The Dog and the Sand

It’s summertime, and what could be better than a day at the beach with your best canine pal? You
pack lots of fresh water, a towel, and a tennis ball, and you’re ready to go! But suppose each time
your dog retrieves that tennis ball on the beach, it becomes covered with sand. Before you know
it, your outfielder has swallowed a decent amount of those tiny particles. So, what’s the problem?

Dogs who visit the beach are in danger of what veterinarians call intestinal sand impaction. This
condition can make dogs very sick and is potential life-threatening, typically requiring emergency
veterinary intervention.

Particles of sand are very tiny, but when they get wet, they become heavy and compact into a solid
lump. Any sand your dog swallows naturally becomes wet – and if there’s enough of it, the result
can block the entire intestinal tract.

How Can That Happen?

You may not see your dog actually chowing down on a pile of sand, but you may notice your pal:

 Grabbing a wet, sandy tennis ball over and over.

 Digging a big hole to lie in as the sand flies up in his face.
 Licking the sand off of his paws and body.
 Gulping down salty, sandy water.

Usually, swallowing just a little bit of sand won’t really hurt your dog. But add all of these activities
together, and before you know it, you and your dog may have a big problem.

Symptoms of Sand Impaction

How can you tell when your enthusiastic playmate has swallowed too much sand? If you’ve gone
to the beach and you see the following symptoms, you need to get your dog to a veterinarian right
away.

 Restlessness
 Panting
 Vomiting
 Dehydration
 Abdominal pain
 Hard mass in the stomach area
 Constipation