It can be hard to relax and unwind in your hot tub when your dog is sitting beside you, gazing up with his big brown eyes, begging for your attention. You think, “Well, maybe I can let him in the hot tub with me. That way I can relax and spend time with him.”
It may be hard to say no to your sweet little fur baby, but allowing your dog in your hot tub is generally not a good idea.
Reasons why your dog and other pets shouldn’t go in the hot tub with you:
It’s too hot.
The normal temperature for a hot tub is 102 degrees, and that is just too hot for your dog. Dogs don’t perspire as humans do – that’s hot tubs are good for us, but not them. The only way to cool themselves off is by panting. It’s easy their body temperature can skyrocket, which can make your dog very sick or even kill them. If you still want to give it a go, the Cuteness blog has some advice about it. “…lower the temperature a few degrees so it’s closer to 90ºF. Then give it a day or two to cool down. It should feel warm to you — not hot.” With the Texas heat, you may want to try to lower the temperature even further.
It’s not good for your dog (or you).
Even if you take the time to cool your hot tub down, the chemicals you use to keep your hot tub clean and sanitary will only dry out your dog’s skin. This will cause a great deal of irritation and discomfort for your dog. You could try to give them a thorough bath and rinse off after their time in the tub. But do you really want to go through the motions of giving your dog a bath after you’re relaxed? Plus, the hot tub will only wash off any flea and tick treatment on them, leaving you and your guests to soak in it. Which will probably irritate your skin, as well.
It’s not good for your hot tub.
Along with flea repellent throwing off the chemical balance of your hot tub, your dog’s hair can easily clog up the filters. This only prevents them from operating properly. Your dog can also damage your hot tub while trying to get out of it. Dogs don’t typically like being confined in tight spaces. If the water is still too hot, they may scramble to get out, causing them to scratch the hot tub shell.
Here are some ideas on what you can do instead:
Let them hang out BY the hot tub instead of IN the hot tub.
Set up a comfortable spot for your dog to flop down and chill beside you. An outdoor doggie bed, bone or toy to chew on, and a nice, cool dish of water. You can even set it up on a slightly raised platform by the hot tub. This way your dog can still be in reach for a pat on the head while you relax in the steaming water and jets.
Do an activity to keep your dog occupied.
Play a game of fetch with a tennis ball or Frisbee from the hot tub. Your dog will be thrilled with playing and spending time with you – and you can enjoy your time in the hot tub.
Give your dog their own hot tub or spa, right by yours.
Get a small, shallow kiddie pool and fill it with either cool or lukewarm water and toss in some of their favorite water toys. That way, if they want to, your dog can splash, play, and lounge in water that’s just the right temperature for them. Plus, they can drink the water in their own “hot tub.” The chemically treated water in your hot tub might hurt them.
While you can take precautions to keep your dog safe in your hot tub, it’s really not worth the risk to both your dog and your hot tub. Plus, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy time with your dog while you relax in your Jacuzzi hot tub. So, here at Texas Hot Tub Company in the DFW area, we recommend that you keep the pup out of the tub.