Our dogs are part of our family, and we adore them as such. They brighten and warm our days. Dogs prefer to walk around and pick on anything by nature. Some dogs enjoy consuming beach sand, but those are fine. What if dogs consume kinetic sand, though? Theyre they going to die?
Children, dogs, and non-toxic kinetic sand are all safe to use. A modest amount would be acceptable and inconsequential if eaten. However, if your dog consumes more of it, you should still watch out for signs of gastric or intestinal obstruction, an enlarged stomach, a lack of bowel movements, vomiting, refusal to eat or a lack of desire, and severe constipation.
Although kinetic sand won’t harm your dog, you should still take him to the vet if any of these symptoms appear.
Given that kinetic sand has a binding component that prevents it from disintegrating in the digestive system, it might be harmful to dogs. Although it is not harmful, if your dog consumes a lot of it, it is highly likely to make them feel uncomfortable.
Is canine kinetic sand toxic?
Just like it is unsafe for young children, kinetic sand is also unsafe for canines. There is a reason why young kids shouldn’t handle kinetic sand unless an adult is watching them. Sand and silicone are both components of kinetic sand, albeit it is non-toxic. Even though kinetic sand is non-toxic, it can nonetheless be dangerous if consumed in high quantities.
The main problem with kinetic sand is that it could simply wind up sitting in the stomach or bowels. Inside the stomach, kinetic sand will just form and take on the same shapes that it does when you touch it. In the past, there have been cases where dogs ate enormous amounts of kinetic sand, necessitating severe surgery to remove the sand from their stomachs.
Are cats hazardous to kinetic sand?
Your family has likely taken cover after hearing about COVID-19 and following directions to stay indoors. They are likely attempting to limit unnecessary travels outside the house. Despite the fact that they may spend more time at home, people appear busier than ever because to teleworking, homeschooling kids, and storing up on necessities. You don’t want to deal with going to the vet right now for a pet emergency, so take safety measures to protect your furry friend. Follow our six recommendations to protect your home from a disaster caused by pet quarantine.
#1: Don’t let your kids share snacks with your pet
It takes a lot of food to feed your family three meals a day, not to mention snacks in between. Despite the fact that you stocked up during your most recent shopping trip, you’re surprised by how rapidly your children consume the stockpile and how they frequently appear to be enjoying a different snack. Many human meals that your children might drop by accident and your pet might eat rapidly could be hazardous nightmares. For instance, if eaten from the floor or secretly taken from a low table, grapes, raisins, chocolate, and sugar-free gum are highly toxic to pets and can result in serious sickness or death. As a result, keep snack time in the kitchen and keep your pet in a kennel or other enclosed space until snack time is complete and all food has been safely cleaned up.
#2: Keep craft time contained
Between school-related activities and boredom-busting craft projects, you have probably cleared out mountains of arts and crafts items. Supplies like glue, popsicle sticks, pom poms, and kinetic sand can be dangerous for pets who mistake craft time for food time and are nosy by nature. Popsicle sticks can split and puncture your pet’s stomach, pom poms can cause a GI obstruction, and many adhesives can be hazardous. Kinetic sand can clump up in your pet’s intestines and result in a potentially fatal GI obstruction since it has a bonding ingredient that makes it self-sticking. When doing crafts, give your pet a Kong filled with frozen peanut butter in a different room to keep her occupied while you work.
#3: Store medications safely out of your pet’s reach
Keep your extra anti-inflammatories and over-the-counter cold and flu medications safely kept and out of your pet’s reach if you have stocked up on them in case a family member becomes ill. Many human drugs, including Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil (ibuprofen), and Aleve (naproxen), are poisonous to animals and can result in kidney failure that can be fatal as well as other serious side effects. Do you honestly believe your pet wouldn’t be drawn to a bottle of bitter pills? Human over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals are the most frequent cause of pet toxicity, and they account for one-third of calls to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
#4: Make cleaning time pet-free
Remember that many cleaning products might be hazardous to pets if you’re using this time at home to get a head start on your spring cleaning. Keep buckets of soapy water out of your pet’s reach, and wait until your clean floors are completely dry before letting your pet walk on them. Never use cleaning solutions to your pet’s delicate skin since chemical burns can seriously harm the skin.
#5: Keep your pet away from home improvement projects
It’s a fantastic time to paint your living room again or build the garden trellis you’ve always wanted, but make sure your pet stays out of the construction areas. Pets are known to eat substances like paint or strong Gorilla Glue that can result in serious issues. Additionally, pets run over by large tools or pieces of wood may suffer severe injuries. Allow your pet to unwind in another room with her favorite treats and toys while you focus on your task.
#6: Don’t let your pet help with yard work
You might have the greenest lawn and the most vibrant blooms on your block in spring if there aren’t any spring sports to gobble up your weekend time. Before you go outside to work on your yard and garden, though, consider the materials you use and how they can harm your pet. Many landscaping and gardening items, including:
- Garden fertilizers, which are frequently produced from animal products like bone or blood meal, might clump in your pet’s GI system and cause a blockage if she gets into the bag or consumes recently applied garden fertilizer.
- lawn maintenance
- Observe all warnings on the package regarding pet safety.
