Hi all, Just a quick question.
We are taking our Lab on hols with us this summer and were hoping to spend alot of time walking the dog on the beach and swimming in the sea. I have just read a post that implies that dogs become very ill if they swallow sea water. Would most dogs be ok or are  they all dumb and drink sea water enough to make them ill. our hol will be a bit dull if we have probs with a bad stomach and have to stop him going in the water. it's a proper dog walking beach not a sun bathing one.we were intending to spend alot of time there.   

Our previous dog loved the sea and swimming in it! She would body surf the waves too! She never intentionally drank from it and she would always exit the water to have a 'wee',a real lady! but on occasion it did give her a loose tummy :D but no other adverse side effects :)

Our new dog is a little wary,she is only 6 months and it is still cold,but she has made no attempt to drink the seawater during her paddles,so we hope she too will learn to love the sea as much as our other dog in time to come.Swimming is becoming a great form of exercise for her and we often take her to the local canal,making very certain that it is clear of obstructions and wildlife,before she enters the water :D

One more thing I would like to mention is that we bought a small beach tent for visits to the seaside,to allow our dog shade,especially during the summer months! and we always took a good supply of fresh drinking water.Dogs can and do suffer from heat exhaustion and sunburn just like us :)

Hope this helps,
Jacqueline

When I lived near Ramsgate we went down the beach every day :)

If we were ona  very long walk and the Mars did alot of swimming and diving she took so much water in that is came out the other end in a jet like manner :D

Always made sure she had planty of fresh water all the time though ! Never harmed her and she lived to a ripe old age of 14 3/4 :)

Where abouts are you going as we are in the throws of searching for a place to go with our three Lab girls and the two legged girls as well ! It will be Min my oldies last ever holiday as she is getting on for 14 in Sep so want to make sure we go to somewhere that she will enjoy paddling that is relatively accessable to get to for her !

Lucy

Just a word of warning, some councils don't allow dogs on  beaches at some times of the year. Sad really as lots of dogs love swimming. I found that if my dog swallowed too much water she got rid of it another way. Yuk! Enjoy your holiday. :)