GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Is ice water deadly for dogs?
An article going viral is terrifying pet owners across the country.
Now a veterinarian is speaking out about the truths and myths.
The blog post, NO ICE WATER FOR DOGS… PLEASE READ ASAP, discusses one dog’s near deadly encounter.
“On the internet circulating right now is a story that seems very legitimate of a dog developing bloat after consuming ice cubes and water,” Dr. Randall Carpenter said, DMV of Family Friends Veterinary Hospital.
It’s the story of a dog that almost dies after his owner gives him ice water, claiming the cold water caused the dog to bloat.
Dr. Carpenter said bloats are life-threatening situations that actually flip the stomach while enlarging it.
He said he has seen the viral post concerning dog owners since 2007 and it just recently made a comeback on social media.
“If the dog is overheated and dehydrated, and desperate for fluids and they consume huge, huge amounts of ice cubes or water all at one time, it could create a situation where the dog could bloat,” Dr. Carpenter said.
But that’s true for large amounts of any temperature water, he added.
He says just consuming cold water or ice cubes in moderation will not cause bloat.
Ice cubes and water when the weather is hot is a good thing, he said.
Though the article seems very real, even scientific enough to scare the most educated pet owner, the findings behind it are simply false.
“Ice cubes and cold water are fine for pets as long as it’s done with some common sense,” Dr. Carpenter said.
