Safety Guidelines for Dogs: How to Prevent Swimming Pool Dangers

When the weather starts to warm up, many paw parents bring their pets to a dog daycare in Middlesex County.Ā  There are also those who start daydreaming about spending their time lazing by the pool, lounging at the beach, and getting out on the water for a relaxing afternoon of angling with their canine companion. [...] The post Safety Guidelines for Dogs: How to Prevent Swimming Pool Dangers appeared first on The Dog Retreat & SPA.

Safety Guidelines for Dogs: How to Prevent Swimming Pool Dangers

When the weather starts to warm up, many paw parents bring their pets to a dog daycare in Middlesex County.Ā 

There are also those who start daydreaming about spending their time lazing by the pool, lounging at the beach, and getting out on the water for a relaxing afternoon of angling with their canine companion.

It may sound like the perfect scenario, but dogs and water donā€™t always get along so swimmingly. There is no official data to back this up, but itā€™s estimated that over 5,000 domesticated dogs die in their ownersā€™ swimming pools annually.Ā 

That does not take into account any mishaps that may take place on waterways such as lakes, streams, and the open ocean involving boaters who own dogs.Ā 

Donā€™t take risks. If youā€™re not too confident of your dogā€™s safety, take your pet to a dog daycare in Middlesex County.

Common Dangers to Avoid When Taking Your Dog Swimming

These are the most common swimming pool dangers which you need to be aware of and tips on how to prevent each one:Ā 

Drowning Accidents

The sad reality is that a dog has a high risk of drowning in any backyard pool. Even if a dog is an experienced swimmer, it is still possible for it to drown since its natural impulse is to swim to the side of the pool, but once it is there, it is unable to work out how to exit the water.Ā 

Even though it is required by law in some states that outdoor pools should be surrounded by a fence, there are a few more things that pet owners may take to help prevent accidents like this one:

  • You should never make the assumption that canines ā€œknow instinctivelyā€ how to swim. Invest some time and effort into teaching your pet how to swim as well as how to exit the pool in a secure manner, whether it chooses to utilize the steps or a pet-friendly ramp. In the event that you welcome guests into your pool and theyā€™re with their dogs, it is essential that you instruct the dogs on how to leave the pool safely.Ā 
  • Invest in a life jacket for dogs that is sized appropriately for your pet. You should also consider purchasing a life jacket for your dog that has a grab handle in case you end up having to pull it out of the water in an emergency.Ā 
  • Buy a pool alarm with a motion detector installed in it. In addition to protecting household pets, the pool alarm is an absolute necessity in households that contain young children.Ā 
  • Consider investing in an automated pool cover so that you can quickly and easily cover the pool even if you are called inside unexpectedly while your dogs are playing outside.

Water Intoxication

Dogs can become sick with water intoxication if they drink an excessive amount of water, which causes the sodium levels within their bodies to become excessively diluted.Ā 

Even while this occurs very seldom, it is still possible for it to be fatal if treatment is delayed for too long. If your pet swallows a significant amount of water from a saltwater pool, it runs the additional risk of becoming severely ill from salt poisoning.Ā 

The following are the most effective steps you can take to stop your pet from ingesting pool water:

  • Outside of the swimming area, fill the water dish you give to your pet with clean water.Ā 
  • If you find that your pet is drinking excessive amounts of water or urinating excessively, it is time to remove your dog from the water and give it a break.

Swimming-Related Illnesses

Even though we adore them, itā€™s no secret that our dogs arenā€™t exactly the cleanest creatures. In addition to hair, dander, grime, feces, and pollen, the water in your pool will also contain other contaminants.Ā 

Because everything that is on your dog has the potential to make other people in the pool sick, this piece of advice is more directed toward human beings.Ā 

For instance, if your dog has feces stuck to its rear end, this material could get up in the water. If a person were to ingest the water, itā€™s possible to contract E. coli.Ā 

That is something that obviously no one would want, thus the best strategies to avoid having a dirty pool are to:Ā 

  • Ensure that your pool is properly maintained and that the pH levels are adjusted appropriately. Bear in mind that bacteria that came from your dog could potentially throw off this equilibrium.Ā 
  • After each and every use, you should manually clean your pool.

The Dog Retreat: The Top Dog Daycare Middlesex County

It is crucial to understand a dogā€™s capabilities before enabling it to swim because not all canines are born with the ability to swim naturally.Ā 

Even if you are confident that your dog can swim well, you should never allow it to swim in an area where it is unaccompanied. NEVER leave a dog unsupervised.Ā 

Why not take your dog to a dog daycare such as The Dog Retreat? Itā€™s where you can let it have fun socializing with other dogs while being closely monitored by professionals.

Contact us today to learn more!

The post Safety Guidelines for Dogs: How to Prevent Swimming Pool Dangers appeared first on The Dog Retreat & SPA.