Devastated Dog Owner Warns Others About Saltwater Poisoning

DUNEDIN, FL – Labrador retrievers naturally love the water so it was a special treat when 29-year-old Chris Taylor took his lab, O.G., to the dog beach on Honeymoon Island last week.

Taylor, a student at the University of South Florida, had O.G. since he was a 3-month-old pup and the two had been inseparable for seven years.

Taylor said O.G. loved nothing better than race down the beach and then jump into the ocean. And Taylor said he and O.G. were frequent visitors to the Honeymoon Island dog beach.

But, as they headed off for a few hours of sun and fun on July 9, it never occurred to Taylor that he was putting his dog's life in jeopardy.

That night, O.G. began vomiting and having diarrhea. He seemed a bit better the next day but his energy level was low. It was on Wednesday that O.G. took a turn for the worst.

The dog wouldn’t touch the boiled chicken and rice Taylor prepared for him. He seemed to be dazed. So Taylor rushed him to the vet.

The vet’s diagnosis shocked Taylor. O.G. had suffered brain damage as a result of dehydration caused by ingesting saltwater.

That evening O.G. began having seizures and Taylor was told there was nothing that could be done to help the dog. He was advised to put his best friend to sleep.

Taylor was devastated. He felt responsible. After all, he was the one who took the dog to the beach.

Now Taylor is warning other dog owners about the fatal effects of saltwater poisoning on dogs.

Despite the tragedy of Taylor’s precautionary tale, Dr. Ken Tudor, a veterinarian and blogger for PetMD, said fear of saltwater poisoning shouldn’t prevent dog owners from enjoying a day at the beach with their canine companions.

“Water activity is great for dogs and the exercise far outweighs the risks,” he said. “But it is important to be mindful of the risks in the water your dog so dearly loves.”

He advises dog owners to take these precautions to keep their dogs from ingesting a toxic amount of sea water:

· Take a break every 15 minutes away from the water to offer fresh water to your dog. If your dog won’t drink willingly, use a bottle with a sports cap and squirt fresh water into the mouth. Have the dog sit or lie down in the shade for a few minutes before getting back into the water.

· Avoid playing with tennis balls and other absorbent fetch toys at the beach that soak up saltwater that your dog later ingests.

· After time at the beach, make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water and takes frequent drinks to flush the saltwater out of his system.

· If you dog shows any of the symptoms that O.G. experienced, get him to an emergency veterinary hospital immediately.

Image via Chris Taylor

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