Salt Water and Trigger for Seizures

[JacquelineN]

Hi, I’m looking for some guidance as we leave for vacation this week and will be taking our Golden Retriever, 1-1/2 years old….My question has to do with whether she should be allowed to swim in salt water. I’m asking because our last Golden, a male who had seizures did swim in salt water when we were away and had a seizure a day after swimming in this particular salty pond. While my current Golden is a healthy dog so of course, I would not want to risk letting her swim in salt water if it’s a trigger. I was told by a vet at one point that salt water can trigger seizures in dogs even in those without seizure disorders….Is this something that anyone has information about? I’ve not found anything about this on anything I’ve read….Thank you for your thoughts.

 

[Dr. Jean Hofve]

Never heard of that, although if they swallowed too much of the salt water to cause excess blood sodium (hypernatremia) that can cause seizures.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

whether she should be allowed to swim in salt water.

Yes! Especially if she loves swimming.

salt water can trigger seizures in dogs even in those without seizure disorders….Is this something that anyone has information about? I’ve not found anything about this on anything I’ve read

The only physiologic reason is the hypernatremia that DDr. Jean mentioned. Energetically though, anything can act as a trigger (but not a cause).

In 39 years of practice, I've never seen salt water act as a trigger. In fact, there's a product that use salt water therapeutically!

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