Your dog comes home from a fun day at the beach… and suddenly starts vomiting and has diarrhea. What happened?
Meet Bertie, a 3-year-old Chocolate Labrador who came to us with exactly this problem.
Patient: Bertie, a 3-year-old Chocolate Labrador Retriever
Presenting Problem: Bertie is vomiting and has diarrhea after a trip to the dog beach.
History: Bertie spent the day playing at the dog beach with his owner. He chased balls in and out of the ocean, took occasional drinks of seawater, and picked up sticks along the shoreline during play.
After returning home, Bertie started vomiting repeatedly and was unable to keep food down. He also developed diarrhea. His owner became concerned when the symptoms continued throughout the afternoon.
Physical Exam: Bertie was quiet, tired, and appeared dehydrated. He was uncomfortable when we examined his abdomen and had a sore belly.
What's Your Diagnosis?
A. Gastroenteritis from eating something unusual
B. Salt water intoxication
C. Sand impaction
D. A foreign object stuck in the gastrointestinal tract
E. Salt water and sand ingestion
F. All of the above are possible concerns
The Answer
Because of Bertie's history and physical examination findings, our immediate concerns included salt water intoxication, sand impaction, and the possibility of a foreign object lodged somewhere in his gastrointestinal tract.
To investigate further, we performed bloodwork and abdominal X-rays.
Correct Answer: E — Salt Water and Sand Ingestion
Why?
Dogs at the beach often swallow more than just seawater. Between chasing toys, retrieving sticks, and digging in the sand, they can accidentally ingest large amounts of both salt water and sand.
Bertie's bloodwork showed mild elevation of his sodium level along with evidence of dehydration. Monitoring sodium is important because both high and low sodium levels can be dangerous. Additionally, correcting sodium abnormalities too quickly can be harmful, so any fluid therapy must be carefully managed.
His abdominal X-rays revealed sand within his gastrointestinal tract. Fortunately, the sand was moving through normally and had not formed an obstruction.
If enough sand accumulates in the intestines, it can create a sand impaction, which may require more intensive treatment and, in some cases, surgery. Similarly, beach-going dogs can accidentally swallow sticks, rocks, toys, or other foreign material that can become lodged in the digestive tract.
In Bertie's case, he was lucky. The sand was progressing through his system, and he had only mild salt water ingestion.
Case Outcome
Bertie was hospitalized for a short stay to receive intravenous fluids to correct his dehydration and carefully manage his sodium levels. He also received supportive treatment for his vomiting and diarrhea.
Thankfully, he did not develop a sand impaction or intestinal obstruction and made a full recovery.
Take-Home Message
A day at the beach can be a lot of fun, but dogs can accidentally ingest salt water, sand, and foreign objects while they play.
It's not unusual for dogs to develop mild diarrhea after a beach visit. However, if your dog is vomiting repeatedly, seems lethargic, won't eat, appears dehydrated, or seems painful, it's time for a veterinary visit.
The sooner problems like salt water intoxication, sand impaction, or foreign body ingestion are identified, the better the outcome is likely to be.