Dog News

Viral Blog Post Warning Ice Water is Deadly for Dogs is False

by Fred

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A recent blog post gone viral has some people with canine family members worried.  Giving your dog too much ice water can actually your dog according to the post.  Dr. Gina Scarzella, a veterinarian, said this information is medically inaccurate.

The post even goes so far as to describe a near death experience after giving ice cubes to a dog.  It claims the ice causes a dog’s stomach to bloat, and even “flip” causing and agonizing death.

Greg Baker said he gives his Cora, a black lab, ice cubes in her water and has done for some time.

“She does like ice, but she makes too much of a mess when she chews up the ice everywhere,” he said.

According to Dr. Scarzella, the deadly ice water myth “is not medically found.”  Even though ice water may not kill you furry family members, Dr. Scarzella does warn against too much ice chewing.

“We don’t recommend giving dog’s large amounts of ice water for one reason, that ice can cause cracked teeth, just like in people,” she said.

It’s not too tough to get a grip on just how hot, or maybe even too hot, our canine friends are.  Think of it this way; if it’s hot out, and you’re feeling a bit overheated, chances are the dog is feeling a bit overheated as well.

“So keep that in mind especially with asphalt, because they don’t wear shoes like we do, they can burn their paw pads. Also, leaving them in cars even with the window cracked is not adequate. Studies show, it’s about 20 degrees hotter inside the car,” Dr. Scarzella said.

With summer right around the bend for most of us, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that all of our pets need special considerations when it comes to beating the heat.  This includes our feline friends too.

“They have a fur coat on, right? So you have to keep them well-hydrated, and keep them out of the sun.  Take them out in the morning, take them out at night, and keep them well-hydrated’” said Baker.