In summer, one of the best pastimes to escape the heat is to go to the beach. Since in Spain there are many beaches where you can go with your pet, it is common for us to want our four-legged best friend to accompany us for a fun day of swimming.
Now, there are a series of precautions that we must adopt if we take our dog to the beach. From protecting the dog from the sun, to making sure we keep an eye on it so it doesn't get lost, run away or bother other bathers. To this we must add an important point: you should not let your furry drink sea water.
Nothing happens if, during the bath, the dog swallows a small amount of seawater or if it simply submerges its tongue for a moment. When there really is a problem, it is when the dog drinks abundant amounts of seawater, as if it were the water that he usually drinks from his drinking fountain at home to quench his thirst.
Sea water contains a large amount of sodium chloride (salt), which greatly increases the level of sodium in the animal's body, thus causing poisoning. To this we must add that in seawater there are toxins, bacteria, remains of seawater, suspended sand and other dirt particles.
In addition, this poisoning leads to symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting, which increase the risk of the dog suffering from severe dehydration. In the most serious cases, it can neurologically affect the animal with seizures or even cause a coma.
First of all, you will have to assess how much seawater he has drunk and analyze the severity of his symptoms. If he has only had a little water to drink and is showing little sign of getting sick, simply remove him to a shady spot where he can rest and offer him plenty of fresh water to drink.
If the poisoning is evident, you should go to the vet as soon as possible. There, they will examine the dog's condition and prescribe the treatment they deem necessary, urgently rehydrating the animal, often with the administration of fluids. It may even be convenient to offer him an astringent diet for a few days, based on chicken and cooked rice, to stop diarrhea and alleviate his stomach damage.
