Is Sea Water Good For Your Dog?

The effects that sea water can have on your dog is a recurrent issue. This is a frequent question among those who love these animals, year after year. Veterinary emergencies due to poisoning after a day at the beach happen constantly.

On the other hand, since the end of the 19th century, the health benefits of salt water have been investigated. These studies are done in both animals (dogs and cats) and humans. The objective is to analyze treatments in which the controlled ingestion of seawater is highly beneficial.

Seawater treatments

Even though commercial disclosure is low – such as sales at veterinarians – and obtained directly from the ocean, seawater treatments for dogs are in vogue. Its effectiveness is proven to treat disorders such as anorexia, gastrointestinal, kidney, respiratory or blood disorders; cancer, tumors and allergies, among others.

Its positive effects are so numerous that some veterinarians recommend including small doses in the animals’ regular diet.

Experts evaluating these uses say the success lies in the properties of marine water. It is very rich in nutrients, featuring several elements from the periodic table. Furthermore, its general composition is very similar to that of the blood of vertebrate animals.

How to use seawater for dogs

It is important to understand that, as in any treatment, veterinary supervision is essential. If the trusted physician does not consider these uses, the option would be to seek a second opinion. Under no circumstances should you act on your own or resorting to self-medication.

On the market, there are several brands of packaged seawater, both hypertonic (undiluted, in a pure state) and isotonic (diluted in fresh water). There are even some variations intended for use as condiments for recipes.

Is it recommended to drink water directly from the sea?

Taking water directly from the sea is also valid, following some important considerations:

• Look for an area where you can be sure there is no deposit of toxic water or human feces.
• It is not necessary to swim to the bottom of the sea. As long as it is clean water, you can drink it from the shallowest part, but it does not contain sand.
• It is recommended to leave the water in a glass bottle, in a cool, dark place, for a week.
• Straining, as if it were coffee, is also a valid measure.

Mix one glass of salt water with three glasses of drinking water. So that the animal starts to ingest it by itself, place it in another container, next to the ones that contain the “normal” food and water. The dog will taste it little by little, until drinking the “two waters” becomes a habit.

The action of sea water on dogs’ skin

The effectiveness of seawater treatments in dogs has not only been proven in the internal organism of these animals. Procedures to treat skin diseases, wounds, and to repair and strengthen hair have also been successful.

Thanks to its antiseptic and healing properties, it restores tissue damaged by wounds or burns. Likewise, its antibacterial and antimicrobial features prevent infections from any skin damage.

Seawater is very useful to relieve itching from atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, scabies, psoriasis or dandruff. In addition, by reducing the itching, it prevents the animal from scratching itself compulsively and causing new injuries.

Summer poisoning

Uncontrolled intake of seawater is not the only cause of hypernatremia (high levels of sodium in the body). At home, dogs can be exposed to toxic agents such as homemade salt or modeling clay.

To reduce risks during trips to the beach, you should be vigilant at all times so that your dog does not seek to quench his thirst with seawater. A container of fresh fresh water should always be carried for him.

Some dogs love to swim, and getting them out of the water can be very problematic, as can children with the same characteristics. However, the baths must be regulated. For the more hyperactive, one option is to play with them in the sand for as long as possible to exhaust them.