With the passing of the seasons, we must take into account certain precautions to protect the health and well-being of companion animals. For example, in autumn and winter, we must be careful to prevent our pets from catching a cold, especially on rainy or snowy days. With the arrival of spring, parasites and possible allergies proliferate.
In the case of summer, the list lengthens considerably due to the heat. We have to keep our dog cool, protect it from the sun, take care that it doesn’t burn its pads with the hot ground on the street… And watch it carefully in areas where it gets wet like the beach, the river or the pool. This does not only imply being careful so that he does not drown, but we must also not let him drink the water from the sea or from the pool.
With the high temperatures, it is common for the dog to drink more water to cool down and stay hydrated. For this reason, for him it is a great temptation to give a few licks in the pool or the sea while swimming or playing peacefully. However, this may entail certain health risks for him.
It is well known that sea water is not suitable for drinking due to its high salt content, which is negative for both human and dog bodies. But pool water, sweet as it may be, is also not drinkable or safe for your four-legged best friend.
As a general rule, pool water is disinfected and sanitized with chlorine to remove dirt and bacteria. If the water has a high chlorine content, this is harmful if the dog ingests it and can even cause skin damage and irritation in areas such as the eyes, mucous membranes and mouth. In case you drink a lot of water with a lot of chlorine, you can get poisoning.
If your dog drinks water in a pool with a low concentration of chlorine, it does not have to suffer any complications. In case he does contain strong chemicals for disinfection, you should avoid him drinking it. To do this, tell him no every time he tries to drink water from the pool.
Make sure he always has drinking fountains with fresh drinking water available and reward him when he uses them instead of drinking from the pool. Little by little he will understand that this is where he must quench his thirst.
