Could there possibly be anything more enjoyable than taking your dog out for a nice run on the beach? It seems as if they have the time of their life and if you have never had the opportunity to try it, you are really missing out on something special. Although it can be a lot of fun, there is also the possibility for danger, and a 29-year-old Florida man is now putting out the warning for everyone to hear.
His name is Chris Taylor and unfortunately, he lost his dog to saltwater poisoning earlier this month. They were out for a day on the beach, running around and enjoying every moment of it. Chris and his Labrador Retriever mix were having the time of their life, but Taylor never even stopped to consider that it would be the last trip he ever took with his beloved dog.
Taylor was getting his teaching degree from the University of South Florida when he met his dog and it was love at first sight.
The student loved how much he played and named him O.G. He always talks about his personality being larger-than-life.
“He always wanted to be doing what I was doing. He’s my family. he’s just so goofy and just always excited to see me when I came through the door.”
O.G. had many things he enjoyed about life but the one he loved more than any other was being near the water. When the puppy was just really small, Chris would come home from school and take him out to the beach.
After seven years of enjoying fun in the sun, the dog had not changed at all. He was excited to head to the beach any chance he got.
The problem happened on July 9. Chris took his dog to a south Florida beach, Honeymoon Island. They played all day in the sand and ocean water.
It seemed like any other day but unfortunately, things got bad in the evening. Suddenly, O.G. showed signs that he was not feeling well.
It started with an upset stomach and soon turned to diarrhea and vomiting. Chris fed his dog healthy food, so with the dog was still feeling sluggish the next day, he realized that something serious was wrong.
That was when his health took a turn for the worse. He started staring off in a daze, not eating or drinking and he became listless.
Chris now began to panic and ran to the veterinarian with his dog. Unfortunately, saltwater poisoning was already a serious problem.
“I saw him last night, and he was convulsing, and I asked if he was in pain, she said I don’t even think he knows where he is.”
If a dog drinks too much saltwater, they could get dehydrated.
“It still feels surreal. It doesn’t feel like reality. I [have] to get a grip on that and realize that it is real and he’s gone.”
Chris wants dog owners everywhere to know about the dangers of being around saltwater. The veterinarian suggested taking your dog to the beach is fine but usually stay for about two hours. This keeps your dog from drinking too much saltwater.