take when bringing your pets on board, so that sailing can remain a relaxing activity for both you, and your furry friends!
Introducing Charlène and Paul
Charlène
Originally from Strasbourg, Charlène studied at the University of Vienna and graduated in 2018. She specializes in smaller pets like cats and dogs, and also ferrets, rats, rabbits, and birds. She then worked in Nice, and then at Cap d’Ail.
Paul
From Germany, Paul also graduated from the University of Vienna in 2018, and work in two clinics (Cap-D’Ail and Nice) where they specialize in surgery on cats and dogs.
The clinics
Clinique vétérinaire du Soleil
Located in Cap D’Ail, this clinic welcomes cats, dogs, and other smaller animals like rabbits, fish, rodents, and birds. Whether it be for routine check-ups, surgeries or emergencies, this clinic has it all – along with professional and competent staff to take care of your pets.
NiceVet
Located in Nice, the NiceVet clinic offers a lot of services such as dermatology, surgery, X-rays, ultrasounds, emergencies, and more.
Water
Does my pet need a lifejacket?
Since you are surrounded by water, it is therefore crucial for your pet to know how to swim, especially if you own a dog. There are life jackets for cats and dogs on the market, which are an essential to have on board. If your dog loves swimming, it must have one, as well as a harness to pull it out of the water – keep in mind that your pet cannot climb back up on its own! To keep your pet safe during swimming sessions, you can use floating platforms like the ones from Decktent!
Is seawater toxic for my pet?
During the interview, Charlène and Paul highlighted the fact that seawater is highly toxic, as it causes dehydration, and even death. The symptoms start showing pretty fast, and they include:
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- constant thirst
If your dog loves to swim, this is something you need to keep an eye on! On top of short-term effects, there are also long-term consequences if your animal often drinks seawater – salt can damage your pet’s kidneys! Although salt has some health benefits on their skin, you should always rinse your dogs after a swim to remove the residue – and to prevent them from licking it and getting dehydrated.
How to prevent ear infections?
Water is also a major issue for your dog’s ears, as it can cause ear infections.
“We often have ear infections, when water gets inside of their ears. After a swim, it’s important to clean their ears with physiological saline or an ear cleanser. Then, you need to massage their ears so that water and salt come out. The same goes for lakes, as water stays inside their ears and grows germs, fungus, and bacteria, which causes ear infections.” Paul
“It’s mostly for dogs with hanging ears as their auditory canal is L-shaped. So, water enters and stagnates there. It’s important to massage or rub it with cotton.” Charlène
Heat
Are there risks of heatstrokes on board?
Charlène and Paul heavily insisted on the fact that the sun is your pets’ worst enemy. Animals are more sensitive to heat than us, and there are higher risks of getting a heatstroke on boats. It is important to notice the signs early on, as the only way to save your pet is to get to a veterinarian – and fast.
If your pet is showing signs of a heatstroke, do not throw it in the water! The difference in temperature creates a choc, which makes the situation even worse.
“On the boat, if there isn’t a cabin with AC, the risk is high because, if you go out during the day, it is very hot outside and the dog doesn’t have a place to hide. On top of that, if you see the first symptoms of a heatstroke, by the time you arrive at a marina, and then at the vet’s, it might already be too late.” Paul
Here are the symptoms of a heatstroke:
- hyperventilation
- tachycardia
- loss of balance
- dog in a decubitus position
- pale or even red on the mucous membrane
- high saliva production
- vomiting
- diarrea
- can lead to a heart attack
How to keep my pet cool on board?
First and foremost, you should not be sailing between noon and 5pm if your boat does not have a cabin and air conditioning – your top priority is to keep your pet cool. You should also bear in mind that even though the temperature feels acceptable to you, it might not be the case for your pets!
So, here is what to do to keep your pets cool on a boat:
- Do not expose them directly to the sun.
- Give them water – of course.
- You can use wet towels (not too cold) on their skin.
- Freeze their food in water and let them play with it – this is a great way of keeping them hydrated, but do not do this too much as the cold can cause gastritis.
- You can also keep them cool with cooling mats.
- Do NOT leave your pet inside without air conditioning – or outside for the matter
- Shadow does not mean no heat!
- Do not play with your dog outside, as they could hyperventilate. Instead, opt for intellectual activities that will keep them occupied.
- Give them some ice or make ice-cream for dogs – but again, do not give them too much!
- You can also rub alcohol (70-90%) on their paws, it lowers their bodies’ temperature.
- If you have a bigger boat, you can get a pool for children and fill it with water!
- Watermelon slices are also a good option to keep them hydrated with something else than water!
Are UVs bad for my pet?
Your pets are hypersensitive to UV rays. Direct exposure to sunlight is extremely dangerous. Pets can get sunburnt, just like humans – and this can lead to skin cancer. Cats and dogs with light hair are more at risk, but you also need to watch out for areas where they have bare skin (on the nose or the ears for example). You can use sunscreen for dogs, but sunscreen for babies also works and they are more recommended as proven to be effective. To make sure that they do not lick off the product, keep your pets occupied while the product soaks in.
