Pets Ahoy! Boating with Pets

Avoid Cat-astrophes

You never know what you will run across at sea! One of our fellow yachtsmen had an emergency with their dog, and was forced back to Seattle for emergency treatment.

Don’t be shy about using your radio. In another case, a nearby boater overheard a doggie distress call and was able to contact a veterinarian on land for immediate advice on stabilizing a pet who broke his back after a bad fall on deck.

If you plan on being out for awhile, it may be useful to take a first-aid course designed for pets. These are not expensive and they are easy to find. Ask your veterinarian or local animal lover for recommendations. 

First aid courses for pets cover general medical advice, CPR, basic anatomy and a number of other important topics.  This will help you determine what constitutes an emergency and how to resuscitate your pet in case of accidental drowning. Teach your pets the entry and exit ports and how to be comfortable in water.

For larger pets, you should consider picking up a floating pet ramp that can be easily attached to your boat’s swim deck and teach them to use it correctly.  Pets should always wear lifejackets while underway.

Pets are just as susceptible to sunburn, damage to their eyes from the sun reflecting off of water, and seasickness as we are.  It’s important to plan ahead for these issues. 

Apply a pet-safe sunscreen to your pets nose (do not use a human sunscreen as most are toxic to pets), and if they are light-colored, plan on adding a lot.

Docking Rules

Docking is a high-stress time for captains, so make sure they’re not distracted by keeping pets tethered with a toy (ours prefer their favorite blanket).

A loose dog on the bridge is not recommended while attempting to dock an expensive boat. The same holds true for cats, birds and other pets. Keep your attention on the task at hand.