OUR Irish beaches have been as good as any Mediterranean holiday spot this last while. For many of us a trip to the beach wouldn’t be the same without our four-legged friends galloping across the shoreline but a dip in the Atlantic may not be as safe as you think.

For dogs, the sea represents an opportunity to splash and swim and more often than not swallow great mouthfuls of salty sea water. However, drinking sea-water can be really dangerous for dogs and can result in harmful side effects including diarrhoea and vomiting. In extreme cases, it can cause seizures and even death.