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Before heading to the lake or the beach with your Alpena, MI, dog, make sure you have a personal flotation device to keep him safe. Many people assume that dogs have more stamina than regular people and underestimate that their furry friend cannot stay afloat much longer than we can.
So, whether it’s for recreational swimming at the beach, canine rehabilitation, or aquatic rescue, ensure Fido’s safety in any lake, ocean, or swimming pool environment by fitting him with a sturdy dog life jacket before he jumps into the water. Their interior foam layers are designed to provide plenty of buoyancy, while also remaining flexible enough for unrestricted movement on land.
A dog life jacket operates on the same principles as a personal flotation device does for humans, being that it is a simple piece of wearable equipment that gives the dog buoyancy in the water, while protecting the animal from swimming fatigue, possible water intoxication, or drowning.
The Different Types of Personal Flotation Devices
Two types of PFDs for dogs include life jackets and life vests. The life jacket normally covers a dog’s entire body and is designed for use on a boat or at the beach. Should a pet fall off a boat or be carried by an ocean current, the jacket will help to keep the dog afloat for quick rescue. These types of jackets are often sold in bright colors, which make the animal easy to spot. They are also equipped with grabbing handles on the back to assist in hoisting a dog out of the water during retrieval.
The life jacket is important in situations when constant monitoring of a dog proves difficult. However, it’s never a good idea to leave a pet unsupervised in the water for any length of time. The life vest is designed more for recreational swimming in a pool and for exercise than it is for ocean swimming.
Similar to flotation devices designed for humans, dog life jackets are often constructed from closed cell foam due to its low weight, high density, and ability to comfortably wrap around a dog’s torso and neck to keep the animal’s head above water. Dog life jackets come in a variety of sizes and most have adjustable straps for accommodating any range of breeds from small to large.
Automatic, inflatable life jackets provide additional buoyancy, while remaining less bulky than their traditional passive counterparts, but they are less common and typically more expensive than conventional life jackets.
It’s easy to assume that a pet has amazing stamina to overcome the difficulties of the elements better than a human could. This might make a person wonder whether their dog would even need a life jacket in the first place. The fact is that while a dog does have strength, he is just as vulnerable to fatigue, confusion, and accidents as people are. For that reason, the dog life jacket serves many benefits. Some breeds have considerably less body fat than others, making it more difficult to stay afloat. The life jacket provides the extra buoyancy needed to ensure a pet’s safety.
For puppies and older dogs with less stamina, the jacket offers additional assurance that they can remain afloat if they get too tired. Dogs are also preprogrammed with certain primal instincts, whether it’s hunting, chasing, or jumping. If the pet is on a boat and sees a duck in the water, his instinct takes over. It may seem like he’s possessed to go after the water fowl. In such an unanticipated circumstance, the dog may forget about his own muscles, the temperature of the water, or the fact that he’s getting tired, leading to a potentially dangerous outcome. If he’s at least covered with a flotation device like a life jacket, it’s easy enough to retrieve him.
What to Look for in a Life Jacket
There are tons of dog life vests on the market so it can sometimes be overwhelming to sort through them all. Here are a few tips on what to look for in a dog life jacket:
Buoyancy
Naturally you’ll want a dog life jacket with enough buoyancy to keep your pet afloat in the water. Top-notch dog life vests have flotation sections under the belly, as well as the surrounding back and sides. And the very best vests also have flotation sections in the neck area to help keep your dog’s head above water.
Bright Color
Brightly colored vests help your dog stay visible in the water and prevent collisions with boaters and jet skiers. Many vests also feature reflective tape or material for even more visibility.
Handles
If you’ll be needing to pull your dog out of the water, you’ll want strong handles on the dog life jacket. This lifting ability means that in some ways, a dog vest can double as a dog lift harness, but if you have a senior dog who is mobility impaired, it’s best to opt for a harness designed specifically for lifting. Pay attention to the location of a jacket’s straps and buckles. While safety is important, your dog should also be comfortable and not have its mobility restricted when out of the water.
Size and Fit
Make sure you’re purchasing a dog life vest that is the proper size for your dog. Make sure that while your dog is wearing it he remains comfortable, can sit and lie down easily, and won’t have trouble relieving himself. For the best fit, make sure to measure your dog’s girth and torso and choose a matching size.
Dog Life Jackets for Alpena, MI, Pets are Worth It
Just keep in mind that since your dog is your best friend, you want to keep him safe. While it might cost a little bit to invest in a dog life jacket, if it saves his life, it is well worth the trouble and effort.
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Dr. Heidi was born and raised right here in Alpena, MI. She earned her B.S. in Zoology from Michigan State University and her DVM from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. She lived and practiced in Madison, WI until moving back to Alpena in 2015. Dr. Heidi has four children: two girls and two boys as well as several pets, which include two dogs (a Labrador and a golden retriever), two rescue cats who are sisters, a chinchilla, and a tortoise named Concave Dave.
Dr. Brandi Stone is thrilled to be back at Sunrise Veterinary Services! Many of our longtime clients may remember her from her early days with us as a veterinary assistant during her undergraduate years. After graduating from Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019, Dr. Stone gained critical experience working in emergency medicine at a 24-hour clinic in Pennsylvania.
She has a strong passion for emergency and critical care, ultrasound, and surgery, and brings both expertise and compassion to every case she handles. When she’s not caring for patients, Dr. Stone loves being outdoors. Her favorite pastimes include hiking with her dogs, paddle boarding, reading, gardening, and even beekeeping. Her pack of pets keeps life extra fun and adventurous: Gunner, a loyal Labrador Retriever and her very best hiking buddy, Gabby, a Bluetick Coonhound who enjoys coon and squirrel hunting — and isn’t shy about baying at Starbucks baristas for her pup cup, Penny, a spirited Chihuahua who may be small, but can hike 4–5 miles right alongside the big dogs, and AJ, another Bluetick Coonhound who begs for lettuce from the fridge and excels in the field as an outstanding coon dog. Dr. Stone is proud to call Northeastern Michigan home again and is excited to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones — both human and furry!
Dr. Larissa Digue was born and raised in a small town in Brazil, where her passion for animals led her to begin veterinary school in 2011. In 2014, she joined a study abroad program at Michigan State University, where she took courses in veterinary medicine and animal science. She returned to Brazil to complete her degree and graduated in 2017. Dr. Digue is fully licensed in the United States through the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) program. She has a special interest in surgery and is committed to delivering compassionate and thorough care to every patient she sees.
Outside the clinic, she enjoys reading, hiking, and working out. She shares her home with her husband and their Standard Poodle, Buck, who is incredibly smart, loves the beach, and never turns down a game of fetch. Dr. Digue is proud to be part of the Sunrise Veterinary Services team and looks forward to building strong connections with pets and their families in Northeast Michigan.
Dr. Kaydee Berg is a proud 2025 graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where she earned the Merck Excellence Award for her commitment to exceptional veterinary care. She previously graduated Cum Laude from Alma College in 2020, earning a degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and a Pre-Veterinary concentration. Dr. Berg has special interests in preventative medicine, internal medicine, and ophthalmology, and she’s passionate about working closely with pet owners to support their animals’ long-term health and well-being.
When she’s not in the clinic, Dr. Berg enjoys reading, painting, traveling, and spending time outdoors — especially with her dog Newton (“Newt”), an Irish Doodle with Addison’s Disease. Newt joined her during her second year of vet school and is now her loyal adventure buddy, always ready for a hike or a car ride. Dr. Berg is excited to bring her enthusiasm, expertise, and compassion to the Sunrise Veterinary Services team and to care for pets throughout Northeast Michigan.
