Owner Shares Scary Warning After His Dog Dies From Saltwater Poisoning
For Chris Taylor, a fun afternoon on the beach with his black lab turned into a nightmare. On Monday July 9, the University of Florida student and his 6-year-old pup, O.G., went to Honeymoon Island State Park Dog Beach to unwind in the summer sun. It was a totally normal afternoon for the pair, according to Taylor.
But later that night, Taylor noticed that O.G. wasn't his usual goofy self. "Towards the end of the evening, he was obviously tired, a little wobbly from a long day at the beach," he told Fox 13. "I took him to car. He had a little bit of diarrhea."
By the next morning, however, O.G. seemed to be feeling better. He was still lethargic and groggy but was eating and drinking again. Just to be safe, Taylor kept a close watch on O.G. and fed him boiled chicken and rice.
But then, everything went downhill on Wednesday. Taylor rushed O.G. to the vet because he wouldn't eat or respond. The vet informed Taylor that in addition to being dehydrated, O.G.'s brain was swelling due to high levels of sodium. Then, Taylor saw what no dog owner ever wants to see: "I saw him last night, and he was convulsing, and I asked if he was in pain, she said I don't even think he knows where he is," he told WFLA.
One seizure and many convulsions later, the vet told Taylor there was nothing they could do. The brain damage was irreversible. Per their recommendation, Taylor had to put his dog - and best friend - down.
While the loss is still a shock to Taylor, he urges pet owners to understand the danger that a normal day at the beach can have on their furry friends. "Even though we had fresh water still and he was drinking that, and we took breaks, accidents can still happen," Taylor told Fox 13.
Sadly, O.G.'s story is far too common. Thousands of commenters responded with personal stories of their dogs' experiences with saltwater. "I have a lab and he loves his ball. He has his mouth open while holding his ball. This poor dog may have swallowed the water while playing. I know my dog does it and I will be more vigilant about it now," one wrote.
How to Keep Your Dog Safe
"We see cases every summer at the beach and every winter when the Christmas tree decorations go up," Judy Morgan, DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT, tells GoodHousekeeping.com. In fact, salt poisoning is an issue whether you're at the beach or not. In addition to drinking saltwater from oceans and pools, dogs are at risk if they eat salt dough ornaments, paintballs, table salt in large quantities, rock salt, or homemade play dough.
To avoid putting your dog's health in danger, try your best to prevent your dog from consuming salt of any kind, including gulping on saltwater while playing in the ocean. "If you are at the beach and your dog insists on drinking the water, move them away and offer fresh water," Morgan explains. But if you're a pet owner, you know just how difficult this may be. A better solution: "If your dog is the type that gulps water while swimming, do not play in salt water," says Morgan.
If your pup consumes salt of any kind, look out for these symptoms of possible poisoning:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Excessive panting
Tongue hanging out
Ataxia (wobbly walk)
"Drunk" behavior
Seizures
Muscle tremors
If any of these symptoms are present, call your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center immediately.
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