Tips for Buying a Dog Pool
A dog pool can be the most fun option for sharing refreshing moments with our best friends during summertime. It’s important to choose a good quality product to ensure the safety and comfort of our companions. In the following article, we’ll offer you the best tips for buying a dog pool.
What to consider when choosing a dog pool?
First of all, it’s essential to make sure that the structure of the pool guarantees our pets’ safety. Dogs don’t have the same ease of getting in and out of a pool as we do, especially small or medium-sized dogs with shorter legs.
On the other hand, the structure must also offer comfort and allow our dog to have space to move and have fun. The main brands offer pools of different sizes to adapt to the different needs of our little friends.
If we have a Labrador or a Golden Retriever, for example, we should think about opting for a larger pool. They’re big dogs that enjoy playing in the water. With smaller and calmer breeds, such as a French Bulldog, we may prefer smaller and lighter pools.
Another fundamental aspect is that a dog pool should be made of strong, resistant and durable materials.
If we look at plastic swimming pools for children, we can quickly see that they’re too frail to support the weight and constant movement of our animals. Therefore, it’s worth investing in a better-quality product.
Finally, we should mention that inflatable or collapsible pools are often more practical than fixed ones. This way, we can easily transport them when going on vacation with our pets. In addition, we can store them during winter or rainy days, which guarantees a longer life for the pool.
Tips for enjoying the pool with your dog
In addition to choosing an ideal pool for our dog, it’s important to take some preventive measures to ensure their safety. Before enjoying a beautiful sunny day with your dog, we suggest you to be aware of the following guidelines:
Respect the vaccination schedule and anti-parasite treatments
Adequate preventive medicine is essential to ensuring an active, happy and healthy life for your best friend. For this reason, respecting its vaccination and periodic anti-parasite treatments is indispensable care. Even more so if our dog shares the same area with other animals and people.
As a matter of principle, it’s essential to always keep your dog’s vaccination card up to date. In addition, it’s recommended to administer the anti-parasite treatment a few weeks before they start playing in the pool.
The chlorine level in a dog pool
Our dogs’ skin is different from ours, so their tolerance to chlorine is totally different. Pools for human use usually contain a considerable amount of chlorine for sanitary reasons. Chlorination of pool water is efficient for eliminating bacteria, fungi, and other pathogenic microorganisms.
However, excessive concentrations of chlorine and other chemicals are dangerous to dogs’ health. The effects on their bodies can range from mucosal irritation to poisoning. It’s essential to control the water’s pH and concentration of chlorine.
Protection against the sun’s rays
Like us, dogs shouldn’t be excessively exposed to the sun’s rays in order to avoid sunburn and other health problems. Sunscreen suitable for dogs can be found in pet stores. In addition, it’s essential to reinforce the hydration of our pet and offer it shade during the hottest days.
Don’t leave your dog alone
Even if we have a pool adapted for dogs, we shouldn’t leave them alone in the water. Our pets may experience cramps or temporary numbness and be unable to move around normally. Many experts indicate that dogs should always be on a leash when swimming in the pool.
Remember to dry it well after a swim
After a fun day at the pool, bathe your dog in clean water to remove chlorine, and dry it thoroughly. Remember to pay special attention to drying its ears and the regions between its wrinkles. The accumulation of moisture in the hair and skin favors the proliferation of fungi, bacteria, mites and other microorganisms.
As seen, there are dog pools especially adapted for the body size and needs of our companions. However, some companies also offer the service of adapting domestic swimming pools. Therefore, if we already have a pool at home, we could also adapt it for our pets.