XL HiK9 Bed. Suitable for one Womlu Mastiff or four Quincegrove Springers!
2 hours ago ·
It's a bit cooler this morning so everyone has had a quick hunt and retrieve session in the wood.
11 hours ago ·
It's hot so 'that' post is circulating... ![]()
![]()
"A vet says don't give your dog ice or it will die!"![]()
![]()
For inexplicable reasons people believe this nameless 'vet' and share the post over and over, even using it to tell the RSPCA, Battersea, and me that we are wrong. So what's the truth?![]()
![]()
A healthy dog will enjoy a cold snack on a hot day, just like us. Ice cubes in the water bowl, frozen chicken broth, stuffed frozen kongs, doggy ice lollies... all fine. You should supervise your pet as any hard treat presents a small choking risk and offer a sensible amount. But that's it. Oh and don't use cow's milk in case it causes diarrhoea. ![]()
![]()
BUT the source of this urban myth is that vets do not advise giving an overheated dog ice or ice cold water. Just like an athlete wouldn't gulp down a frosty pint at the finish line, neither should a very hot dog. Very cold water can cause stomach cramps and vomiting, which make any dehydration worse. If a dog then dies, it is the heatstroke and dehydration, not so much the ice. An overheated dog should be offered small amounts of room temperature water every few minutes (again, gulping down a huge bowl could lead to vomiting). ![]()
![]()
So there you go, the full story. And some photos of my dogs enjoying puppy milk ice pops and frozen kongs, as they do every summer. I'd love you to share, but I'm neither a celebrity vet or an anonymous internet source so I expect to be writing the same thing when 'that' post pops up next heatwave!
5 days ago ·