Dog owners are being warned this summer about a preventable problem that can prove just as fatal as heat stroke, according to a small animal vet based in Dorset, Tom Carter.
“Heat stroke is not the only thing that you need to be careful of with your dogs in summer,” Carter said. “Water poisoning occurs when dogs ingest too much water.” He explained that it usually happens on hot days when dogs are taken to rivers and streams to cool off. “They might play with the ball, bite the waves and unintentionally consume a massive amount of water.”
“Vet warns water poisoning in dogs is as deadly as heat stroke, especially for small breeds.”
That excess water massively reduces the amount of salt in the blood, which pulls water across the blood-brain barrier into the brain. “It's not enormously common, but if your dog's playing in water and seems to be taking in a large amount, it's just something to keep an eye out for,” Carter added.
While the vet cites rivers and streams as examples, owners should remain alert to this risk in all bodies of water – including paddling pools and garden hoses at home, according to the Mirror.
Small, high-energy breeds, such as Terriers or Retrievers, face the greatest risk because they require considerably less water to overwhelm their smaller systems.
The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) warned that pet owners might not recognise the dangers until symptoms have already developed. The charity stated: “Swallowing excess water can dilute a dog's sodium (salt) levels, leading to hyponatremia (lower-than-normal sodium levels in the bloodstream). When this happens, cells in the body try to rebalance by absorbing more water. This causes the cells to swell and grow larger. Over time, the dog's kidneys can usually sort out the sodium and water levels, but if a dog's brain cells swell, it can quickly lead to irreversible brain damage before they have the chance.”
Water intoxication can be readily prevented by controlling a dog's exposure to water. Owners should restrict continuous aquatic play to 15-minute intervals and avoid using tennis balls in water, as these toys keep a dog's mouth open, prompting them to swallow water while swimming. If a pet is notorious for dunking its head underwater, owners might want to invest in a flotation device, which forces the animal to keep its head and airways above the surface.
Dog owners ought to be aware of the warning signs. Symptoms indicating an early or mild instance of water poisoning include lethargy, bloating, vomiting, and loss of coordination – but the problem could be more severe if left unchecked.