Does your dog love the pool? Remember these safety tips!
The swimming season lasts between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but the fun doesn’t have to start or end there if you have a backyard swimming pool. No matter what time of year you spend at your backyard swimming pool, remember these dog pool safety tips when your furry companion joins the fun!
Install a Pool Fence
By law, it is necessary to install a pool fence around your residential swimming pool in Maryland. You can install a pool fence directly around the swimming pool, around your yard, or both. The right fence will prevent your pet from reaching the water without your permission and supervision.
Train Your Dog to Obey
Training is key. If you have no control over your dog, you can’t keep it out of harm’s way as easily. Training your dog to obey you to stay, leave it, sit, etc., will enable you to prevent your dog from rushing into a dangerous situation, including possible drowning.
Learn Canine CPR and Get a Canine First Aid Kit
It’s always best to be prepared! It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to a pet emergency at the backyard pool. You can learn canine CPR and supply yourself with a canine first aid kit to be ready for action if necessary. Remember to keep your local vet hospital’s number on hand, too!
Store Pool Chemicals in a Safe Place
Pool chemicals are a necessary part of pool maintenance. Be sure to keep them in a safe, cool place away from your dog’s nose. Ingesting these chemicals warrants an emergency vet call.
Provide Fresh Drinking Water
Drinking pool water, which is full of various chemicals, is also unhealthy for your dog, just as it is for you. Provide a bowl of fresh drinking water for your pet so it can get a drink anytime it wants without resorting to the swimming pool. Train your pet to drink from there and not the pool.
Teach Your Pet to Swim
Not all dogs are natural swimmers. Introduce your pet to the pool carefully and teach it to swim if necessary. A canine life jacket can help with training.
Supervise Your Pet at the Pool
Always supervise your pet when it is in the pool area. Even if it is an avid swimmer, it is safer for your pet to have a watchful eye guarding over it.
Bathe Your Dog Afterward
Pool water can dry out your pet’s skin and fur. Give your dog a nice bath with an appropriate dog shampoo and conditioner after each swim.
Trust the Care of Your Pet to the Professionals at Everhart Veterinary Medicine!
At Everhart Veterinary Medicine, our veterinary professionals strive to provide your pet with the very best of veterinary care. We believe that the best care for your pet should be provided by experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable veterinary professionals. With three Maryland locations in Baltimore, Pasadena, and Cross Keys, we are always ready to welcome your pet as a new patient! Give us a call today at 410-355-3131, 410-793-7670, or 443-470-6790! For more information, as well as updates on veterinary news and topics, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn!