With the recent and prolonged heatwave hitting the UK, there’s a hidden danger that most dog owners would not be aware of.
Recently a two-year-old border collie, Luiz, went on a typical summers day walk with his owner family and dog walker, enjoying the day and playing in the fields during the afternoon sun.
Luiz would chase a tennis ball thrown into the small, narrow brook, enjoying the water, retrieving the tennis ball and bringing it back to his owner. This was repeated many times, with Luiz returning with the tennis ball each time, ready for the next through, a big soft bundle of energy and joy.
After 30 minutes, Luiz had been in and out of the brook several times to collect the ball. He seemed happy and content, but no one could have known the danger he was in. Just a short while later, his owner realised something was wrong with her dog. The last time Luiz returned from the brook, he didn’t shake off the water as he usually did. Not long afterwards, Luiz slumped to the ground, looking exhausted.
Rapid deterioration in dogs health
With the dog’s condition seemingly deteriorating quickly, the family decided to carry home back to the car and rush him to the vets. During the car journey Luiz’s condition worsened. When Luiz arrived at the vets, the dog was immediately hurried into emergency care. Sadly it was without success and the two year old little border collie died.
Only after Luiz had passed did the owners learn what had happened – he had suffered from water intoxication, also known as Hyponatremia.
Tragically, this kills hundreds of dogs every year. Although you may not have heard of it, it’s good to know what can happen and in what situations the risk is most extreme.
The condition is brought on by excessive fluid intake, which causes the body to lose sodium. As a result, the body’s cells begin to fill with water and swell. If the cells in the brain swell, it can affect the central nervous system, which can be fatal.
It’s very important to remember that dogs can’t always determine when they need to stop drinking. This can occur when they’re playing in a local pond or lake, a stream or river or simply drinking from a water hose that’s been left on.
Symptoms of water intoxication
The first symptoms of water intoxication can be weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite or nausea and vomiting.
Other symptoms of water intoxication can include:
Tiredness
Confusion
Excessive licking
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Bloated stomach
Widened pupils and a glazed look
In severe cases, difficulty breathing, cramps and loss of consciousness can occur and smaller, high-energy dogs that love to play in water are at higher risk, because they can absorb a lot of fluid in relation to their body size.
As a responsible dog owner it’s always important to keep an eye on your pooch if they love playing in water; brooks, streams, ponds, rivers, paddling pools and the sea. Some dogs love to throw themselves into waves or completely submerge themselves, which puts them at added risk of taking in too much water. Water intoxication can occur all year round, but is more common in hot summer months.
What to do if it occurs
If you suspect your dog may be suffering from water intoxication, you should always contact a veterinarian immediately.
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