Urgent vet warning over taking your dog to the beach – it could be fatal for your pooch if you don’t keep a close watch
A VET has issued an urgent warning over taking your pooch to the beach – and it could be fatal if you don’t keep an eye on them.
As the summer months approach, Sean McCormack, a head vet at tails.com, explained that dogs can experience several serious side effects if owners allow them to drink seawater.
The salty water can lead to severe kidney and brain damage if they consume too much while splashing around at the beach.
“Seawater contains a high balance of salt, approximately 35g of salt in every one litre,” he explained.
“If your dog drinks too much, it can quickly become dehydrated and symptoms can worsen if your dog isn’t provided with fresh drinking water.”
The expert went on to explain how the high levels of salt can disrupt the fluid balance in your pet’s body by drawing water from the blood in their intestines.
Sean also shared the symptoms that dog owners should be on the look out for when taking their pup to the seaside.
He said diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy, lack of appetite, convulsions, increased heart rate, instability, excessive thirst or urination, and seizures, are the most common symptoms.
“If left untreated, they could suffer serious kidney damage, brain damage and rapid dehydration, which could prove fatal,” the expert warned.
Sean urged pet owners to take their dogs to the vet as soon as possible if they notice any of these symptoms and advised them to give their mutts a break from being in the sea every 15 minutes.
The warning comes as the weather forecast continues to improve, with the vet stating that it is essential for dogs to have access to fresh water while at the beach so they can stay hydrated.
A vet also shared his tips on what to do if your dog is randomly sick in the morning and when they should be taken to a clinic.
The doctor told his social media viewers that if this happens, it could be down to bilious vomiting syndrome.
Another expert issued a warning for dog owners ahead of the heatwave that is set to hit the UK this June.
She explained how heatstroke is a “real thing” and said: “As an emergency veterinarian I’ve already treated multiple cases of this recently”.
A vet also urged pet lovers to take the right steps when their dog finds itself in a chocolate emergency.
While chocolate can be consumed by dogs, too much of it can be toxic and potentially fatal, the expert said.
And one more doctor issued an urgent warning to dog parents – flagging the three daily habits that could be a sign that your pooch needs to go to the vets.
The vet explained that it’s important to pay attention to how much water your dog drinks and stressed the importance of noticing whether your dog has trouble breathing.
Finally, the dog expert explained that changes in your dog’s toilet habits could indicate health problems.