Mary Allen
It can be tempting and fun to let the dog play with and chase the water jet in the hose or sprinkler, especially when it is hot outside. But beware – if the dog swallows large amounts of water, there is a risk of stomach upset.
Risk to the Dog’s Life
Stomach distortion is a life-threatening condition that means that the dog’s stomach twists around its own axis so that all passage is restricted. The stomach is then quickly filled with gas, but the dog can neither vomit nor poop/fart, which becomes very painful when the stomach swells up. Maybe the dog tries to vomit without anything coming or it has difficulty lying down and looks at its stomach, showing signs of anxiety and hoarseness. The symptoms often develop rapidly, and the general condition deteriorates drastically. If it is not treated by a veterinarian quickly, the dog risks dying.
Most Common In
Abdominal distortion is most common in large and medium-sized dogs with deep chests such as Bernese Senner, Irish Wolfhound, Retriever, Greyhound, Setter, German Shepherd, but all breeds, even small ones, can be affected. Stomach problems such as gastritis, age, and obesity can increase the risk.
Waiting with exercise for three hours after eating and not giving large amounts of water within half an hour before exercise is general advice to avoid stomach upset. Do not give food and do not let the dog ingest a lot of water immediately after exercise, but let the dog go down in laps first. And this is where the water hose comes in.
Stomach Upset Most Common in Summer
According to veterinarian Jerker Kihlstrom at the Veterinarian in Vallentuna, stomach upset is most common in the summer, precisely because of this.
– The dog swallows large amounts while playing and jumps around with a full stomach, which increases the risk of stomach upset. The same applies if the dog swallows large amounts of water when it plays and picks up sticks or toys in the water.
So take it easy with a hose and sprinkler this summer!