Taking a swim in the pool is an ideal activity for both you and your dog during the hot summer days. However, as enjoyable as this is, it can be extremely dangerous for dogs if the correct measures are not taken.
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Tips For Pool Safety For Dogs
There are certain before and after steps that can be followed to ensure your dog’s safety. Here are some tips that can help:
1. Training Your Dog
Most dogs instinctively start to paddle as soon as they are introduced to water but that does not mean that they know how to swim. It is extremely important that dogs are trained to be comfortable in the pool before they are allowed to take a swim.
This includes teaching them how to float and swim but also to enter and exit a pool without getting injured. It must also be noted that even though dogs can be taught how to swim, there are several dog breeds that are not fit to become swimmers.
Heavily muscled dogs such as the English Bulldog have trouble getting the hang of swimming and so it is important that they are not forced to take up the activity. Another aspect that should be kept in mind is that every dog is different and so you should train your dog in a manner and at a pace that is suitable for it.
2. Life Jackets
Dogs, trained or untrained, should not be left unattended while swimming. But there are certain things that can increase the security of your dog in the pool. One of the best items is a life jacket also known as a life vest.
Putting a life jacket on your dog can provide some form of support, especially to dogs that are yet to be comfortable in the pool. Life jackets keep the dogs afloat if they fall into the pool or are unable to swim well.
Simultaneously, these jackets also reduce the chances of them hitting their head and getting any injuries. Life jackets are also suitable for dogs that suffer from conditions such as arthritis which cause difficulties in swimming. You can select the best life jacket for your dog according to its needs.
3. Aftercare
Pool aftercare is essential to maintain your dog’s health and safety. This is a requirement for all dogs irrespective of their size and breed. For example, the Bernedoodle dog exists in different forms.
It can be a tiny, medium, or large dog and the coats of these dogs can differ but regardless of this, Bernedoodle grooming after a swim is very important to keep the dogs clean and healthy.This includes properly rinsing their coat to get rid of the chemical from the pool.
These chemicals can dry out the dog’s skin if they are not removed properly. To maintain the health of the coat, it is preferred to brush the fur after drying. Dogs such as the
Bernedoodles have varying coats and you can choose the best brush for a Bernedoodle to prevent excessive shedding as suggested by WeLoveDoodles.
Lastly, you should keep a check on your dog’s paws and ears after swimming. The pool steps can cause tearing of the paw pads and the ears should be dried and cleaned after the swim.
4. Hydration
It is highly unlikely to completely prevent your dog from drinking the pool water but the chances of this can be reduced by keeping your dog hydrated. Pool water or any other form of open water is not clean enough for the dog to ingest.
In the case of pools, special chemicals are mixed into the water to decontaminate it. These chemicals are meant to make the water safer but they usually consist of a high level of substances such as chlorine which can cause damage to your dog’s skin and coat.
The chemicals along with the germs can cause serious damage. Training your dog to drink from its own bowl can help in preventing it from drinking pool water. Giving your dog water before swimming may also keep it hydrated during the swim.
In case the dog gets thirsty, keeping a water bowl close to the pool can help. A trained might resort to drinking from the bowl instead of drinking from the pool.
5. Pool Check
Ensuring the sanitation of the pool you are visiting is very important. People often take full safety measures in regard to their dogs but often forget to check the pool that they are utilizing.
Chemicals are important to keep the pools clean but dog owners should check beforehand if the chemicals present in the pool are safe for their dogs. There are several pet-friendly pool chemicals that have proven to be less harmful to dogs.
These usually have a lower amount of chlorine by substituting the chemical. The same measures should be taken in the case of public pools as well and it should be checked if the pools have ever been closed due to any violations.
6. Vet Check
Only dogs that have been inspected by their veterinarians should be allowed to swim. Swimming with underlying health conditions such as heart disease or epilepsy can put your dog’s life at risk.
Dogs suffering from such conditions should only be taken for a swim after a check from their doctors. Furthermore, vaccinations are a necessity when it comes to swimming.
There are many diseases such as Leptospirosis which can spread through water.
To avoid these diseases dog owners must ensure that their dogs are completely vaccinated before they enter a pool. This is important for the safety of the dogs and their owners because many of these diseases have the tendency of spreading to humans as well.
Bottom Line
All in all, it is vital to take the right measures to ensure your dog’s safety in the pool. The aforementioned tips can be used for this purpose. The pool can be a dangerous place but the correct measures can allow you to have a great time with your dog!