- The majority of goods need to completely dry before pets can safely walk on them.
- Insecticides
- Products designed to kill pests in your lawn and garden can also be poisonous to your pet. For instance, if your pet consumes the bait you’ve placed around your cherished roses, the metaldehyde used in slug and snail treatments can result in serious poisoning and even death.
- plants and flowers
- Cats in particular are drawn to greenery and frequently munch on potentially harmful plants. Lilies are among the most hazardous plants, as even a small amount of their blossoms, leaves, or pollen can result in fatal kidney failure.
Sand: Can it hurt a dog?
Many people don’t give it much thought, but giving sand to a dog can be rather dangerous. Dogs most frequently get sand impaction, which is essentially a stomach ailment. Sand can accumulate in the intestinal tract and create a variety of issues if your dog eats a lot of it.
Sand is thick and heavy inside the intestines, so imagine it as a pile of concrete sitting in the stomach. If the contents of your dog’s intestines cannot move freely, he will experience digestive issues and may stop moving normally.
Your dog may experience nausea when the gut doesn’t function properly. Vomiting and dehydration are probable, therefore your dog needs to visit the vet right away. If there is too much sand and it stays in the stomach for too long, it might cause death. In most cases, intravenous fluids are administered to halt dehydration and aid in restoring normal bowel movements.
Sand is such a heavy substance that it may take several days for it to completely exit the stomach. Sand can irritate the skin, causing discomfort. The dog may also experience discomfort if he starts to poop out sand particles. The best course of action to get the sand flowing out of the bowels is painkillers and water, but it’s a very sluggish process.
Can a dog be damaged by beach sand?
What could be more enjoyable in the summer than spending the day at the beach with your closest dog friend? You prepare for your trip by packing plenty of fresh water, a towel, and a tennis ball. But let’s say that every time your dog recovers the tennis ball from the beach, sand gets on it. Before you realize it, a sizable portion of those microscopic particles have been ingested by your outfielder. What then is the issue?
Dogs who go to the beach have the risk of intestinal sand impaction, as described by veterinarians. This illness can make dogs extremely ill and may even be life-threatening, necessitating emergency veterinarian care.
Sand is a relatively little particle, but when it is moist, it becomes heavy and compacts into a solid lump. If enough sand is swallowed by your dog, it will naturally become moist, and if there is enough of it, the outcome can obstruct the entire intestinal track.
Although you might not see your dog literally devouring a mound of sand, you might see your friend:
- repeatedly grabbing a wet, sand-covered tennis ball.
- while sand is flying up in his face, he digs a large hole to lie in.
- He washed the sand from his torso and paws.
- swallowing sandy, salty water.
Typically, consuming a small amount of sand won’t cause much harm to your dog. But when you combine all of these things, you and your dog can find yourself in serious trouble.
How will you know if your eager playmate has ingested too much sand? After visiting the beach, if any of the following signs appear, you should take your dog to the clinic straight away.
- Restlessness
- Panting
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Continent pain
- a solid lump in the lower abdomen
- Constipation
Dr. Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer for the AKC, states that the vet will inquire about your dog’s activities, inspect the dog’s abdomen, and very certainly perform an ultrasound or x-ray. If sand is stuck in the GI tract, your dog may need painkillers and IV fluids to help it pass it. Hospitalization may be necessary for this. In extreme circumstances, surgery can be required.
You can take a number of measures to stop your dog from consuming an unsafe amount of sand. These consist of:
At the beach, keep a watchful eye on your dog. Tell him to stop if you notice him grabbing at the sand “Let it go.
Consider bringing beach toys, such as a plastic Frisbee, that won’t absorb as much sand as a tennis ball.
Make sure your dog has access to fresh water at all times by packing lots of it. Keep him from consuming the salt water. He runs the risk of ingesting sand as well as seawater poisoning.
As soon as you get off the beach, give your dog a quick bath or rinse with the hose. This will make him more sociable and get the sand off his feet and coat, preventing him from licking it off.
Dogs enjoy going to the beach, and we enjoy having them around. In addition to sand impaction and saltwater sickness, keep the following dangers in mind to ensure a positive experience:
Heatstroke Dogs don’t sweat as humans do, so on a hot beach day, their body temperature can get dangerously high. The warmest portion of the day should be avoided by keeping them indoors; instead, bring them out in the morning or evening. Always provide fresh, cool water and shade.
Sunburn Sunburn is more likely to happen to some dogs than others. However, dogs with white coats and hairless breeds are particularly vulnerable. Sharing your sunblock with your dog is not safe. Sunscreen and shade are crucial for dogs.
Warm Sand We’ve all had to sprint to the water as quickly as possible after walking on sandy beaches in bare feet. Your dog’s paws will likewise become too hot if the sand is too hot for your feet. Dogs’ pads on hot sand can burn and blister.
Jellyfish The Pet Poison Helpline reports that “Keep your dog away from jellyfish if at all possible. If your dog does make contact, emergency medical care is required. Acute respiratory distress, dry eyes, urine retention, and cardiac arrest can all result from this. Vomiting is probably what will happen if you eat a dead jellyfish.
powerful currents Although many dogs have a natural ability to swim, some might need to be taught. A strong current can also lift any dog off the ground. To keep your dog afloat if he gets into difficulties, think about wearing a canine life jacket.
