Dog Safety On Your Pool Days
Pool days are some of the best days of the summer, and the temptation may run high to include your four-legged friends in the fun, but there are some important things to know before taking them swimming. While it is perfectly okay to let your dog join in, there are precautions necessary to make sure it is safest for both of you. Ensure your pool day is less work and more fun by learning about dog safety while swimming, making your job to look out for them easy.
Ability To Swim and Avoiding Drownings
While the “doggy paddle” may seem like it should be second nature for our pets, this isn’t the case for all of them. For dogs that have never learned to swim before, it is important to take the process slowly. They can be uncomfortable in the water, and the last thing you want to do is rush them, and therefore scare them away from swimming as a whole. Easing them into the process with your assistance is often the best way to do it. Not all animals are natural swimmers, and throwing them into the process rarely works well.
Even for experienced swimmers, pools are a different story. The only entryway normally being stairs or a ladder can be confusing for dogs, and they may swim to the walls of the pool in hopes of exiting. When they are unable to do this, they may panic, and disaster can come with a stressed-out, tired dog. Introducing your pet to the stairs is crucial to making sure they are safe to swim in your pool. Investing in a life jacket with a handle on top for them is never a bad idea as well, making it easy for you to assist them out of the water yourself at any time.
The typical rule of never leaving a child unattended at the pool also applies to dog safety. This doesn’t only go for watching them while they swim in the pool. When letting your dog outside to go to the bathroom, it is important to supervise if they are able to get to the pool. Not only can they jump in and get tired if not able to get out, but they can also mistake solar covers or pool covers for the ground. Getting caught in those within a pool can be fatal, and it is never worth the risk.
Dog Safety In Pools to Keep Them Healthy
Just like chlorine can be bad for humans skin and hair, the same goes for dogs. The chemicals in the pool leave your dog at risk for redness and dryness of the skin, leaving them with flakey, irritated skin. The best way to avoid this is to simply rinse your dog off with clean water once they’re out of the pool so the chlorine water doesn’t sit on them. If they tend to have this reaction normally, it is recommended they stay out of pool water, and if symptoms are worse than those it is best to call your vet.
Water intoxication for a dog is the other health concern while swimming in pool water. Unfortunately, dogs don’t tend to know they’re not supposed to drink pool water as opposed to their normal water, and they can end up swallowing large amounts of it while swimming. This can be dangerous for a multitude of reasons. First, the water can upset their gastrointestinal tract, causing stomach issues such as vomiting. The more concerning issue is the water intoxication. This is a rare problem when it comes to dog safety in a pool, but not one to go unwatched for. It’s when the large amount of pool water swallowed causes the sodium levels in your dog’s blood to be altered, and their electrolytes are off balance. This can cause brain damage and even become fatal.
Maintenance To Keep Your Pool In Perfect Condition
In order to make sure your pool stays perfectly clean for you after your dog’s moment, there are a few things you can do. First and foremost is a proactive measure, which is grooming them before they go swimming. Deshedding them will reduce the amount of hair that gets in the pool, keeping it from clogging the filter or causing other issues. Similarly, cleaning them will reduce the amount of germs and bacteria that could be carried in. This will keep you safe from transmittable diseases, and make your job of adjusting the water after easier.
Once they are out of the pool, you must check the water and adjust chemical levels accordingly. It has been said that dogs bring in three times the amount of germs humans do to pools, so chemicals will need to be added to keep the water clean. Finally, checking the water filter is a must to make sure no clogs have occurred and ensure everything has been filtering out from them properly so far.
Nails also must be kept clipped to avoid a tear in your pool liner. Making sure your dog doesn’t get too close to the wall while swimming helps avoid this issue, as well as keeping them away from other poppable pool toys or items. Although they won’t mean to, they can be destructive without knowing while swimming.
Join In On All The Fun
Want the fun of pool days with your furry friends after learning about dog safety and how to make it a successful day? Visit Aqua Leisure today and learn more about what pool is right for you and all your adventures.
Posted by Aqua Leisure Pools & Spas in Pools