How do I rinse my dog after a swim in the sea or pool?

Salt, chlorine, and fine sand left to dry in a dog's coat can cause genuine skin irritation and itching over time, particularly with repeated swimming through a summer season, so a proper rinse after each swim session is more than a cosmetic step. Portable rinse options, from a beach shower to a simple bottle of fresh water carried along, make this practical even away from home.

Starting at the neck and working down and back toward the tail and legs ensures water and any dissolved residue flow away from already-rinsed areas rather than back over them, and finishing with the paws, gently rinsing between each toe, catches sand and salt that tends to collect there specifically. A handheld sprayer or a simple cup poured repeatedly both work fine for this.

The belly and armpits, where a dog's fur is often less dense and skin folds can trap residue, and the area around the ears, where water and salt can linger, both deserve a slightly more thorough rinse than the rest of the coat. Long-haired or double-coated breeds may need a longer rinse overall to make sure water reaches through to the undercoat, not just the visible outer layer.

A towel dry after rinsing removes excess moisture and reduces the chance of a persistently damp coat contributing to skin irritation or, in warm weather, an unpleasant odor developing from bacteria in trapped moisture. For double-coated breeds particularly, a pet-safe hairdryer on a low setting helps ensure the undercoat dries fully rather than staying damp at the skin for hours.