Dogs and the sea

It has come to the webmaster's attention that it is dangerous to allow your dog to swim in the sea for lengthy periods.

I have found numerous instances of dogs having died after swimming in the sea. The danger is that the dog swallows too much sea water and dangerous levels of sodium build up in the animal's system. This sodium build up stops blood from entering the brain and leads to lethargy, breathing problems, sickness and eventual death. I know of one case where a dog died after swimming near Arbroath.

I am not saying do not allow you dog any access to the sea, simply don't let him/her swim for too long. A definite no would be constant access for the duration of a morning or afternoon ( a seaside or beach day out), a few minutes now and again during a normal walk should be OK but consult your vet as some animals may have low toxicity tolerance.

If you are sceptical about this warning please consult your vet or if you are concerned your pet may have swallowed too much sea water please consult your vet. I must admit this fact came as a complete surprise to me and is the reason for posting this page, maybe this is a complete surprise to you as a doggy owner!

This page has been placed in good faith and I do not want to start people panicking if their dog jumps in the sea just be mindful of this possibility.

Here is a link to a report which was in the Coventry Telegraph HERE

OK you're wondering why I've placed this page about dogs on a marine animal website?

As we have many dog walkers in our area who report stranded seals to us it is important to us that their doggies are kept safe!