22/06/2026
𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀
If you’ve ever seen your dog leap into the pool on a hot day, you know how much joy they get from splashing around. They swim, they paddle, they shake water everywhere, and it’s adorable. But if your pup is a regular in the water or has a habit of drinking from the pool, there are a few things you should know before you grab the floaties.
First off, a little chlorine isn’t going to hurt most dogs. Pools are treated to have just enough to kill germs without harming swimmers, be it human or canine. So if your dog accidentally laps up a mouthful or two, they’ll probably be fine. The concern comes when it becomes more than an occasional sip. Drinking too much pool water can upset their stomach, cause vomiting or diarrhea, and even irritate their throat.
It’s not just about what they swallow, either. Chlorinated water can also bother your dog’s eyes and skin. If you’ve ever noticed your dog’s eyes looking red after a swim, or their skin feeling dry, chlorine is often the reason. Over time, regular and long swimming sessions, especially in pools where the chemicals aren’t perfectly balanced, can strip away the natural oils that keep their skin and coat healthy.
But, this doesn’t mean you have to ban pool days. In any case, swimming can be still be a great exercise and a fun way to keep cool; it's just that you'll have to be a bit more mindful:
● Always have a bowl of fresh water nearby so your dog doesn’t use the pool as their drinking fountain.
● Rinse them off with clean water after each swim to remove chlorine from their fur and skin.
● Keep pool chemicals out of reach at all times.
● Watch their swim time, short and fun sessions are safer than long soaks.
● Never leave them unsupervised, especially if they’re not a strong swimmer, are puppies, or are older.
At the end of the day, chlorine isn’t the villain of this story. It’s just doing its job and that is to keep the water safe from bacteria and algae, so you and your pup can swim without the hidden dangers that lurk in untreated water. But just like sunshine on a summer day, too much of it can cause trouble. That’s why keeping things in moderation makes all the difference.
And if one day your dog seems off after a swim, maybe they’re throwing up more than once, skipping meals, or just lying around like they’ve lost their spark—that’s the time to pick up the phone and call your vet. Most pool days should end with happy splashes and a soggy, wagging tail.
