Hello everyone! Welcome to this issue of Mighty Mutts! Hope you are all well and enjoying summer with your doggos!

This week’s Summer Safety Series discusses ways to keep your furry friend safe while swimming at the beach! A life jacket for dogs? Really? yup - they make life jackets for dogs and it might very well be a great investment if you spend a lot of time near the water.

Are you considering a raw meat diet for your dog? If so, we’ve got some tips on how to make sure your dog gets the full balanced nutrition they need, and lessen the risk of them getting food borne illnesses.

And of course, Pablo has some things to tell his furry friends.

-Enjoy!

Don’t keep us a secret – share this with another large breed dog owner: mightymutts.beehiiv.com

Please Note: There will be NO Mighty Mutts next week - we’ll be back Tuesday, August 25th!

Pablo’s Ponderings

Hello again, my furry friends!

It's been a very busy week around here. Busy, busy, busy...

Mostly with naps.

A gentleman needs his rest, you know. Being the neighbourhood watch captain is exhausting work!

I've been spending lots of time out on the back patio, keeping an eye on things. Kevin the Squirrel has been particularly suspicious lately. He thinks he can run along the fence, flick his tail at me and pretend nothing is happening.

Nice try, Kevin. I'm watching you.

Then there's my buddy Domino the Cat. Domino is a little... mischievous. He has been clawing the couch, chasing his spring around the house, and—most importantly—following me absolutely everywhere.

I don't mind having a little sidekick, but honestly, a guy needs some personal space.

I'll walk into the kitchen... Domino follows.

I'll go outside... Domino follows.

I'll find a nice quiet spot for a nap...

You guessed it. Domino follows.

At least somebody appreciates my leadership.

So between supervising Domino, monitoring Kevin and squeezing in several very important naps, I've had a pretty full week.

Being Pablo isn't easy, you know.

But somebody has to keep this place under control.

Until next time, stay cool, stay out of trouble, and always leave time for a good nap.

🐾 Pablo

Woofs and wags,

Pablo

There are few things happier than a dog discovering a lake on a hot summer day.

You throw the frisbee. Your dog launches into the water like an Olympic swimmer. They paddle back proudly, frisbee in mouth, tail wagging.

It looks like the perfect summer afternoon.

But is it actually safe?

Not necessarily.

Before heading to the beach, check the local rules. Not every beach allows dogs, and some have designated areas or leash requirements.

Just because you see another dog swimming there doesn't necessarily mean dogs are permitted. A quick check of the municipality's website can save you an embarrassing conversation with a bylaw officer.

This is especially important around Lake Huron.

At Kincardine's Station Beach, the new Smart Beach Light provides real-time information about water conditions using green, yellow and red signals. It takes wave, wind and current conditions into account.

Green = lower hazard.
Yellow = increased caution.
Red = high hazard.

But here's the important part: green does not mean there is no danger. Conditions can change quickly, and Station Beach is not supervised by lifeguards. The Municipality recommends checking the light before entering the water and throughout your visit.

And remember, your dog doesn't know what a rip current is.

If your pup swims out after a frisbee and suddenly gets caught in a current, their instinct may be to keep swimming straight back toward shore—even if the water is carrying them farther away.

That's why throwing a toy farther and farther into the lake isn't necessarily a good game.

Keep water retrieves close to shore, particularly when waves, wind or currents are stronger.

Yes, they make life jackets for dogs!

And they're not just for dogs who can't swim.

A properly fitted canine life jacket with a handle can provide extra buoyancy and give you something to grab if your dog gets into trouble.

They're especially useful for:

Even excellent canine swimmers can become exhausted.

Lake water isn't necessarily drinking water.

Discourage your dog from gulping large amounts while swimming, and be especially cautious around water that may contain blue-green algae, which can be extremely dangerous to dogs.

When you're spending the day at the beach, bring plenty of fresh drinking water and a bowl.

Hot sand, sharp rocks, broken shells and fishing hooks can all cause problems.

Check your dog's paws after swimming, especially if you've been walking over rocky shoreline.

And when you're finished for the day, rinse your dog with fresh water to remove sand, dirt and lake water from their coat.

If your dog is joining you on the boat, a properly fitted dog life jacket is a smart idea—even if your dog is a fantastic swimmer.

Keep them away from the edge when the boat is moving, and don't assume they'll instinctively know how to get back aboard if they fall in.

And here's another important consideration: dogs can get tired too.

A dog who spends the afternoon jumping off the boat, swimming, retrieving toys and climbing back aboard may be exhausted long before you are.

Give them regular breaks.

Swimming can be wonderful exercise and enrichment for dogs.

