Many of our clients in Kihei take their pet to the beach with them.  Sometimes cat lovers do as well!  

Occasionally a Maui dog will, while frolicking in the ocean, drinks a little salt water.  As it turns out, this may not be the best for their health, especially for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Salt is an emetic, which is a substance that tends to produce vomiting.  In the old days, vets would feed a pet salt to make them vomit if they had swallowed a poison within the hour, before it was absorbed (please do not do this as there are better ways these days...call us instead!)

  Salt creates vomiting by acting as an irritant on the lining of the     stomach.  When enough irritation happens, a reflex reaction in the body turns on the vomiting center in the brain.

 Of course, not every dog will react this way, since they are all different, and it also depends on the amount of salt swallowed.

If your dog is vomiting after going to the beach, please with hold water temporarily.  Ice chips may be given to help soothe a dry mouth and restore hydration, while you get further instructions on what do to.  Sometimes it can be managed at home, while other times the irritation in the stomach lining is bad enough that it can require veterinary attention, so please call for instructions as we are always glad to help our dear Kihei pets.