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Pet Care 101- Can you prevent your dog's beach diarrhea
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Cardiff receives frequent fresh water on the beach
It is hard to deny a dog the pure joy experienced when given the opportunity to play on the beach. Running, ball chasing, and interacting with other beach-going dogs offers exercise and cognitive stimuli that benefits your dog’s physical and behavioral well being. Unfortunately, energetic beach activities can come with an undesirable potential negative consequence in salt-water induced large bowel diarrhea. I affectionately term this condition “beach diarrhea.”
Exercise causes an increase in body water loss through muscle contraction, respiration, and evaporation from the skin surface. The physiologic need to replace the lost body water leads to an increased desire to drink. If appropriate measures to rehydrate your dog with fresh water are not taken, your dog’s physiologic water demands may supercede your planned hydration interventions, leading to salt water ingestion.
If salt water is consumed, your dog may experience large bowel diarrhea as a result of the cathartic effects of salt. Large bowel diarrhea is characterized by any of the following characteristics:
Liquid consistency
Urgency or increased frequency
Large or small volume
Straning (tenesmus)
Mucous
Blood
Salt water creates an osmotic effect pulling fluid into the lumen (channel within a tubular organ) of the intestine, resulting in an increased fluid output manifesting as large bowel diarrhea. Even if your dog does not actively drink salt water it may be consumed as a result of a salt-water soaked tennis ball repeatedly entering and exiting your dog’s mouth. Sand consumed with salt water causes mechanical irritation to the inner lining of the intestine, further exacerbating large bowel diarrhea. Bacteria, algae, other microorganisms, or toxins consumed in salt water can also negatively impact your dog’s gastrointestinal health.
Do your best to prevent your dog from having “beach diarrhea” by frequently offering or administering fresh water. Carry a familiar small bowl or collapsable dish from which your dog can drink. If your dog does not voluntarily drink, administer small quantities of water directly to it’s mouth. The “sports cap” style tops of most water bottles provide ease of use for squirting water into your dog’s mouth. At least every 15 minutes, take a break so your dog can sit or lay down in a shaded area to rehydrate.
Proper dog-beach etiquette, especially the removal of your dog’s defecation, is a high priority on beach excursions. Large bowel diarrhea’s liquid consistency and multiple occurrences make it very difficult to effectively pick up with a dog waste bag. I have learned, through personal experience, that I can reduce the likelihood my dog will have beach diarrhea by frequently administering fresh water. Avoiding beach diarrhea makes for a much more enjoyable experience for my dog, myself, and other beach loving dog owners.
For other articles on pet health care topics, please see my Examiner.com home page
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