Before Your Dog Jumps In: Water Safety for Hampshire Dogs
- claire4610
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
There is something irresistible about water on a warm walk. One glimpse of a pond, stream or muddy riverbank and some dogs are already halfway in before we have considered whether it is actually safe.
Most waterside walks can still be enjoyed perfectly safely. This isn’t about keeping every dog out of the water; it is about taking a few seconds to check the conditions first.
That matters because water which looks inviting may contain algae or bacteria, while currents, steep banks and submerged objects can catch even confident swimmers out.
Why water safety is in the news
Dogs Trust recorded 308 dog-related water incidents between 2021 and 2025. Research conducted for its water-safety campaign also found that, although 74% of owners felt confident judging whether water was safe, only 35% knew that no type of open water is automatically safe.
The risks change from place to place — and sometimes from one day to the next.
Blue-green algae: what to look for
Blue-green algae is actually a type of bacteria called cyanobacteria. Blooms are more likely during warm weather, particularly in still or slow-moving water.
It may look like:
Green, blue-green or brown scum
Pea soup or green paint
Streaks or clumps on the surface
Foam collecting near the bank
Unfortunately, you cannot tell whether a bloom is toxic simply by looking at it.
Dogs are particularly vulnerable because they may drink the water or lick it from their coat afterwards. Even a small amount can make a dog seriously ill.
Warning signs can include:
Vomiting or diarrhoea
Drooling
Weakness or disorientation
Breathing difficulties
Seizures or collapse
If you think your dog has come into contact with blue-green algae, don’t let them lick their coat. Contact a vet immediately and tell them where the exposure happened.
Current local algae warnings
This summer, warnings have been issued at several popular waters around Hampshire:
Frensham Great Pond, just over the Hampshire border
At Frensham, the council’s instruction is currently not to enter the water. Dogs are not allowed on the beach areas anyway, but the algae warning is relevant wherever pets could reach the pond.
Interestingly, Frensham Great Pond still has an overall bathing-water classification of Excellent.
#Truthbomb: “Excellent” doesn’t mean safe today
Bathing-water classifications are based on results collected over several years. They are useful for showing the general quality of the water, but they are not a live guarantee.
A place can have an Excellent classification and still be temporarily unsuitable because of an algae bloom, pollution incident or recent sewage release.
Always check the latest council, landowner or Environment Agency information before travelling.
What about sewage and E. coli?
There is understandable concern about sewage entering our rivers and coastal waters.
Official bathing-water monitoring looks for E. coli and intestinal enterococci. These bacteria indicate faecal contamination, but they don’t automatically tell us where it came from.
Possible sources include sewage, livestock, wildlife, dog waste and contaminated surface-water run-off.
Locally:
Southsea East currently has a Poor bathing-water classification, with the Environment Agency advising against swimming between the Pyramids and South Parade Pier.
Citizen testing in March 2024 found high E. coli readings at Cobden Bridge and Northam on the River Itchen. The source was not definitively established.
In July 2026, Southern Water pleaded guilty over a separate pollution incident involving treated effluent entering the River Test near Stockbridge in 2023.
None of this means that every Hampshire river or beach is contaminated. It does mean that clear water isn’t necessarily clean water — and conditions may change after heavy rain.
Before visiting the coast, check the Environment Agency’s Swimfo information and Southern Water’s Rivers and Seas Watch for recent storm-overflow alerts.
The overlooked risk: leptospirosis
Leptospirosis — often shortened to lepto — is a serious bacterial infection that can damage a dog’s liver and kidneys.
It is spread through infected animal urine, particularly from rats, and can survive in water or wet soil. Dogs may become infected through their mouth, nose or an open wound.
Lower summer water levels can leave behind slow-moving or stagnant pools. It would be misleading to suggest that every shrinking pond contains “concentrated lepto”, but stagnant water is a recognised higher-risk environment.
Reduce the risk by:
Preventing your dog from drinking from puddles, canals and stagnant water
Carrying clean drinking water
Avoiding places with obvious rat activity
Checking that your dog’s leptospirosis vaccination is up to date
Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhoea, tiredness, loss of appetite, increased thirst or urination and yellowing around the gums or eyes. Contact your vet promptly if your dog becomes unwell after swimming.
Not all water dangers are invisible
Sometimes the water itself is clean, but the location still isn’t safe. I have personally had one of my dogs, a strong swimmer, get carried off by an undertow in a river. It is a very scary experience (thankfully she managed to get out) and one I'd hate anyone else to have to go through.
Before allowing your dog to swim, check:
Is there an easy, shallow way out?
Are the banks slippery or steep?
Is the current stronger than it first appears?
Could branches, fishing line or rubbish be hidden underwater?
Are there boats, paddleboards or anglers nearby?
Is the tide coming in or going out?
Does your dog actually want to swim?
Not every dog is a natural swimmer. Short-legged, flat-faced, elderly and very young dogs may tire particularly quickly. Never throw or push a dog into the water.
Can dogs drink too much water?
Water intoxication is uncommon, but it can happen when a dog swallows a large amount of water in a short time.
Dogs repeatedly retrieving toys from the water can be particularly at risk because they may gulp water each time they open their mouth.
Keep swimming sessions short and include plenty of breaks. Avoid encouraging endless water retrieves.
Possible signs include vomiting, a swollen-looking stomach, tiredness, poor coordination, confusion or collapse. Seek urgent veterinary help if you are concerned.
At the beach, drinking seawater can also cause vomiting, diarrhoea and dangerous salt poisoning. Bring fresh water and discourage your dog from drinking from the sea.
Before the paws go in
Use this quick check:
Are there any warning signs?
Have you checked the latest council or landowner update?
Has there been heavy rain or a recent overflow alert?
Is the water stagnant, green, foamy, cloudy or smelly?
Can your dog enter and leave safely?
Have you brought fresh drinking water?
Is swimming allowed here?
If something doesn’t feel right, skip the swim. Your dog won’t feel deprived because you chose a safer option.
Safer ways to cool down
Open water isn’t the only way for a water-loving dog to have fun.
You could try:
A bookable dog splash pool
A managed canine swimming session
A secure field with a shallow splash area
A clean paddling pool at home
A shady woodland walk with regular water breaks
Water-based enrichment using a shallow tray and floating toys
With a commercial pool or splash area, check how the water is cleaned or changed, whether the session is supervised and whether your dog can get in and out easily.
You can find local hydrotherapy and splash pools through the Mutterly Hampshire Health & Wellbeing Directory
If your dog gets into trouble
Don’t enter dangerous water after your dog. Dogs can sometimes find their own way out (as my Bella did), while owners may quickly be overwhelmed by cold water, currents or unstable banks.
Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard at the coast or the emergency services at inland water.
If your dog becomes unwell after swimming, contact your vet and tell them:
Where they swam
When the exposure happened
Whether they drank the water
Whether there were algae or pollution warnings
What symptoms you have noticed
Enjoy the water — just check first
Swimming can be brilliant exercise and enrichment for dogs that genuinely enjoy it. We don’t need to avoid every river, pond and beach, but we do need to look beyond the inviting surface.
Check the latest information, carry fresh water and have an alternative plan. Sometimes the safest summer adventure is a shady walk followed by a controlled splash somewhere cleaner.
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