Did you know that too much water can not only be harmful but even fatal? We’ll explain how your lake outing with your dog can remain an undisturbed water fun.

Lakes are a bathing paradise for dogs and their owners

Sunny and warm temperatures lure dog owners into the cool waters. Especially during scorching summer times, people with dogs need good alternatives to public pools. A quiet and shaded spot, where both the dog and the human can enjoy themselves, is appreciated. Remote lakes and calm riverbanks are particularly popular.

Many lakes now explicitly welcome dogs. Specially designated dog bathing areas provide ample space for play and swimming without jeopardizing the harmony between dog owners and guests without dogs.

Fun and cooling are top priorities on a day at the lake. As a dog owner, you hit two birds with one stone, as water activities provide both demanding exercise and refreshing cooling. However, what still too few people know is that extensive activities around and in the water can be dangerous for dogs and, in the worst case, even fatal.

The tragic death of Hanz, the Schnauzer

How dramatically a day at the lake can unfold was experienced firsthand by an American family in the summer of 2017. Their only two-year-old Schnauzer, Hanz, gained sad fame that day. For the lively Schnauzer, a cheerful family outing at the lake ended tragically. After retrieving countless sticks from the water, he died on the way to the vet due to water poisoning.

Hanz’s family wanted to do something good for their young and active Schnauzer, who truly enjoyed the water. Since the family members had never heard of water poisoning in dogs, they engaged him in fetching sticks for an extended period. While he frolicked in the water, he apparently swallowed large amounts of water.

By the time Hanz’s owners noticed his uncontrolled and lethargic behavior, it was already too late. Attempts at resuscitation failed, and the vet could not save Hanz.

To warn dog owners worldwide about the insidious water poisoning, Hanz’s family shared their tragic story on Facebook shortly after the incident. To date, this post has been shared over eighty thousand times.

Water Poisoning: The Overlooked Danger

Is your dog a water enthusiast like Hanz? Does your four-legged friend tirelessly bring back sticks from the lake? Then you should by no means deny your furry companion this fun but handle it with discretion.

It is widely known that dogs do not tolerate heat well. Dog owners are sensitized to the risk of heatstroke in many ways. During the summer, social media is filled with warnings about the danger of overheated cars. For dog lovers, the burden of hot temperatures is all the more reason to spend a lot of time at refreshing lakes. However, the well-intentioned effort to provide an extended refreshment for their dog can be very dangerous for furry friends.

The problem: When dogs play in the water for an extended period, they often swallow a lot of water. If the freshwater overwhelms the organism, they can be poisoned by it. Medical professionals call this phenomenon hypotonic hyperhydration.

While water poisonings occur far less frequently than dehydration, extremely hot temperatures can tempt dogs to consume too much water. Many dog owners are not aware of the danger because they believe that both humans and dogs cannot drink enough water in hot weather.

How do I recognize water poisoning in dogs?

Water poisoning can be identified by certain external signs and the behavior of the dog.

Typical symptoms of water poisoning include:

If no countermeasures are taken, the consequences of water poisoning can lead to a coma or even be fatal even hours after the first symptoms. Therefore, seek a veterinarian immediately if you suspect water poisoning in your furry friend.

For cases like this, there is dog health insurance. It covers all veterinary costs incurred in the treatment of water poisoning.

What to Do If You Suspect Water Poisoning in Your Dog

If your dog shows initial symptoms of water poisoning, keep him away from all water access points. If you are sure that your four-legged friend has already ingested a lot of water, do not allow him to take in any more.

Inform your veterinarian about your suspicion and make your way to them as quickly as possible. If your dog is still capable, you can feed him salt-rich food such as salted sticks or biscuits until you reach the vet.

Of course, it’s important to note that salted sticks and similar salty snacks are made for human consumption and are not suitable as regular dog food. They should never be fed to dogs casually. In an emergency, they are allowed to quickly replenish your dog’s salt balance. When purchasing the product, be sure to check the ingredient list to safely rule out toxic substances.

How to Prevent Water Poisoning in Your Dog

To protect your canine companion from water poisoning, you just need to follow a few simple basic rules when dealing with freshwater.

Factors that Increase the Risk of Water Poisoning

Water poisoning can affect any dog that consumes a large amount of freshwater within a short period. If your dog is an avid “water rat” who enjoys playing with the sprinkler and loves snapping at a water stream, you should be particularly cautious.

Additionally, three physical prerequisites may pose a higher risk for some dogs compared to others. Important factors include the size and weight of a dog.

The “risk groups” for water poisoning include:

How Does Water Poisoning Occur in Dogs?

The dose makes the poison, even for water. However, the term “water poisoning” is misleading because the water that causes poisoning is entirely “normal,” non-hazardous water. It is by no means contaminated with pollutants. The symptoms of poisoning arise solely from the large quantity that creates a dangerous imbalance in the dog’s body.

In the body cells and intercellular spaces, there is water, salts, and minerals that ensure the optimal functioning of the organism. This includes sodium, which is important for heart rhythm and the transmission of nerve impulses. When a dog ingests large amounts of freshwater, for example, during water retrieval, this composition of water and substances changes. In a short period, a large amount of water flows into the cells.

Dangerous Sodium Deficiency

In return, the sodium content in the cells decreases. With large amounts of water, there is insufficient sodium concentration, a condition referred to by medical professionals as hyponatremia. This is due to a physiological process in the body: osmosis. Osmosis ensures that the imbalanced concentration of substances is equalized. A uniform concentration of dissolved substances is always sought between the body cells and their surroundings, the intercellular space.

The significant dilution of salts leads to neurological problems and organ damage, among other issues. Since sodium is also involved in controlling the kidneys, a fatal reaction occurs. When the sodium level is too low, the body essentially switches to an emergency program. To prevent additional salt loss, urine production is slowed down. As a result, more and more water accumulates in the tissues. The cells swell, literally ballooning.

Because the brain can hardly expand due to the bony structure of the skull during a “flood,” water poisoning is particularly critical there. The increasing volume entraps the brain. This pressure not only causes pain but can also become life-threatening. Consequently, pulmonary edema, an accumulation of water in the lungs causing difficulty breathing, often develops.

Humans Can Also Suffer from Water Poisoning

Water poisoning is not a phenomenon that only affects dogs. It can also pose a danger to humans. However, typically only individuals who exert themselves physically very strenuously are affected.

Unfortunately, there are instances where athletes succumb to overhydration. Beginners in endurance sports, in particular, are at risk when they drink excessive amounts of water out of fear of dehydration without simultaneously replenishing their bodies with electrolytes. In 2015, a participant in the Frankfurt Ironman died in this manner.

As tap water contains few to no minerals, athletes are recommended to consume enriched fluids like isotonic drinks. A liquid is isotonic when it has the same concentration of dissolved particles (e.g., sugar, vitamins, and minerals) as blood.

Unlike dogs, who regulate their body temperature through panting and do not sweat, humans lose salts along with fluids through sweating during intense physical exertion. This loss exacerbates the imbalance between minerals and water. In dogs, water poisoning occurs solely due to the intake of large amounts of freshwater without the necessary electrolyte balance.

Making Your Day at the Lake a Carefree Water Fun

Considering a future visit to the lake, there’s no need to be unnecessarily concerned: Water poisoning is, neither in dogs nor in humans, anything close to a widespread phenomenon. It occurs much less frequently than dehydration.

Conduct water retrievals in moderation and regularly incorporate “water breaks,” allowing your four-legged friend ample opportunities to eliminate ingested water through urine. With these simple rules, nothing stands in the way of a successful trip to the lake.