Sand Impaction Is Something To Avoid!

On this, the last official day of summer, we thought we’d double back to the topic of beach safety for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel … but this time, focus on the danger of what is known as ‘sand impaction’. Often under considered as a potential problem arising from summertime fun, sand impaction can be very painful for dogs who have inadvertently ingested sand during their playtime at the beach.

Sand impaction occurs after your pet has ingested sand directly from the beach (or mixed in with sea water) and it moves into the intestinal tract … compacting enough to prevent normal gut movement. The nausea most dogs feel will soon lead to dehydration and vomiting, after which a visit to the veterinarian for x-rays is in order.

The Sleepless Veterinarian’s website has a very thorough article on the topic sand impaction, including an image of an actual x-ray that provides an excellent visual representation of the problem, so we encourage you to take a look at it by CLICKING HERE!