Saltwater Killing Dogs and Cats

It’s common to see owners bringing their dogs to the beach to cool down after a hot summers day or just to play in the sea whilst they walk along the sea front – but little do people know they’re putting their dogs at risk! Excessive saltwater kills animals alike, but how?

How Does Saltwater Kill?

Whilst dogs play in the sea they unintentionally digest sea water. In copious amounts, sea water will cause dehydration and possible brain haemorrhages before dying from saltwater poisoning. Saltwater is in fact extremely toxic for animals and should be avoided if possible.

When too much salt builds up in an animal’s body the cells release their water content to try and restore the salt balance between cells and outside of the cells. This causes the severe dehydration of the cells and the animal itself, eventually causing death if left untreated.

What Are The Symptoms of Saltwater Poisoning?

Symptoms can come on gradually with stomach issues, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy and no appetite. One of the first symptoms that usually happens is vomiting, but it can vary case to case and rapidly escalate.

• Stomach issues, i.e. vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• ‘drunk walking’
• Swelling
• Excessive thirst or urination
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Comas
• Death

Prevention

Vets recommend limiting animals to two hours of play in saltwater, with frequent fresh water breaks every 30 minutes to try and prevent saltwater poisoning and plenty of freshwater before they go into saltwater. If you think your pet could possibly have saltwater poisoning take them to the vet immediately.

Shanklin Pet Stores