Water Intoxication and your Dog

Water intoxication is a life threatening condition, leading to death in many cases. Some dogs do survive with intensive treatment but many suffer brain damage and have neurological impairment

afterward. This condition is much easier to prevent then to cure, since by the time symptoms are noticed it may be too late for treatment.

Water intoxication describes a condition where more water is taken in than the kidneys can process. The excess water dilutes or lowers sodium levels, and is then taken up by the cells in the body to try to maintain a normal sodium level. This leads to swelling of the cells throughout the body, including brain cells. While there is room for swelling in most organs, the brain is incased in the skull. Any swelling of brain cells damages those cells, and can lead very quickly to death.

Water intoxication in dogs is most likely to happen while swimming or playing in the water. Diving for toys or swimming to retrieve a toy causes the dog to swallow water. If the play goes on long enough the dog will swallow more water than the kidneys can process. This doesn't mean your dog can never play in the water, just that the water play intervals are short enough and dry land breaks are long enough that the kidneys can keep up with the water being swallowed. Choosing a flat toy for your dog to retrieve rather than a ball helps keeps the mouth closed while swimming, limiting the water that is swallowed.  Keep an eye on your dog during play, and make sure they are urinating during breaks.

Your dog is also at risk if he or she likes to bite water coming out of a hose or sprinkler, or biting at waves on the beach. When dogs do this they are swallowing some of the water, and you need to make sure they aren't swallowing too much. Again, make sure the "dry" breaks are long enough for the kidneys to keep up with the water.

Another risk for the wave biters is sand bloat. If the waves are stirring up sand on the beach, your dog is also swallowing sand. This can lead to a condition called sand bloat, another life threatening condition. The sand actually causes a blockage in the stomach or intestine, requiring surgery. It is never a good idea to let your dog bite at waves, or to throw a toy where they are retrieving in the surf line.

Dogs that were bred for water retrieving like labs and goldens tend to swim with their heads held high out of the water. This helps to limit the water they swallow while swimming. If your dog loves to swim, observe how they hold their head. Is it high or at water level? Is your dog so obsessed with swimming they don't stop unless you make them? These dogs are at higher risk and need more and longer breaks. Toy breeds and any dog with a very low body fat level are also at higher risk for water intoxication. The little ones have less body mass and the lean dogs don't have fat cells to store the excess water in.

Water play is great exercise for your dog, especially in the summer when it's too hot for other forms of play. Just be careful and make sure the dry land breaks are long enough. 

We carry Whole Dog Journal in our store!  Stop by and pick one up to read up on healthy care for your pet!

Fresh from our ovens: Treats!

Treats are an important part of your dog's life, from small, tasty training treats to reward your new

puppy for learning to "I love you" treats for your adult dog. Treats are a big part of what we do at the Bakery. We are always looking for ways to make those tasty treats a healthy addition to your dog's diet.

Should treats replace food? 

No. 

Can they be a healthy adjunct? 

Absolutely yes.

Last Fall we proudly announced we were switching to Organic flours and brans in our recipes. This means no chemical pesticides or fertilizers and no GMO grains. Last summer we brought in a line of treats using locally grown fruits and berries, some we grew ourselves and some we bought from local organic growers. We are going to do that again this year, so look for seasonal treats reflecting what is available around us. We are blessed to be in an area with many local growers so we can bring your pup the best and freshest local ingredients.

For the pups that prefer a meat treat we carry several great lines of all meat choices. Bravo is an   Bare Bites makes a dehydrated beef liver treat that even the pickiest dogs love. These treats are a healthy addition to your dog's diet.

American company that uses North American ingredients for their freeze dried treats. Barkworthies is another one that has a wide range of protein sources, as is Grandma Lucy's and Stella &Chewys.

We are frequently asked why we don't bake treats for cats. 

Cats are obligate carnivores, they need all meat treats. We carry a full line of cat treats from great companies. Bare Bites liver treats are great for cats, Bravo, Grandma Lucy's and Stella & Chewys have healthy treats your cat will love.

There has been a lot of publicity about treat recalls and treats causing illness or death in pets. We can promise you that you won't find anything on our shelves with ingredients from foreign countries with low or no standards. The companies we use source their ingredients from North America or countries that hold to the European Standard. 

Everything we have is something we are comfortable feeding to our dogs and cat. 

That is our promise to you.

Visit our webstore to see the latest seasonal snacks we're baking up!