Clubs Offering:
You know the modern-day mantra: Stay hydrated! And that goes for your dog too. Make sure there’s plenty of clean, fresh water available, especially during hot weather. But is it possible for your dog to drink too much water?
As important as it is to avoid dehydration, there can be too much of a good thing. Many owners — and even some veterinarians — are unaware that an overabundance of water in a dog’s system can lead to frightening symptoms and even death.
Water intoxication goes by a variety of names, including water poisoning, hyperhydration, and water toxemia. No matter what you call it, this problem can come on suddenly, and the outcome can be fatal.
Here’s what happens when the body is overwhelmed with an excessive amount of water. First, sodium levels outside the cells are depleted, a condition called hyponatremia. In an effort to rebalance itself, the body responds to the low blood sodium by increasing fluid intake inside the cells. Some organs, such as the liver, can accommodate the increased volume of their swelling cells, but others — in particular, the brain, which is encased in bone — cannot.
In humans, water intoxication usually results from drinking too much water after rigorous exercise or competing in water-drinking competitions. (In 2007, a 28-year-old mother of three from Sacramento, California, died after chugging two gallons of water in a radio contest called “Hold Your Wee for a Wii.”) In dogs, excessive water intake often occurs when swimming, diving, or water-retrieving. Even play-biting the stream of water from a garden hose or sprinkler can overload a dog’s system and lead to water intoxication. Because their bodies have to work harder to clear out the excess water in their system, toy and small dogs are at greater risk than larger ones.
Symptoms of Water Intoxication in Dogs
Symptoms of water intoxication include:
As the pressure in the brain increases and its cells begin to die off, the dog may have difficulty breathing, develop seizures, or slip into a coma.
How Can I Stop My Dog’s Diarrhea Fast?
There’s no need to freak when your canine pal experiences diarrhea!
Not only is it relatively common in dogs, it usually resolves by itself in a few days. However, it would still be best to examine the exact cause of the affliction and to take appropriate measures to help your pup feel better.
Below are some simple tips to help your furry friend recover from a bout of diarrhea:
Diarrhea in Dogs: How To Quickly Treat At Home
As you watch your canine pal go absolutely HAM on the contents inside its water bowl, a curious thought crosses your mind.
Not usually.Diarrhea is more commonly a symptom that occurs when a dog doesn’t drink enough water- not when it drinks too much.
However, excess water consumption can still be unhealthy for our canine companions. In serious cases, it can result in hyponatremia or sodium deficiency/water intoxication– a potentially life-threatening condition for affected dogs.
When a dog drinks too much water, the excess amount overloads the body’s cells and internal organs. This then leads to the hyponatremia, which results in the dilution of essential electrolytes in a canine’s body.
As the water overloads the body’s cells, this also includes brain cells. As a result, many of the symptoms of hyponatremia are neurological in nature. For example, signs that your dog is suffering from hyponatremia can include
It would be best to seek immediate medical assistance if you notice your pup is developing any of the above symptoms of water intoxication.
While the condition can be dangerous and even fatal to canines, the good news is that hyponatremia is quite rare in dogs since they are usually pretty good at regulating their own water intake!
If your dog experiences diarrhea after drinking a large quantity of water, it is much more likely that the cleanliness of the water is the issue rather than the amount of liquid guzzled.
Diarrhea and an upset stomach can occur when the pup drinks contaminated water filled with bacteria or parasites. That’s why it’s so important to always make sure your pup’s water source is fresh, clean, and replaced frequently!