Why You Shouldn’t Let Your Dog Gulp Water After a Hot Summer Walk

I Had No Idea This Common Summer Habit Could Be Deadly for Dogs

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a foster puppy from It Takes a Village. Fostering puppies is not for the faint of heart, especially Doberman puppies that, at 40 pounds, are pee-pooping machines with sharp little teefs. He's a really sweet boy, which makes having to clean up after him not so bad. It's still kind of annoying, though.

Being a 5-month-old puppy, he needs so much exercise. After my workday is done and I want to sink into my chair and watch TV, I remember I don't just have a six-year-old, low-energy Miniature Pinscher Potato anymore. I have to take the puppy for a walk.

Ash

Summer Walks Can Be Tricky for Dogs

Since there's a heat dome settled over the Midwest and extreme heat warnings where we live, I either have to take him first thing in the morning or after it gets dark. We don't want burned paws and, let's face it, I'm just not getting out in that heat.

I already start my day at 5 a.m., and getting up at 4:15 is a hard no for me, so we head out when it's nice and buggy and muggy instead.

My little dog is basically a 15-pound camel. He hardly ever drinks water. Heck, he hardly even pants. When we get home from a walk, he might take a sip, but that's about it.

The puppy, though, drinks water like you wouldn't believe. We joke that he's "refueling" so he can immediately go pee.

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The Summer Bloat Risk I Didn't Know About

I've had big dogs before, so I knew to watch out for bloat. What I didn't know was that drinking a large amount of water immediately after a long, hot walk can increase the risk, especially in deep-chested breeds like Dobermans.

According to Rise Pet Health, bloat, medically known as Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), is a life-threatening emergency. It happens when a dog's stomach rapidly fills with gas, food, or fluid, causing it to expand. The stomach can then twist on itself, trapping everything inside, cutting off blood flow, and sending the dog into shock.

One of the factors that can contribute to bloat is gulping food or water too quickly. So after a walk, especially on a hot day, don't let your dog immediately gulp down an entire bowl of water. Instead, let them cool off for a few minutes and offer smaller amounts of water at a time.

A brown dog eating out of a metal bowl

Dogs Most at Risk for Bloat

According to PetMD, these factors can increase a dog's risk of developing bloat:

• Dogs that ingest large amounts of food or water too quickly
• Dogs weighing more than 99 pounds
• Male dogs
• Older dogs
• Large, deep-chested breeds
• Dogs that exercise immediately after eating
• Dogs that eat from elevated food bowls
• Dogs with a family history of bloat
• Dogs that eat dry food with fat or oil listed among the first four ingredients

a close up of a dog laying on the floor

Know the Signs of Bloat

Another important thing to remember is that bloat is a true emergency. If you notice any of these signs, seek veterinary care immediately:

• A swollen or hard abdomen
• Repeated attempts to vomit with little or nothing coming up
• Excessive drooling
• Restlessness or pacing
• Rapid breathing
• Weakness or collapse

Thankfully, preventing bloat can be as simple as slowing down how quickly your dog eats or drinks, avoiding vigorous exercise right before or after meals, and giving them time to cool down after outdoor activity before offering lots of water.

It's something I honestly never thought about until this foster puppy came into my life. Now, instead of letting him chug an entire bowl after our evening walks, he gets a chance to cool off first and drinks smaller amounts over several minutes. It's one tiny change that could make a huge difference.