Sea Adaptation / Seasickness
Should I bring my pet on board if it is stressed?
When you bring your pets on board, they will need an adjustment period. You will not be able to travel far and for a long time straight away as it might cause them a lot of stress. Bring your pets on the boat without going anywhere first and give them time to get to know this new space. Once you decide to move around, do not go too far. If your pets are still showing signs of stress on board, then perhaps it is not a good idea to bring them on your journeys.
Is there a way to stop seasickness?
If your pets tend to get sick on board, you can give them medicine to stop seasickness – for pets of course, do not give medicine for humans! However, this should not be used often. Again, if your pets are stressed or sick on a boat, then they should not be sailing.
Doing their business
How long can my pet go without relieving itself?
Your pets should not hold their pee for longer than eight hours.
“It’s very, very bad. It’s abuse, actually.” Paul
When bringing your pets on board, you need to make sure that they have a spot to relieve themselves on the deck, or you can bring them on land if it is easier for them. Forcing them to hold it in is very dangerous and it can lead to diseases like kidney failure and urinary disorders (kidney stones for example). Forcing your pets to wait is hurting them, and it is considered animal abuse. If your pets are unable to relieve themselves on board, do not bring them!
How to train my pet to relieve itself on board
Before leaving for long crossings, you need to train your dogs so that they can relieve themselves on board. Here are some ways to do so:
- You can use potty mats, but Charlène believes that this could be confusing for older dogs as those are usually used when they are babies – and this is therefore a backward step for them.
- You could get a piece of artificial grass, which you can rinse after each use. This creates a space for your dogs where they can feel comfortable.
“However, it’s more difficult to find smells on the boat. So, when your dog pees on the streets, rub it with a kitchen towel and bring it on board. Also, when your dog pees for the first time on board, reward it a lot. With time, your dog will do it with no problem.” Charlène
“Or, if you’re not going too far, you can always take a dingy and take the dog every three to four hours. You can go on a beach or a cove and go on a walk for a few minutes.” Paul
Pests
1. Should I be worried about mosquitoes?
The answer is yes. Mosquitoes bring a lot of diseases, such as leishmaniasis. There are vaccines that take a month to start working, but they are not 100% effective. There is another disease which can affect your dogs: dirofilaria immitis, also known as heartworm. For maximum protection, you can buy a collar that protects against ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes, which is also water resistant. Not all collars protect against mosquitoes, so make sure to buy one that does! Charlène and Paul recommended the collar Seresto, but there are also pipettes which you can buy – but do not buy those in grocery stores and plant-based ones as they do not work. Paul and Charlène recommend Effitix, Vectra 3D, and Advocate.
Another important point to keep in mind is that mosquito sprays for humans are highly toxic for your pets – as are all essential oils. You should never use them on your pets. There are mosquito sprays for pets on the market, but Charlène believes they are not as efficient as a collar, for example.
Risks on board
Can my pet jump overboard?
“It really depends on the dog. If it likes to hunt, and there are birds or fish, or someone throws some bread in the water, of course, it’s possible.” Paul
You should always keep an eye on your pets – just like you would for a child. If they jump overboard, they have no way of getting back on the boat on their own!
What other dangers could my pets face on board?
“You should really watch out for gulls. If your pets are unsupervised on the deck, or even if they are swimming, it has happened before that they grabbed dogs weighing around 1 or 2 kg. Cats can usually defend themselves, but small dogs against gulls unfortunately… So you have to be careful.” Charlène
Should I have a first-aid kit?
In case something happens and you cannot get to a veterinarian immediately, you should have a first-aid kit with all the essentials:
- Smectite
- Probiotics
- Medication against nausea
- Ear and eye cleanser
- Survival blanket
- A pair of scissors
- Disinfectant
- Cream for burns and stings
- Antiseptic (Betadine works fine on pets)
- Adhesive tape
- Sterlized compresses
- Band-Aids
- Skin stapler hook to remove ticks
- Hook to remove ticks
EU regulations
Is deworming mandatory in all the EU countries?
Every country has different regulations, and it is important to be aware of them before you leave. On this website you will find all the information for traveling with pets, country by country.
Should I vaccinate my pet before leaving?
There are vaccines that are mandatory, such as the rabies vaccine. Keep in mind that it is valid after 21 days, so make sure that you are up to date with all the requirements before leaving, and check the regulations for the countries where you are traveling to on the website!
Charlène also warned us against parasites, such as leishmaniasis, which can be found around the Mediterranean sea. Before leaving, a check-up at the veterinarian is highly recommended in order to do all the necessary vaccines and make sure that your pets are free to travel. These vaccines are not mandatory, but highly recommended!
What are essentials to have in terms of papers?
Usually, around the EU, you need a passport, a rabies vaccine, and a chip. Then, each country may have its own regulations and you must check before leaving. If you have not done all the necessary procedures, your pet could get taken away from you by the authorities, so make sure not to find yourself in such a situation!
This wraps up our article on what you need to know when bringing your pets on board. Thank you for sending us your questions, and special thanks to Charlène and Paul for granting us this interview!
