━━ Most dogs like to refresh themselves in the pond and puddles in summer. But be careful not to let the water hurt your pet.
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Especially in summer, everyone likes to refresh themselves in cool and pleasant water. Ponds and rivers tempt us to jump in. And not only us, but also our pets. For dogs, water is a natural environment in which they feel comfortable. So in most cases, we take our pets where they can get wet during the heat. But we often don’t realise that this can cause them more harm.
A dog can develop unforeseen complications during a simple bath. Although we feel we are giving them pleasure, the situation can turn into a life-threatening event. So as a dog owner, you should definitely know what your pet is at risk of.
Dogs can often ingest large amounts of water while playing with it. This can happen, for example, while swimming in a pond or river, playing with a hose in the garden, or drinking water from a city fountain. There is a danger, for example, if you throw a ball to your dog or splash water on it.
However, ingested water carries a risk of hyponatraemia. This is a thinning of sodium in the blood, which then causes swelling of the cells, especially in the brain. Symptoms of such a problem are usually vomiting, bloated abdomen, loss of coordination, dilated pupils, glassy eyes and drooling. In some cases, the animal may even die.
Smaller dogs in particular may have this problem. It is necessary to take breaks when playing with the dog near water, to give it a rest. Dogs do not know when they have had enough, only their owner can calm them down and prevent them from swallowing too much water. If a problem occurs, immediate intervention by a vet is needed.
━━ If you let your dog swim in the pond in the summer, you risk his health.
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Particularly if you play with your dog near water in nature, i.e. by a river or pond, you should bear in mind that the water is polluted. The hose in your garden may be running clean and the dog may be gulping it down, but it’s different in the countryside. Cyanobacteria can cause acute liver failure or a neurotoxic reaction. It’s then only a matter of minutes before the dog becomes paralyzed or even dies.
But there are problems with backyard pools, too. For example, if you have an in-ground pool and your dog swims in it, there is a risk that the chemicals you use to clean the water will get into his body. Concentrated chlorine irritates the respiratory tract. If a dog swallows chunks of chlorine tablets, it can get burned inside its mouth, but also inside some organs. Such situations require immediate veterinary intervention.
Although water can help a dog cool down, be careful in hot weather, as it may work the other way around. High humidity reduces the effectiveness of cooling down by breathing. In addition, in temperatures above 25-28°C there is a risk of heatstroke, especially if the dog is wet and has longer hair. This normally protects him from the heat, but when wet it does not have the same effect.
If you take your dog to the water in summer, you should bear in mind that it can be dangerous for him to play in this environment, and you should keep to rest periods and make sure he is still well.
