The death of a dog from acute water intoxication has prompted a call for pet owners to monitor their dogs near water. Denny Erardi is a board member of the Eagle River Chain of Lakes Association.
She says her best friend's dog died and tells us how it happened...
"....it means the dog has ingested too much water for the cells in its body to handle. It results in electrolyte depletion, primary sodium. With in a matter of hours it can result in cerebral edema and death..."
Dogs often are very active near lakes or rivers. Erardi said this was a new condition to her...
"When your dog is out there whether she's biting at the water, playing in the waves, retrieving a ball...or even playing with a sprinkler or hose or drinking after they've become very dehydrated they have no ability to regulate, they have no governor. They take in too much water and their bodies can't handle it..."
She says dog owners should not let their dogs play in the water for more than 10 minutes without a significant break...
"...Another helpful thing for people who let their dogs retrieve things in the water is if you're able, don't do that with a tennis ball or a kong. Do it with something flat, like a Frisbee because that limits the amount of water in their system..."
Erardi says there's more information on acute water intoxication at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals website.
