Dog dazed after swimming, pale gums. Is it water intoxication?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Louie. If he is still experiencing the symptoms you have described, then I recommend seeking emergency veterinary care this evening. He may have just been exhausted from the swim. In that case though, his symptoms would resolve rapidly with rest. Otherwise I worry there is something more serious going on with him. Poisonings are a common cause of a rapid onset of the sign you have described. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This can actually be quite severe of a toxicity and while it is not for sure that Jessie was exposed to it, it is certainly possible. There are several signs that can develop secondary to this toxicity. Most concerning ones are signs secondary to neurologic effects and liver failure such as melena (black stools), severe vomiting, lethargy, seizures, difficulty breathing, pale gums and/or collapse. Given that she is already acting strange, she should be evaluated by a veterinarian to start checking for any of these possibilities. I hope that she is fine and she was not actually exposed. Good luck and have a great day!

These signs could be compatible with a severe gastrointestinal infection/inflammation or possibly to an intoxication. The presence of lethargy and weakness is quite concerning and should be ideally and immediately checked by your local veterinarian as soon as possible. Antibiotics and symptomatic treatment for vomiting and nausea may be needed. activated charcoal may be important to avoid excess of toxin absorption. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hello. It does not sound like anything is too serious with Frankie. If there was any aspiration pneumonia from the water, his symptoms would be worsening, not be intermittent. He may have swallowed a bit more pool water than normal that irritated his stomach or esophagus. He may be regurgitating a bit just from this alone. As long as he seems pretty normal, his resting respiratory rate is between 30 - 40 breaths per minute, then he may just have irritated things & should do fine in a few days. But if the coughing worsens, then this may be a case of tracheobronchitis that might respond very nicely to anti-inflammatory medication & an antibiotic. I do not think the pineapple had anything to do with this. Hope all is well soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If she has pale gums then she needs to be examined by a vet immediately to determine the cause and treat, especially if she also has abnormal breathing. Please call your vet or go to an emergency clinic. She could have an infection, parasite, clotting/bleeding problem, hemolytic anemia, mass, etc. and may need immediate treatment.

It’s possible she had a seizure. If she does not steadily return to normal over the next few hours, it would be best to have her checked by your vet in the morning. Routine screeening bloodwork can help determine if a liver or kidney issue could be the cause of the seizure. Medical treatment for seizures is usually not started unless the pet has multiple seizures in one month, repeated seizures or a grand mal seizure lasting more than several minutes. Seizures generally have a pre-ictal phase where the pet is anxious and may vomit, the ictal phase during which paddling/convulsions are seen, and the post-ictal phase where the pet is disoriented and often wobbly. Best wishes for Nola to steadily return to normal and not have another episode!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is very concerning as severe vomiting can result in hypovolemic shock (decreased circulating blood volume) which can be life-threatening. This can result in pale gums and weakness as you describe. The vomiting can happen from many conditions such as a gastrointestinal foreign body ingestion and obstruction, pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further evaluation and treatment. This is a medical emergency. At the very least, they can start IV fluids and start medications to try to stop the vomiting while they find out what is affecting her. I hope that she makes a full recovery! Good luck!