Having Fun With Your Pets Around the Swimming Pool

Pets and pools

There is nothing that warms my heart more than watching a dog swimming in a pool! Throw a tennis ball into the picture and most dogs are in heaven! Sadie, one of my clients, is a golden retriever who gets extremely excited when I come to service her pool. As I have never been much of a thrower, I discovered a great throwing toy at the local pet store. About 18” long, this device has a long handle and a cup to hold a tennis ball. And boy can you throw a ball a long way!

There are however, safety issues you must consider: Although many dogs love water, don’t assume they can swim. Never throw a dog into the pool as he may panic and might not be able to climb out. Even excellent swimmers gradually lose their ability as they age and become weaker. Senior dogs are more prone to slipping and falling into a pool also. There is a pet safety product called Skamper Ramp which sits on the edge of your pool with a ramp that lies in the water. A trapped animal will be able to climb out of the pool. What a great idea!

When it comes to pool safety, pets should be treated the same as children. Visit the Pool Safety artcile for more information. Heat and sunlight are more intense around a pool and your dog cannot stay as cool as you, so watch for signs of overheating. An injury to the skin, even something as small as an abrasion, are the perfect place for flies to lay eggs which hatch and become maggots.

Don’t let your dog drink from the pool as the chlorine may make him sick and/or irritate their eyes. Your pet can get sick if he drinks water with algae in it. I have dealt with some pool service techs who feel that if a dog is in the pool, the chlorine needs to be higher. Your chlorine levels should be no different than normal. You may have to clean your filter twice a month because of dog hair so keep an eye on your water pressure valve on your pool pump. If it rises 10 PSI after cleaning over the course of a week or two, clean your filter, and skimmer twice a month. And of course, when your dog is finished playing in the pool, hose him down with fresh water to get the chlorine out. Have Fun!