Making sure your dog is safe around the pool is part of being a responsible pet owner (see Parts 1, 2 & 3). If you’ve already taken care of teaching your dog to swim, made sure there are measures in place to prevent them from entering the pool unsupervised, and taken care of getting any needed safety equipment, you can probably relax and enjoy spending time with your pet in the water.
But in case you want to have even more reassurance of your dog’s safety in the water, you could consider learning pet Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). You could end up using this lifesaving technique on your dog in the unlikely event of an accident. This is a great skill to master not just for pool safety, but for any time your pet may suffer cardiac arrest. Check out PetTech’s website for information to learn more about how you can master this important skill.
Keep Chemical Levels Safe
If you’re staying on top of regular pool chemical maintenance, your pool ought to be at safe chlorine levels for both you and your pet. If you notice that your eyes are getting irritated or your skin is feeling dry and itchy after a dip in the pool, chances are your chemicals aren’t well balanced. Always refer to manufacturer instructions when adding chlorine and other chemicals to your pool. Contrary to what many people would assume, swimming in a properly treated backyard pool may actually be safer than swimming in some outdoor bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, or ponds, that may contain unsafe levels of bacteria or other harmful germs. Always make sure that your dog is completely unable to access your pool chemicals while they’re in storage.
Always Discourage Pets from Drinking Pool Water
If you notice your dog or other pets trying to drink from the pool, immediately remove them from the water and give them a drink of fresh, cool water. Pets get hot and thirsty outside in the sun just like people do. Unlike us, however, they don’t realize that pool water isn’t healthy to drink. When ingested in small amounts, chlorinated pool water won’t hurt your pet. However, if your pet drinks from the pool on a regular basis, their stomach could get very upset.
To combat any sensitivity which your pet’s skin may experience after a dip in the pool, you can rinse them off with fresh water after swimming. Always dry their ears completely as dogs are often prone to get ear infections when they swim on a regular basis.
Pool Maintenance Reminders for Dog Owners
If you’re a dog owner, though you’re most concerned about keeping your dog safe around the pool, you may also want to keep your pool safe from any harm which your dog could accidentally inflict on the pool’s physical structure. Keeping your dog’s claws clipped and filed to a short, healthy length is a good idea any time, but especially if your dog will be swimming in a pool with a vinyl liner. Dog hair accumulating in the pool is another concern. If you plan on letting your canine critter take frequent dips in the pool, be sure to keep the filter clear of dog hair so it won’t slow down the pool’s pump.
We hope that by following these safety tips you can have plenty of fun in the pool with your furry friend this summer.
Continue Reading about Pools
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Lyon Financial: America’s Leading Pool Lender
Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.
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