On June 11, a young border collie named Winter died unexpectedly after playing in a water-filled kiddie pool. Winter’s demise prompted his heartbroken owner, Jessie, to utilize social media platforms to warn other dog owners about the danger of water intoxication.
On Instagram, Jessie posted photos of her 18-month-old pup, writing:
I wanted to write this to advocate on his behalf, and to share the details surrounding his death to help spread awareness about the dangers of water intoxication for dogs. Winter spent about an hour playing in a baby pool with no more than 4 inches of water (see video), which he had done many times in the past.
The events from yesterday can only be explained as a “freak accident”. None of it truly makes sense but somehow this time spent splashing around in the pool, became fatal.
She adds:
With that being said, please be careful with your dogs this summer – especially on hot days or during potential heat waves. We do not need another innocent pup passing away tragically from this.
I cannot even comprehend the fact that he is never coming back. I am so grateful for the time I had with Winter, and I truly hope he brought as much joy to everyone else as he did to me. I will miss him dearly
https://www.tiktok.com/@jesssayyw/video/7109164396047289605?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=6961063592419247621
What exactly is water intoxication in dogs? It is a rare condition that develops if a dog ingests a large amount of water in a short period of time. The large amount of water depletes the sodium in the dog’s body, causing the cells to swell.
Symptoms to watch for:
- loss of coordination
- drooling
- pale gums
- restlessness
- lethargy
- bloating
- vomiting
- glazed eyes
- excessive salivation
- difficulty breathing
- seizures
- coma
Dogs who develop one or more of these symptoms after playing in water should immediately receive veterinary care. With prompt, supportive care (diuretics and electrolytes) dogs may recover, but survival is not guaranteed.
Please help save a life by sharing this vital information.
You can find more photos and videos of Winter on Jessie’s TikTok account here.
