Vet warns dog owners of dangerous symptom as Molly-Mae's sister Zoe has 'scariest day'

Vet warns dog owners of dangerous symptom as Molly-Mae's sister Zoe has 'scariest day' Molly-Mae's sister Zoe Hague said: "I feel really silly for not being aware" Molly-Mae's sister Zoe Hague has revealed that her dog suffered a serious health emergency after a beach trip. Dog owners are being warned what to look out for - and how to avoid it. Talking about her "stressful day", Zoe said she took her dog Otis to the beach for his first birthday. She recalled: "Half an hour into the walk, he starts to be sick. And I thought, 'Oh, maybe he’s just eaten something a bit funny.' "But the sick didn’t stop. He was retching. All of a sudden, he was frantically trying to eat everything in sight. When I say everything, I mean things that aren’t even edible. He was trying to eat my hair, the concrete floor. When I put him in my car, he was trying to eat the inside of my car, he was licking the windows - it was so scary." Vets gave Otis an anti-sickness injection, and it was later revealed he was suffering from sand impaction. Yet despite being seen at the vets, it wasn't long before he started acting up again. Zoe continued: "The second we got home, he was going frantic again, desperately trying to claw out of the house to get outside to eat the grass, licking the windows, licking the floorboards, trying to eat the carpet, going crazy. So I took him back to the emergency vets. "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 said: "Part of me is feeling really guilty because I was so unaware that sand blockages were a thing. I’ve never heard anyone talk about that before." Stressing that it's been "the scariest day", she said: "The point of this video is don’t play fetch on the beach. If you’re going to take your dog to the beach, make sure you’re watching them at all times. "I was watching him the whole time. But he was ingesting the sand that was on the balls, and because we had two balls, he was constantly eating the sand. £400 later, a sickness injection, and just some real reassurance from the vets, and fingers crossed him being okay." She concluded: "I just wanted to make you guys aware, because I wasn’t aware. I feel really silly for not being aware." Vet's warning to other dog owners Responding to the video, Pooch & Mutt’s resident vet Doctor Linda Simon warned owners about the risks of sand ingestion. According to Dr Simon, many owners may not realise how easily dogs can ingest sand while playing on the beach, particularly when fetching toys, digging or picking up sand-covered objects. What is sand impaction? Sand impaction occurs when swallowed sand accumulates in the digestive tract, potentially causing significant gastrointestinal problems and, in severe cases, an intestinal blockage. Symptoms can include: - Vomiting or retching - Abdominal discomfort or bloating - Lethargy or unusual quietness - Refusing food - Signs of dehydration, such as dry or sticky gums - Restlessness or pacing Dr Linda explains that symptoms can initially be mistaken for a simple upset stomach or tiredness after an energetic day at the beach. But "owners know their dogs better than anyone" and 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.” Why do dogs swallow sand? Dogs don’t have to intentionally eat sand to swallow a lot of it - they can easily ingest a significant amount by accident while playing. Sand ingestion can occur when dogs: - Chase balls or toys that become coated in sand - Dig enthusiastically - Pick toys up from the sand or shallow water - Lick seawater or sand from their fur - Play intensively on sandy beaches How can I stop my dog from eating sand? Dr Linda recommends a few simple precautions when taking dogs to the beach: - Rinse toys regularly to remove accumulated sand - Take regular breaks from fetch, particularly on soft, dry sand - Provide plenty of fresh drinking water so dogs aren't tempted to drink seawater - Rinse your dog after the beach to remove sand from their coat and paws - Keep an eye out for changes in behaviour or digestion following a beach trip