As holistic animal health becomes more common for our pets, there are a growing number of “health clubs” for canines.

If you’ve ever owned a pet, and dogs in particular, you know they need exercise. This is especially true if your canine companion is older or has health issues like arthritis. I remember my father-in-law’s golden retriever Tyler. He was a great pet and companion to my in-laws in his later years. But like many goldens, Tyler suffered from arthritis as he got older. If he had a pool available, it probably would have made it easier or more comfortable for him over the years.

One of the best forms of exercise for humans is swimming. Excellent for the cardiovascular system. Very low or no impact: water provides great buoyancy and almost weightlessness. Cooler water helps lower body temperature by making the body work harder to stay warm. And if it’s good for you and me, it’ll be great for your pet.

Let’s face it, most dogs LOVE to be in the water! They will just jump and swim. It is almost natural for them. This is especially true of larger breeds of Shepherds, Retrievers, certain Bloodhounds, Rottweilers, etc.

But with dogs in pools, there is concern about treating them properly. First of all, we must remember that each dog puts an additional “stress” or strain on the pool treatment system. It is estimated that one canine in a pool can be the equivalent of 10 to 50 humans (as reported in The Orange Country Register, Spa & Pool Education Committee for Education, Santa Ana, CA, April 16, 1997). Obviously, the size of the dog, the type of coat or fur, the amount of hair or fur, will all come into play in this ratio.

When treating a pool we have to take this proportion into account. The average pool may only have 2-5 people a day using it, but add just one dog, and you’ve shot that usage rate through the roof! Chlorine, bromine, or other sanitizers need to be adjusted appropriately to keep up with the added load of bathers. Excess fur and hair in the pool (whether floating, on the bottom, or sitting in the skimmer baskets) will cause a chlorine demand (causing excessive chlorine usage). Higher levels of chlorine or bromine can dry out your pet’s skin.

With all this excess organic and natural debris entering the pool, biofilms (films of living organic material on the pool’s floors, walls, and all surfaces) form more easily throughout the pool and its filtration system. As biofilms spread, the demand for chlorine will worsen considerably. The person maintaining the dog pool facility will be most frustrated by not being able to maintain proper chemical levels.

You always want to maintain a chlorine level of 1.0 to 3.0 ppm, Free Available Chlorine (FAC) for proper disinfection. And don’t forget the pH! Be sure to maintain a proper pH level of 7.4 to 7.6.

As with people, it may be worth rinsing or showering your dog before he enters the pool, if only to remove some of the initial fur or hair that would otherwise go into the pool. After swimming, give your pet a bath to remove excess chlorine or bromine from his body.

Pools specialized in canine therapy should take into account the following:

• Maintain a good level of chlorine, bromine or sanitizer. 1.0 – 3.0 ppm FAC (Free Available Chlorine)
• Maintain a proper pH level. 7.4 – 7.6
• Filtration systems must run a minimum of 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Skimmer slippers should be equipped with “skimmer socks” to help remove excess fur or hair and prevent clogging of the pump.
• The pool should be skimmed and vacuumed at least once a day to remove as much hair and fur from the pool as possible. Using a good automatic pool cleaner with a separate filtration system is a great time saver.
• The pool should be shaken more often, possibly twice a week, to break down and reduce chloramine buildup and eventual chlorine demand.
• Consider using a good quality enzyme product that will naturally eat or consume excess organic debris in the pool water.
• Also, use products like AquaFinesse Pool Water Care Tablets to continually remove biofilm from pool surfaces.
• Depending on the size of the pool and the number of canine bathers, it may be necessary to drain and refill the pool at least once a year. Keep an eye on the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) to be sure.
• When TDS levels are 1,200 to 1,500 ppm higher than the initial fill, the pool should be at least partially drained and refilled with fresh (uncontaminated) water to dilute the TDS to a more normal level.

Are there ways to reduce chlorine use? Absolutely. Enzyme and biofilm removal products will do just that: break up, remove, and consume biofilm. In addition, you will also notice a better natural balance of the water.

Just like in a “human” pool, you always want the most crystal clear and sparkling water possible, that is also well balanced, treated and maintained. This is not only good for the pool, but also for the dog and its owner.