Molly-Mae Hague's sister Zoe Rae has issued a warning to fellow dog owners after a terrifying beach ordeal with her dog, Otis. The German Shorthaired Pointer became seriously ill after ingesting sand during a trip to celebrate his first birthday.
Zoe and her husband, Danny, took Otis to the beach, but half an hour into the walk, he started being sick. The vomiting did not stop, and he began frantically trying to eat inedible objects, including her hair, the concrete floor, and the inside of her car.
Emergency vet treatment
Zoe took Otis to the emergency vets, where he received an anti-sickness injection. When he started "going frantic again" back home, she had to return him for further treatment. Vets found that sand from playing fetch had hardened in his stomach, causing a blockage.
"They said that he'd eaten so much sand from playing fetch with the ball and the sand had hardened in his stomach and had caused a blockage in his stomach," Zoe explained. Reflecting on the experience, she added: "It makes me feel so sick at the thought that it was kind of my fault."
Vets warn of hidden beach hazard
With beaches across the UK now reopening to dogs for autumn and winter, vets are urging owners to be aware of sand impaction, which can be life-threatening. Dr Linda Simon, Pooch & Mutt's resident vet, said many owners may not realise how easily dogs can ingest sand while playing, particularly when fetching toys, digging, or picking up sand-covered objects.
"Sand ingestion is something that can be easily overlooked by owners," Dr Linda said. "Dogs can swallow small amounts of sand while playing, digging or carrying toys, and in more serious cases this can build up in the gut and cause an obstruction. While most dogs who ingest a little sand will not develop a serious problem, owners should be aware of the potential risks and know what symptoms to look out for."
Symptoms and prevention
Symptoms of sand impaction can include vomiting or retching, abdominal discomfort or bloating, lethargy, refusing food, signs of dehydration, and restlessness or pacing. Dr Linda explained that symptoms can initially be mistaken for a simple upset stomach or tiredness after an energetic day at the beach.
"Owners know their dogs better than anyone," she said. "If your dog suddenly seems uncomfortable, unusually quiet or simply not themselves after a beach trip, it's worth speaking to your vet. Sand ingestion doesn't always look dramatic at first, so it's important not to ignore changes in behaviour."
Sand ingestion can occur when dogs chase balls or toys coated in sand, dig enthusiastically, pick toys up from sand or shallow water, lick seawater or sand from their fur, or play intensively on sandy beaches. Dr Linda recommends rinsing toys regularly, taking breaks from fetch, providing fresh drinking water, choosing lower-sand enrichment like sniffing, rinsing dogs after the beach, and monitoring for changes in behaviour or digestion.
