Are Saltwater Pools Safe for Pets?

The occasional drink of saltwater in small amounts from a pool is totally fine as long as your dog has another separate main source of fresh water so that your dog is not only drinking out of the pool. It’s not a good idea and is harmful for anyone to ingest large amounts of saltwater- including your dog as well.  

Luckily, the occasional sip of saltwater in small amounts does not pose the same amount of risk due to the low salinity levels in saltwater pools.

However, drinking large quantities of water from any pool- regardless if it’s salt or chlorine- can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy among other more serious issues, so if you believe your dog has ingested a large amount of pool water, you should reach out to your vet.

Avoid letting your dog drink the water directly after anything has been added to your pool’s water- including any balancing chemicals or concentrated additions of salt - as well as try to keep it properly maintained so if your pets do take a drink of water from the pool now and then, they aren’t ingesting tainted or unsanitary water. 

That is good advice for all pool owners, regardless if they have pets or not. Checking your pool regularly to free it of debris and dirt should be a good habit to have for any pool owner. 

In fact, you’ll want to make sure you take into consideration the amount of debris your dog can bring into the pool like fur or even fecal matter- all of which can cause chemical imbalances and spread of bacteria. 

So if you know your dog will be swimming with you, check the levels after to make sure they are still safe for swimming and make adjustments as needed.

One of the number one things to consider is to please always have a normal source of fresh water for your pets. If not, this alone could cause your pets to turn to the pool as a source of water if there is not enough regular fresh water provided. 

You’ll want to make sure they don’t think of the pool as their main water source to prevent them from drinking large amounts of pool water, which can be toxic.

When it comes to how pool water impacts your pets skin and fur, saltwater pools are generally safer than conventionally chlorinated pools because it’s missing all of the added chemical byproducts that make the water have more caustic qualities². 

The water in saltwater pools lacks chloramines, the harsh chemicals in traditional pools that make your skin itchy and makes your hair brittle and dry. Because the water lacks chloramines, saltwater pool water keeps hair more protected. However, still make sure to rinse your pet well with water after swimming.

Pro-tip: If you don’t want to have to rinse off your pets after every swim, especially when you know they’ll just be going back in after a little rest, just provide an area of shade for your dog to lounge in while it rests. 

The sun while outside is what causes the salt to dry faster, so if shade is provided, it’ll make it so that you don’t have to keep getting out of the pool to clean the dog off every single time. 

Lastly, never leave your dog unattended in water of any kind and always have an easy way for them to get out, and be ready and able to help them if they need assistance, especially if they're tired or elderly.