Many dogs, and some cats, enjoy swimming in the family pool, but they are at risk of drowning without careful safety measures. Most animal drownings occur at night, when no one is around to assist the animal if it falls in. There are simple steps you can take that make your pool area safe for your pet.
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Misconceptions
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Not every dog or cat can swim, despite the prevailing myth that animals are born knowing how to swim. Older dogs, or panicked animals, might not be able to swim for long, if at all.
Prevention/Solution
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You should have a transparent barrier fence around your pool and always close the gate when you leave the area, even if it's just for a moment. The best gate is the kind with a self-closing and self-locking mechanism.
Alarms
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You can buy alarms that monitor the surface of the pool and go off if something disturbs the water. Low-end alarms work on batteries and high-end alarms are hooked into your electrical system. The more expensive models usually have a feature that sounds an alarm inside and outside simultaneously.
Considerations
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Dogs and cats are more likely to become dehydrated in strong sunlight, so make sure your pet has fresh water available. Drinking chlorinated water can make your pet sick. If you let your pet swim, rinse him off with non-chlorinated water afterward, paying careful attention to the eyes.
Warning
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You should keep all pool chemicals locked up and inaccessible from pets and children.
Skamper-Ramp
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You can install a Skamper-Ramp on the side of your pool that extends into the water, offering trapped animals a way out. The ramps are polypropylene, making them lightweight, waterproof and mold-resistant.
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