The whole family loves swimming in the pool on hot days, and that includes our furry friends, too! However, there are some things we need to consider to keep our dogs safe in and around the pool.
Several factors should be considered before taking your dog swimming in the pool.
Ensure that the combined water and air temperatures are at least 100°F before allowing your dog to swim. If the water temperature is too cold, your dog may suffer from various health conditions, including hypothermia, which is particularly concerning for puppies.
If your dog jumps into water that's too cold and either begins to shiver or stops using their tail, it's best to contact a veterinarian immediately.
If a dog swallows too much water while swimming, they could suffer from water toxicity. A sign to watch out for is your dog throwing up after swimming. To prevent this, keep swimming sessions to a maximum of 10 minutes.
Also, avoid throwing large toys into the water; instead, use small, flat toys to prevent your dog from swallowing excessive water. Feeding your dog some dehydrated or dried food once they come out of the water can also help absorb excess water in the stomach.
More of a tip for the sun, but make sure your dog has access to the shade as well as clean, fresh drinking water, so they're not tempted to drink from the pool.
Always supervise your dog around water; don't ever let them swim alone. Watch to see if your dog gets tired - dogs that are enjoying themselves often don't notice that they're getting tired themselves. If you notice the rear of their body start to sink, it's a good sign that they're getting fatigued.
Yes! A dog life jacket (a jacket covers more of your dog, help them float, and keeps them visible. They're great for boating or activities in large bodies of water) or a dog life vest (a vest is lighter, covering less of your pet, and more suited to pools and relaxed activities).
Obtaining a life vest is crucial for both your peace of mind and that of your dog. Life jackets help your dog stay level in the pool and keep their head above water. They can help dogs that aren't confident in the water, and even for those who are, they will help keep them afloat when they get tired.
Ensure that any jacket you get has a handle to help you lift your dog out of the pool, steer them, and guide them.
You don't need to panic if your dog only drinks a small amount of pool water, if your chlorine levels are balanced. However, if your dog drinks excessive pool water, it can be a problem. It may lead to irritation, which can then result in vomiting and esophageal erosion.
Pool water can also be dangerous of the chlorine levels are too high or too low. When you shock your pool, keep your dog away until the levels return to normal (between 1-3 ppm). Low chlorine levels can mean that your pool contains algae, parasites, or other bacteria, which can also cause problems.
The biggest concern is actually with the chlorine tablets themselves - make sure they're stored in a safe place where your dog cannot access them.
Bromine pools can be safer for pets, which may be an alternative to consider if your pup enjoys swimming in pools.
First, ensure that your dog has easy access to fresh water nearby while they're swimming. If you know that your dog loves water fountains, consider purchasing another for near the pool.
Watch closely for signs of overheating, dehydration, and heatstroke. If your pet continues to lap up pool water, take them inside for a break or redirect your dog using basic obedience training. Excite them with a new toy or call them away to a place they enjoy being.
Some breeds take to water more readily than others; however, there are exceptions within every breed. You know your dog the best - do they run to the nearest body of water and jump in, or do they do anything they can to stay dry? Take into account your dog's attitude to water before anything else.
That being said, some dogs are more naturally suited for water than others. Some dogs were bred to swim, such as the Golden Retriever, Portuguese Water Dog, and Irish Water Spaniel. This means they have the best physical structure for swimming, and most will love nothing more than playing in the water.
Short-legged or long-bodied dogs, such as Daschunds, may struggle to swim without a life vest, as well as other breeds that lack proper weight distribution. Short-faced dogs, such as Pugs or French Bulldogs, may struggle with breathing in a pool.
Although not all dogs may be natural swimmers, every breed can learn to swim with a life vest and some swimming lessons.
Consider installing a pool fence to create a separate fenced area around the pool. It needs to be high enough that your dog can't jump over it, and far enough away from the pool that your pet can't swim from outside it.
Another layer of security is a pool alarm that sounds an alert if anyone enters the water. Ensure the pool alarm is loud enough to alert you; alternatively, consider smart alarms that send notifications to your phone.
The main danger comes from your dog not being able to distinguish between your pool cover and the water, making them jump in when it isn't safe or fall in by accident, where they can get wrapped in the material.
Unless your pool cover is either solid or strong enough to hold a significant amount of weight, you should remove it before letting your dog near the pool.
If a dog takes frequent dips in the pool, they may suffer from dry, itchy skin and a dry, dull coat due to the chemicals in the pool stripping the skin and coat of their natural oils. Chlorinated pools may also have a slight bleaching effect on dark coats, and similar to blonde hair on humans, lighter coats may even turn green.
To minimize the adverse effects of your dog enjoying the pool with you, there are a few simple steps you can take to mitigate them.
During pool season, spray your dog’s coat with a coat conditioner before they go into the pool to stop the skin and coat from drying out. Even better, use a dog sunscreen that also contains moisturizing ingredients to prevent sunburn and even skin cancer.
After every swim, rinse their coat thoroughly with clean, cool water. Rinse longer than you think is necessary to remove all the chlorine and other pool chemicals. Towel or blow-dry your pet. If you have a dog with a long or medium coat, follow this rinse with another spray of coat conditioner and comb it through their fur. Make sure to get all the way down to their skin - mats can hide and become tighter when they’re dry. Even missing one for a day can cause tight knots. If your dog tends to jump in and out of the pool throughout the day, this is something that you can do once at the end of the day.
After a swim (or a bath, in fact), dry the insides of your dog’s ears with a towel or cotton balls. This is especially important for those with floppy ears, as they can prevent the ears from drying naturally.
Once a week during the swim season, comb out all the tangles and bathe your dog thoroughly with a gentle, moisturizing shampoo and conditioner that will remove chlorine residue from the coat and restore its moisture. An omega-3 fatty-acid supplement added to their food may also replenish natural coat oils. A weekly ear wash can also help keep ears infection-free, so it’s something to ask your vet about.
If you see the rear of your dog's body starting to sink in the pool, that's a surefire sign that they're getting tired. Other signs are panting and shaking.
However, it's best to take frequent breaks to ensure your dog doesn't get too tired, they may not know that they need to take a break on their own.
Firstly, always brush your dog before allowing them in the pool. This will help prevent as much debris as possible from your dog.
A dog's skin will add organics and phosphates to your pool, so you may have to treat it more regularly. Maintain a chlorine level of 1-3 ppm and ensure your pH and alkalinity are balanced. You should also check your pool skimmer and pump baskets to remove excessive dog hair and debris that may have accumulated more frequently than usual, and verify if your filter requires backwashing more often.
If you have a pool part with multiple dogs swimming, or if it's used more heavily overall, then shock your pool.
