Can Dogs Swim in Saltwater Pools? [Expert Advice]

Do you love to spend time in the water and want your favorite pet to enjoy the same activity? Whether you love going for a swim in the ocean or you recently installed a saltwater pool in your home, you can get your dog to jump in the saltwater alongside you or your kids.

Are you wondering, “Can dogs swim in saltwater pools?” With this guide, you’ll learn the steps you need to take to get your dog comfortable with swimming in a pool, how safe swimming in saltwater pools is for a pup, and how to protect your pooch in saltwater. You’ll also find out about the various ways different dog breeds react to ocean waters. 

How to Introduce Dogs to Swimming in a Pool?

You can take specific steps to get your dog comfortable with swimming in a pool. Goldendoodles, for example, should be introduced to water with the help of a hose or even a small kid’s pool. Let your pooch swim and splash around in a shallow pool of water before letting him into a larger saltwater pool.

It’s vital to ensure any hazards from a swimming pool are removed before letting your canine go for a swim. Always supervise your furry friend when swimming in a pool or a lake. Also, don’t let your pup spend too much time in the sun or swimming for too long.

This will help keep your dog from getting overly tired or suffering from heatstroke.

Can Dogs Swim in Saltwater Pools?

Saltwater pools do not harm dogs. Therefore, if you teach your dog how to swim by slowly introducing the pup to water, then you’ll find that dogs can swim in saltwater pools. You may have trouble getting your pooch out of the pool if he loves the cool wetness on his back.

Further, a dog may benefit from a saltwater pool instead of a chlorinated one. Chlorine can lead a pet’s eyes to become irritated and pained. A saltwater pool can keep your dog’s eyes from the pain of chlorine.

Nonetheless, you’ll need to keep track of your dog’s fur and nails after swimming for a while in a saltwater pool. In addition, your pup shouldn’t drink too much salty water to avoid getting sick.

Is It Safe for Dogs to Swim in Saltwater Pools?

Saltwater pools may be safer than chlorinated ones. The saltwater won’t leave your dog’s eyes red and in pain the same way that chlorinated pool water would.

Are you worried that saltwater pools will end up too salty for your dog, and he might drink some of it and get sick? If so, you’ll be glad to learn that saltwater pools do not have nearly as much salt as the ocean or sea.

Saltwater pools have 3,200 parts per million of salt, while oceans have 35,000 parts per million. While one or two gulps of saltwater from such a pool won’t do much damage to your pooch, you’ll need to make sure your canine gets enough fresh, cool water to drink before swimming. This will prevent her from drinking too much pool water and potentially getting sick.

How to Protect Your Dog When Swimming in a Saltwater Pool?

After a day of swimming in a saltwater pool, ensure that you rinse off your dog to prevent his skin from drying out or getting irritated. The saltwater can also cause problems for dog fur if you don’t rinse the pup off and groom the puppy’s hair.

Also, give your pup plenty of fresh water to keep her from getting dehydrated. If you’re worried about saltwater poisoning, pay attention to your dog and get her to a vet if necessary. Signs of saltwater poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, stumbling, and tremors.

You should also brush and groom your dog’s hair before letting her go for a swim. Otherwise, your pup may lose too much fur in the pool.

Is Chlorine or Saltwater Better For My Dog?

Think about going swimming as a child in a well-chlorinated pool. What happened after diving below with your eyes wide open? Your eyes were likely stinging and in pain due to the chlorine.

Afterward, you probably had red eyes for the rest of the day.

The strong smell of chlorine can also make you feel uncomfortable, and your skin might end up drying out. Nonetheless, if you or your dog drinks some chlorinated pool water, nothing bad will occur. Your dog’s skin will also have problems from chlorine, as they may have redness and rashes after a long swim.

Saltwater pools don’t have quite the same problems as chlorinated ones. The only issue with saltwater pools is to avoid letting your pup drink the water. Further, it’s vital to rinse your pup off after swimming in either a chlorinated or a saltwater pool.

To avoid further skin irritation, don’t rinse your pup before going for a swim.

How Different Dog Breeds React to Saltwater Pools?

Different dog breeds may have different reactions in terms of their skin and fur when exposed to saltwater. Dogs with short and curly hair can have a worse impact since the water as well as the sunshine hits the skin more quickly.

However, dog breeds with long hair or double-coated fur are likely to have the saltwater stick inside their fur far longer than canines with short hair. Your pup will need a bath after a swim, but a rinse may not get all the salt out if he has a double coat. 

Final Word

So, can dogs swim in saltwater pools? The answer is yes! A saltwater pool may even benefit your dog more than a chlorinated one, as it will keep the dog’s eyes from stinging and its skin from having a heavy chlorinated smell.

The key is to keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t drink a lot of the salty water.

Before you know it, your pup and your whole family will enjoy spending a sunny day outdoors swimming at the pool.