Water intoxication in dogs can occur when dogs swallow an excessive amount of water.
This can happen when dogs spend time swimming or playing in fresh water, for example when fetching a ball from a lake. Therefor it is beter to teach your dog to swim with its mouth closed and preferably without a ball or toy.

When dogs consume too much water it dilutes the sodium level in their blood. This can lead to hyponatremia in dogs – seriously low levels of sodium in the blood. This encourages the inflow of water into the dog’s cells which can result in swelling. If water causes the brain cells to swell, this can lead to brain damage.

When dogs suffer from water intoxication, they may feel nauseous, lethargic or weak. They may also lose coordination and stagger. Other signs can include dilated pupils, glazed eyes and excessive salivating.

In severe cases, dogs may also have difficulty breathing, collapse, have a seizure or fall into a coma.

While all dogs are at risk of water intoxication if they swallow too much water, some dogs are more at risk than others. These include:

• Small dogs that only need to swallow a small amount of water to have too much
• High energy dogs that may spend more time in the water
• Dogs with little fat to absorb excess fluid

The amount of water your dog has swallowed and the size of your dog determines whether they have consumed too much water. For example, a Labrador would be able to swallow more water than a Shih Tzu before being at risk of water intoxication. If your dog drank too much water and you are concerned that they may be showing signs of water intoxication, seek urgent advice from your vet not on any social media. A vet knows best what to do.

No, playing in the water is a great form of exercise for dogs and of course a great source of fun. It’s not necessary to keep your dog out of the water completely, just limit their time to avoid overconsumption.