Beach safety advice for your dog
Everyone loves to be beside the seaside — particularly with our dogs. If you’re lucky enough to live by the sea or are planning a trip to the beach with your dog, be aware of these dangers beforehand.
Believe it or not, some dogs have been known to eat sand when they visit the beach. Most, however, ingest it by accident through digging or repeatedly picking up sandy balls and toys. If a dog swallows enough sand it can cause a blockage in the intestine, which is called sand impaction. Signs of this serious condition, which requires urgent veterinary treatment, include vomiting, dehydration and abdominal pain.
Don’t assume your dog can swim. All dogs have to learn just like us. Some breeds are naturally strong swimmers, but other breeds, such as corgis and pugs, are not. If your dog is not used to swimming then the sea is not the place to start so make sure he doesn’t get out of his depth.
Don’t let your dog eat dead fish that have been washed up on the beach. These may contain potentially deadly toxins. In one rare but heartbreaking case, a dog died after picking up and eating bits of washed-up fish and starfish on a beach in north Norfolk. Worried your dog is in need of emergency treatment?
Find your nearest clinic for immediate treatment.
Video chat with our vets within the hour
Some dogs eat sand at the beach, causing a blockage in their intestines which requires urgent veterinary treatment.
If your pup is vomiting, seems to be constipated, has abdominal pain, loss of appetite, or lethargy after a visit to the beach, it may indicate sand has been ingested. Depending on how much sand has been ingested, hospitalisation may be required. The important aspects of treatment include fluid therapy or medication to assist in moving the sand along the intestines. In severe cases, surgery may be needed.
Even our pooches can get sunburned. Their noses, ears and stomach are the most likely places to become burnt. Dogs with thin coats or white fur are also more at risk to the sun’s rays than others. To prevent a nasty case of sunburn, provide your pooch with an umbrella or beach tent to cool off under, and pet sunscreen might be a good idea to invest in if you dog loves time in the sun.
As sand ingestion is often accidental, it can be a challenge to avoid a case of sand impaction. Monitoring your pet while at the beach, limiting access to sand pits, and teaching your pooch the leave command to prevent them eating unwanted things, such as a sausage that has fallen on the sand.
Whether you’re an angler with a furry fishing companion or someone who walks their pet near a popular fishing spot, it’s a good idea to know how to avoid a fishing accident and what to do if your pet gets hooked. It only takes an instant – your pooch sniffs out and snacks on bait or a fish attached to a hook and the hook ends up stuck in their mouth, throat, stomach, or embedded in their skin.
If you suspect your pooch has come in contact with a puffer fish or they are showing any signs of poisoning, such as vomiting, trembling, drooling, breathing difficulty, weakness or paralysis, visit your vet immediately. Puffer fish poison is fast acting and symptoms worsen quickly. See our blog on puffer fish to learn more about symptoms and what the treatment is.
Get your fix of The Wildest
We promise not to send you garbage that turns your inbox into a litter box. Just our latest tips and support for your pet.stay in touch
Tips on taking your dog to the beach
It’s summer, and that means it’s time to hit the beach! For many dog parents, Fido comes along for some fun in the sun. But before you start packing your beach bag, it’s important to be aware of the risks that come with visiting sandy beaches and outdoor play areas. While many dog owners know the dangers of overheating, as well as water dangers such as blue-green algae, water intoxication, and other toxic plants and infectious diseases – many often don’t consider this common risk on land: sand impaction, which happens when dogs eat a large amount of sand or rocks.
While playing on the beach, your dog may accidentally (or intentionally) swallow sand. Common sand ingestion scenarios include:
Small amounts of sand will likely pass through the GI tract without issue. However, when dogs swallow a large amount of sand, it can cause an impaction – when the material compresses and forms a blockage in the intestines. Common symptoms of sand impaction include vomiting, seeming constipated, pain in the abdomen, loss of appetite, or becoming lethargic after visiting the beach or playground with sand. Signs can develop anywhere from a few hours after exposure to a few days later.
If your pet feels sick after a beach day, they should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible – whether you know they ate sand or if you just suspect they did. Your family veterinarian or your local animal emergency hospital’s veterinarian will start by taking x-rays. Treatment will vary depending on how sick your dog is and how much sand is impacted. Some dogs will only need outpatient care with supportive fluids under the skin and nausea control. Other dogs may require hospitalization for intravenous fluids and more intensive medical interventions. In some cases, surgery will be needed to remove the sand from the pet’s intestines if it is impacted beyond the ability to move with medical management. The good news is that with prompt and appropriate treatment, your dog has an excellent chance of recovering from sand impaction.
The next time you take your pup to the beach, monitor them closely while playing in the sand. The best way to avoid sand impaction is to prevent your pet from swallowing the sand – so if you catch them deliberately eating it, be sure to intervene! Reduce your pet’s sand consumption by helping rinse off toys and by not throwing any treats for your dog directly into the sand – use a dish or clean towel instead. We hope you and your pets have a fun, yet safe, summer, and remember to take a few extra precautions during your next dog-friendly beach day!