Seaweed Keep your dog away from beachside natural seaweed. Toxic dry seaweed will absorb water and swell inside the stomach, causing an obstruction that may require emergency surgery.
Planning ahead and being a good owner will make your trip to the beach, where local rules let you to bring your dog along with you, a happy one for you both.
Even young, healthy puppies are susceptible to illness or injury, and pet insurance may be able to lessen the strain and cost of providing them with medical care. AKC Pet Insurance’s basic accident and illness coverage may pay for treatment for a number of frequent injuries, illnesses, and accidents. Even remuneration for the management of chronic illnesses is provided by additional policy additions.
Which sand is suitable for dogs?
- The size of the hole you dig doesn’t matter, but I advise beginning small. If it seems appropriate, you can always dig more and increase the pit’s size later.
- Before you proceed any further, I strongly advise filling the hole you dig with layers of outdated newspapers. The newspapers serve as a barrier to stop weed and grass growth in the pit itself until they ultimately decompose into mush.
- Before adding the sand, you might also consider using natural, hazardous weed killer alternatives to treat the pit’s soil. No chemical sprays, please! You don’t want to take the possibility of doing your dog any injury as his face and paws will be in the pit.
- Play sand, the material used in kids’ sandboxes, is your best bet. Of course, it’s a good idea to discover a place to buy play sand before you dig the pit to make sure you can do so locally!
- Any major home improvement retailer, builders’ supply, or landscapers ought to carry play sand. It comes in strong sacks that weigh about 50 pounds each, is reasonably priced, and is free of any debris. Since it’s suitable for kids, you can be sure it’s also safe for pets.
- Look around before making a purchase because other materials that resemble sand can be accessible where you reside.
- Sand to fill a dig pit of reasonable size should cost about $50. Consider purchasing extra sacks to use later because the sand will settle.
- Play sand should be added to the pit, which should then be watered to help the sand settle.
(If you choose to construct a dog pit “in ground surrounded by lawn, don’t worry about any sand that escapes the pit when your dog plays or digs; it’s unlikely to be an issue for your lawnmower. Of course, you may always build a border out of bricks or paving stones or use edging to surround the pit’s perimeter. You are free to design the pit surround. You can make it as complex or straightforward as you like.)
- In the newly created digging trench, put some or all of the dog’s outdoor toys. Give your dog an opportunity to see the toys without immediately covering them in sand.
When I’m getting ready to mow the lawn, I’ve discovered that our sand pit is a great spot to throw all the dog toys that are scattered around the lawn. That way, I don’t have to hack up tennis balls with my lawnmower, and my dog always knows where to start looking for his toys.
- You could notice that your dog starts digging on his own in the sand pit once he figures out where his toys will be. If so, there is nothing else you need to do.
- Try hiding a few of his favorite toys in the sand with only a small portion of the object protruding to increase his attention and encourage more digging by the dog.
It’s absolutely up to you whether or not you decide to use food in this procedure; I personally don’t. Your dog will undoubtedly be encouraged to dig for any treats you bury, which may spark his digging curiosity. If you want to prevent your dog from ingesting any sand, give them dry treats like hard dog biscuits rather than moist ones.
- Keep your dog interested in the digging hole. Allow him to discover a few new outside toys, perhaps an interesting stick, or one of his favorite hard biscuits on a regular basis so that inspecting his digging pit becomes the second thing he does whenever he goes outdoors. (Obviously, the first step is to delete.) If you want, you can play with him in the digging pit. Dogs are excellent mimics, so show him how you also dig!
- Maintain the cleanliness of your dog’s digging pit by routinely raking anything that shouldn’t be there and taking great care to ward off cat roca if you’ve opted to keep the pit exposed.
- As the old sand settles and is thrown out of the pit, add play sand.
- If necessary, make the pit’s surface larger.
Introduce each dog to the pit individually, whether they are home pets or guests. Watch out for any signs that resource-guarding (the struggle to retain a certain toy or treat) may be active in the pit. Use multiples of lower-quality toys so that each dog can play with the toy he prefers. If any of the dogs involved have a propensity to resource-guard, avoid using food treats at all costs. Instead of getting into disputes with other dogs, the digging pit should be a place to have fun, discover surprises, and get some exercise.
By directing and motivating the dog to exclusively dig in his digging trench, you can divert digging from other outdoor locations. With a scoop of the dog’s fresh poop, coated in dirt or rocks, fill inappropriate holes elsewhere. The fact that most dogs dislike having excrement on their paws might be enough to deter them from digging in that hole once more. (The feces will naturally compost.) If using the dog’s own waste does not work, chicken wire or a temporary barrier should be placed around the improper holes.
Unless you decide to make your digging pit the talk of the neighborhood for its size and style, making a digging hole for your dog is a reasonably simple task and not all that expensive. Everyone you know will want to construct a digging pit for their own canine companion once they witness how well the digging pit reduces your dog’s ugly digging elsewhere. Enjoy!
