Mary Allen
Especially when the temperatures are hot in summer, it is repeatedly pointed out that the four-legged friend should be offered fresh water regularly. Refreshment- in the cool water is just as welcome for many four-legged friends – after all, the heat usually bothers our dogs more than us. How is it then that dogs can get water intoxication when water is actually only beneficial?
Veterinarians call water intoxication in dogs “hypotonic hyperhydration”. This condition occurs when the dog’s electrolyte balance is out of balance due to excessive water intake.
What Happens When a Dog Gets Water Intoxicated?
If the dog has taken in more water than it should, the sodium content in the cells will drop and they will begin to retain water. Urine production is now slowed down so that the dog does not lose additional electrolytes. The four-legged friend can no longer excrete the water himself but becomes increasingly thirsty at the same time. The water-storing cells swell and cause excess pressure, for example in the head, which can lead to neurological disorders. The air sacs in the lungs also begin to swell – the animal is in mortal danger if no countermeasures are taken.
First Aid Measures
If you feel your dog has been drinking too much, remove the water source and wait for the excess water to be lost through urination. If your four-legged friend’s condition is already worse and you can see that he is no longer urinating on his own, go to your vet immediately. Until then, you can offer your dog pretzel sticks/pretzels, which are designed to replenish electrolytes and help the kidneys excrete water.
At the Vet
When you get to the vet, you should tell him what your four-legged friend has experienced before. Did you have him retrieved from the water? Did he swim a lot? Or played me the lawn sprinkler? Especially when playing and romping in the water, a dog can unnoticed absorb a lot of water in a short time and run the risk of water poisoning. If there is reason to believe, the vet will check your fur nose’s blood values and provide immediate help for the disturbed electrolyte balance. The dog’s sodium deficiency must be replenished so that the kidneys can function normally. In addition, the excess pressure in the cells must be normalized again by the stored water. Your dog will therefore be fed electrolytes, as well as dehydrating medication. Since the long-term effects of water intoxication can lead to serious problems even a few days later, the vet will carry out further blood tests until the complete all-clear is given.
Preventing Water Intoxication in Dogs
If you have planned a day by the water with your dog, you should keep an eye on him and, above all, take breaks when retrieving from the water and pay attention to the general condition of your dog. Is he urinating normally? Does he perhaps have an excessive thirst that seems unusual to you? Up to 100 ml of water per kilogram of body weight per day is normal. A dog weighing 10 kilos would drink no more than a liter a day.
However, this value is only a rough guideline, because the water requirement can vary greatly, depending on the outside temperature, physical activity, feeding of the dog, etc. A dog that receives dry food drinks almost twice as much as a dog that eats wet food. Smaller dogs, puppies, and well-trained dogs with little body fat are also more at risk of water intoxication. Compared to larger dogs, they simply have less mass and are therefore less able to compensate for the excess water intake.
Symptoms of Water Intoxication
The following symptoms of possible water intoxication should make you aware:
- dizziness
- weakness
- Light mucous membranes
- dilated pupils
- inability to urinate
- restlessness and exhaustion
- disturbances of consciousness up to unconsciousness
- Increased salivation
- nausea and vomiting
- Bloated appearance or bloated abdomen
- cramps
- lack of appetite
Keep in mind that not all symptoms need to appear at the same time. Symptoms can also be delayed or isolated. Also, listen to your gut feeling and take your four-legged friend to the vet immediately if your dog behaves differently or seems strange to you. It is better to go to the practice too often than to react too late because if the worst comes to the worst, it would be water poisoning, which if left untreated would lead to the death of the animal within two to eight hours.
Of course, you shouldn’t give up all the fun in the water! Fortunately, the risk of water intoxication is usually rather low. Be sure to keep the information in mind. Don’t let your dog retrieve from the water, swim, or play with the sprinkler for too long, but give him frequent breaks. If you plan a day trip to the lake, keep an eye on him and have some salty snacks with you just in case. Otherwise: Enjoy the time and enjoy your dog’s enthusiasm about the shared experience!