What is dehydration?

Dehydration is a lack of water in the body, and can cause serious complications for pets and people alike. Water is essential to all living beings, including dogs, which depend on proper daily fluid intake to maintain appropriate health. Water makes up 80 percent of your dog’s body, and dissolves natural and unnatural substances as well as serves as the root of all his biological processes, including circulation, digestion and waste removal.

Maintaining a constant fluid level is as important in dogs as it is in humans. You wouldn’t exercise without taking on fluid, so why should this be any different for your dog?

Here are our tips to keep your dogs hydrated at all times:

1. Dogs lose a lot of water while panting. Leave two or three bowls filled with water around the house, so that he gets enough to drink.

2. If he has not had a good drink for a long time, start re-hydration slowly … allowing your dog a few sips every few minutes. Over-drinking after a dry spell can quickly lead to vomiting and he may end up losing more fluids than he originally had.

3. Don’t let your dog drink excessive amounts of water after a strenuous exercise session.

4. Wait a few minutes after your dog has exerted in very heavy exercise and then allow frequent but small amounts every few minutes.

5. If your dog is showing some signs of dehydration, give him electrolyte mixed in water. While water helps in replenishing a lot of nutrients, electrolyte can do the job more quickly.

6. Dogs who have gone a long time without water have a problem holding it down. So let him lick ice; he hydrates himself with licking the ice.

7. If your dog refuses to drink for any extended period of time, consult your veterinarian immediately!

There are 7 main ways that a dog can lose fluids: breathing, panting, elimination, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and evaporation through the feet and other body surfaces.

Dogs replenish fluid by drinking water or other liquids and by eating moist foods. A relatively small drop in body fluid (4-5%) can result in visible signs of dehydration.

Be aware of the symptoms of dehydration:

1. The skin loses elasticity as it loses moisture. This can be somewhat misleading since younger and fatter dogs will have more elasticity than older, thinner dogs. It is important to have an idea of what your dog’s skin looks and feels like on a normal basis. Pinch a little skin between your thumb and forefinger on your dog’s back. When you release it, it should pop back into place immediately. (You can try this on the back of your own hand as an example) As the tissue under the skin loses moisture, the skin moves back more slowly. In extreme cases, the skin doesn’t pop back.

2. The eyes appear sunken and lack moisture.

3. The mouth appears dry … Gums and nose are dry.

4. Delayed capillary refill time. Pull up your dog’s lip and look at his gums. Place your index finger firmly against the gums so that they appear white. Remove your finger and see how quickly the blood returns to the gums (they will become pink in that area again). This is called capillary refill time. If you do this when everything is normal, you will have a basis upon which to compare. The gums of a normal dog refill immediately, the gums of a dehydrated dog could take 3 seconds or so to return to their pink state.

If your dog shows visible symptoms of dehydration, he may need a trip to the vet for immediate replenishment of fluids. In serious cases, your veterinarian may administer fluids under the skin or directly into the blood stream.

All information provided as a helpful service, it is not intended as medical counsel. Please seek the services of a competent veterinarian at the first indication of medical problems.