sharing bad experience just recently...one thinks..i thought...ok that lake is too dirty for ME to swim in but ok for a dog...wrong....rivers nowadays and lakes where motorboats go are FULL of scum...filth...and infections in ears take place....pup was SHAKING HER HEAD much one night...took her to vet next day...thought maybe a long spike grass had got in...that can happen...no...she has FUNGUS infection needing liquid treatment to clear the stuff. is better already...still shakes head a bit...takes a week or so to clear altogether vet said

That's why as soon as I get home after the dogs have been swimming I put ear cleaner in their ears and treat for a few days afterwards just in case.

I don't know if you have the same problems in France, black fairy, but here in UK at the moment we have to be very careful with lakes and slow-moving water because of algae blooms, which develop during hot weather and are toxic to dogs - they can die within half an hour if they have been swimming in an affected body of water. If they do recover then there can be permanent damage to their health.

I understand several dogs have died in the last couple of weeks in the Lake District - possibly as many as 6.

aaaaarh ! not the sound of pleasure but horror !

the rivers and lakes are so DIRTY here you would not know if algae or not !!!

ooooh that is BAD NEWS !

pollution hey...what goes round comes around as they say in lancashire...

> pollution hey...what goes round comes around as they say in lancashire...

The algae blooms aren't directly linked with pollution - indirectly perhaps (altering the balance of the aqua ecosystem?).
Stick to fresh fast-flowing streams & rivers (as long as there is no strong current) or the sea, in hot weather.