Dog dehydration

Treating canine dehydration easily

Following is a discussion of dog dehydration with recommendations for prevention & treatment.

The health problems in dog dehydration parallel health problems for humans that are dehydrated.

Keeping your beloved pooch hydrated will maintain the quality of her life and even extend it. Just like it does for us.

Why would that surprise us?

Note that even mild dehydration can cause serious health problems. These include problems of the circulatory system, reduced ability to work, kidney problems and heat stroke.

Signs of dehydration

In your dog, signs of dehydration may parallel signs of dehydration in humans.

1)Dryness of mouth. Does your dog's mouth appear less wet than normal?

2)Loss of skin elasticity. test this by picking up your dog's skin along her back. Let it go. It should spring right back into place. If not, that is a sure sign of illness and dehydration.

3)General fatigue or weakness could be a sign of dehydration.

4)If you notice tremors in your dog dehydration may be the reason.

5)Sunken eyes. Compare the appearance of your dog's eyes to what you are used to. This symptom of dehydration in dogs may signal serious dehydration requiring immediate professional attention.

Preventing dehydration in dogs

There are several commonsense steps you can take to prevent canine dehydration.

*Assure that there are bowls of water available. Sprinkle bowls around her living area.

*Replace water frequently so it tastes fresh and invites your dog to drink.

*Add a little water to food if you notice your dog is mildly dehydrated.

*Give your dog fresh filtered water to encourage drinking.

*Keep water offered to your dog consistent by using the same water source as often as possible. Filtering your water and collecting it from the same fountain may help. Dogs may refuse to drink water that doesn't smell or taste familiar.

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Causes of dog dehydration

Canine dehydration can be caused by several things:

1)Obviously, simply not drinking enough water.

2)Heat

3)Various illnesses

4)Fever

5)Vomiting and diarrhea can cause a loss of fluids

6)Travel may discourage drinking as dog is introduced to new surroundings and different water.

7)Overexertion and panting

8)Any kind of stress which in turn increases respiration, panting, drooling. All leading to a loss of liquids.

9)Medications may contribute to dehydration

10)Be more mindful of older dogs since they may dehydrate faster than a younger dog

11)Dogs recuperating from surgery may suffer from dehydration.

12)Pregnant and nursing dogs may also lose more fluids than they take in.

Treating canine dehydration

Keep your dog hydrated at all times.

Especially before stressful events (even "good stress") you may want to overhydrate your dog.

Stressful events may reduce your dog's sensation of thirst.

For mild dehydration...

*add a little liquid to food

*offer an electrolyte solution to help your dog retain fluids (pedialyte or Gatorade can be combined with water and then offered.)

*give water by medicine syringe, right into the mouth.

(Note, if your dog has not been drinking enough, offer water frequently but only a little at a time as your dog may not be able to hold much water at the beginning.)

*for severe dehydration, especially if you see sunken eyes, get your dog to the vet asap.

Finally, as suggested above,fresh filtered water may help encourage your dog to drink water.

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