Rocko’s Beach Scare – The Hidden Dangers of Sand

A fun day at the beach turned into a frightening ordeal for Rocko and his family after the playful pup swallowed so much sand while digging that it caused a serious intestinal blockage.

The day after his seaside adventure, Rocko began vomiting and became unusually quiet, prompting his owners to bring him into the practice. X-rays soon revealed the cause of his illness - his intestines were packed with sand.

Rocko needed emergency out-of-hours surgery, which was carried out at the practice. During the operation, the veterinary team carefully flushed as much sand as possible through into the colon, relieving the blockage.

His recovery didn't end there. Sand can be extremely irritating to the intestines and can also draw water into the gut, leaving dogs dehydrated and feeling very poorly. Rocko spent the next four days in hospital receiving intravenous fluids, pain relief and plenty of care from the veterinary team.

Thankfully, Rocko made an excellent recovery and is now back home with his family, much to everyone's delight.

His story serves as an important reminder for dog owners enjoying the warmer weather. Dogs that love digging in the sand, chasing sandy balls or carrying sand-covered toys can accidentally swallow significant amounts of sand without owners realising.

If your dog becomes sick after a trip to the beach, particularly if they are vomiting, lethargic, off their food or showing signs of abdominal pain, it's important to contact your vet as soon as possible.

The team were thrilled to see Rocko back on his paws and hope that sharing his story will help other owners recognise the signs of sand ingestion before it becomes an emergency.