Just remember that the lake is bigger than your backyard pool, and Mother Nature doesn't always play by the rules.

Check the beach rules. Check the conditions. Keep your dog's swimming close enough that you can intervene if necessary. Bring fresh water. Consider a life jacket.

And if the beach warning light says red?

That's not the time to see whether your dog can beat their personal best in the 100-metre frisbee retrieve.

Some days, the safest adventure is keeping all four paws on dry land. 🐾

Swimming? Me? Absolutely not.

Wading? Not a chance.

Standing on the beach looking handsome? Now THAT I can do.

You'd think a big, tough Rottweiler like me would be fearless around water. Nope. Not this guy.

The second a wave comes toward me, I jump backwards like it's coming to steal my lunch! Mom says it's very funny. I don't see what's so funny about a giant wall of water attacking my paws.

So while other dogs are happily chasing frisbees into Lake Huron, I'll be right here on the beach, keeping a very safe distance from those suspicious waves.

Some adventures are best enjoyed with dry paws.

— 🐾 Pablo

Raw diets have become a hot topic among dog owners. You'll find people who swear their dog's coat is shinier, their teeth are cleaner and their energy is better after switching to raw.

You'll also find veterinarians who aren't nearly as enthusiastic.

So what's the truth?

It's true that dogs' ancestors ate raw prey. But your family dog isn't a wolf living in the wilderness.

Today's dogs have different lifestyles, nutritional requirements and life expectancies. And unlike a wild animal eating a whole carcass, a homemade bowl of raw hamburger and chicken doesn't automatically provide everything a dog needs nutritionally.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) warns that raw meat-based diets can pose nutritional and food-safety risks and says diets should be complete and balanced.

This is where raw feeding gets serious.

Raw meat can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria. The FDA found that raw pet foods were more likely to contain disease-causing bacteria than other types of pet food tested.

And here's something many people don't realize:

Your dog doesn't have to get sick for your family to be exposed.

Dogs can carry and shed some bacteria in their saliva and feces without showing obvious symptoms. That means contamination can make its way onto floors, food bowls, hands and other household surfaces.

That matters even more in households with young children, older adults, pregnant people or anyone with a weakened immune system.

There's no magic amount that makes raw meat completely safe.

A small piece of raw beef as an occasional treat isn't the same thing as feeding a complete raw diet every day—but the bacterial risk doesn't disappear simply because the portion is small.

And if you're using raw meat as a significant part of your dog's diet, there's another concern: nutrition.

Dogs need the right balance of protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Feeding mostly muscle meat can result in deficiencies or imbalances.

Raw feeders sometimes include bones because they're considered a natural source of minerals and a way to clean teeth.

But bones aren't risk-free.

They can cause broken teeth, choking, gastrointestinal injury or obstruction. And cooked bones are particularly dangerous because they can splinter.

Nope.

Your 120-pound Mastiff isn't magically immune to Salmonella because he's a big guy.

Large dogs may be able to consume a larger quantity of food, but the food-safety risks apply to dogs of every size.

In fact, puppies, seniors and dogs with compromised health may be particularly vulnerable to illness.

If you're considering a raw diet, talk to your veterinarian first—preferably before making the switch.

If your goal is better nutrition, a healthier weight, shinier coat or improved digestion, there are many nutritionally complete commercial diets and properly formulated alternatives that don't require serving raw meat.

And if you do choose to feed raw despite the risks, take food safety seriously: keep raw food separate from human food, wash hands and surfaces thoroughly, clean bowls carefully and follow proper storage and handling practices. Freezing doesn't eliminate all harmful bacteria.

Is raw meat natural for dogs?

Sure.

But natural doesn't automatically mean safe.

Our dogs may have descended from animals that ate raw prey, but today they're living in our homes, sleeping on our couches and occasionally licking us directly in the face.

Personally, I'll take the properly cooked, nutritionally balanced dinner—and save the raw meat for the wolves.

Because nobody wants their summer barbecue to come with a side order of Salmonella.

Pablo here.

I have been informed that there is a debate about whether dogs should eat raw meat.

Personally, I would like to go on record saying that I am 100% in favour of eating meat.

Raw? Cooked? Grilled? Leftover from Dad's plate?

I'm flexible.

Apparently, Mom has other opinions involving something called "Salmonella" and "food safety."

So I have been instructed to stick with my regular dog food and leave the raw meat alone.

Honestly, Kevin the Squirrel probably wouldn't approve either.

Although between you and me... if Dad drops a piece of steak on the patio, I make no promises.

🐾 Pablo

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That’s it for this issue. See you next week! Feel free to share this with other dog owners!

--Maryanne and the Mighty Mutts team