Keep Furry Friends Safe by the Pool

May is National Water Safety Month, and we’ve already talked about some key steps to keeping your pool safe. Those tips include being vigilant by the pool, keeping emergency numbers and kits nearby, and ensuring your perimeter fence is well maintained and up to code.

Since it is so important to make sure all swimmers and guests in your pool area are safe, Gizmo, our safety mascot, asked us to share some ideas on how to keep our four legged friends safe around the pool too.

Since dogs seem to be the real lovers of water, let’s focus on them first. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you and your pup are hanging out by the water.

Not All Dogs Love Water

First off, not all dogs are natural swimmers. Although most dogs know how to swim, not all are good at it. For example, I have two dogs, one of which swims like a fish, the other does the most uncoordinated version of the doggy paddle as possible! Needless to say, they don’t exactly get along in the pool.

Safety Gear

It is always a good idea to put a life jacket on your dog when out in open water or if your dog is getting tired from swimming in the pool. Lifejackets are also useful tools to help get your furry friend more comfortable in the water.

Additionally, always be sure your dog knows where they can exit the pool either by the stairs or a ramp. The Scamper Ramp is a handy attachment that makes it easy for dogs to see and exit the pool.

Keep Your Pups Hydrated

Dogs can get overheated and exhausted swimming in the hot sun, so be sure to provide fresh water by the pool. Although pool water for the most part is harmless, ingested in high quantities, it can cause digestive irritation, so keep that water bowl nearby.

Let’s Not Forget Our Other Four-Legged Friends

If you own a pool, you know that dogs aren’t the only critters that end up in the water. Many a chipmunk and frog have found their demise by unwittingly falling into a pool. Use this easy ramp to give the little guys a fighting chance to get out, The Frog Log Critter Ramp. Check out more information here about protecting all creatures great and small when taking steps to keep your pool safe.

Here at Pool Scouts, we can’t get enough pictures and videos of animals in pools. Like us on Facebook to see some of those fun posts and send us pictures of your own furry friends in the pool!

Whether you are just opening your pool for the season or are in need of regular maintenance, give Pool Scouts a call. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly pool cleaning options to keep your pool up, running, and ready for your furry friends at all times!