IMPORTANCE OF HYDRATION
Why is water so important? Here are five reasons why water is so vital to a dog’s health and vitality
- Water is the main component of healthy cells. The adult dog’s lean body weight is roughly 70 percent water, and many tissues consist of 70 to 90 percent water. Without water, your dog’s body wouldn’t work properly.
- Water is a major component of blood. Water helps move other nutrients into and out of cells. It also helps remove wastes from individual cells as well as the overall body through urination and bowel movements.
- Water plays a role in food digestion and nutrient absorption.
- Water helps the body maintain a normal temperature, especially during cooling when it’s evaporated during panting or sweating.
Water helps lubricate and cushion joints, making movement easier. It also is part of the fluid that cushions and protects the spinal cord and brain.
Signs of Dehydration
When dogs don't drink enough water or if they lose too much water, they become dehydrated. Older dogs and dogs that are sick, pregnant, or nursing can get dehydrated easily.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
Little energy
No interest in eating
Sunken eyes
Dry mouth
You can use these two ways to quickly check your dog for dehydration, too. If the response isn't normal, it's a sign of possible dehydration:
Lift the skin on the back between your dog's shoulders. It should sink back to its normal place right away.
Gently press on your dog's gums until the pressure creates a light spot. The normal color should come back right away when you remove your finger. Also the gums should feel slick and moist.
If you think your dog might be dehydrated, take him to the vet right away.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
Little energy
No interest in eating
Sunken eyes
Dry mouth
You can use these two ways to quickly check your dog for dehydration, too. If the response isn't normal, it's a sign of possible dehydration:
Lift the skin on the back between your dog's shoulders. It should sink back to its normal place right away.
Gently press on your dog's gums until the pressure creates a light spot. The normal color should come back right away when you remove your finger. Also the gums should feel slick and moist.
If you think your dog might be dehydrated, take him to the vet right away.
Steps to Rehydrate a Dehydrated Canine: Dog Dehydration Treatment
If you think that your dog is dehydrated, employ the steps listed below:
- Get out of the heat. As soon as you think your dog is dehydrated, move out of the heat. Ideally, you’ll want to move to an air-conditioned space (be it your home or car), but if that is not possible, at least move to a shady spot.
- Assess your dog’s condition. Carefully examine your dog by looking for the signs of dehydration and performing the dehydration tests discussed below.
- Head to the vet or start rehydrating your pooch. If your pooch appears to be severely dehydrated, contact your vet at once. Serious dehydration is a medical emergency, which you don’t want to take lightly. But, if your dog’s dehydration appears to be relatively mild, just start rehydrating your pooch. You can do so by simply offering water, but you can also offer an electrolyte solution (such as unflavored Pedialyte) to your dog to help replace any electrolytes that have been lost. Ideally, you’ll contact your vet first and solicit his or her advice about the amount you should offer, but a general rule of thumb is 1/8 cup per hour for small dogs or ¼ cup per hour for large dogs.
- Monitor your pet to ensure he continues to recover nicely. Keep an eye on your pet for the next several hours and make sure he starts to act normally again. If you feel like he is experiencing any lingering effects at all, contact your vet immediately.
- Hang out indoors for the rest of the day. It’s a good idea to take it easy for the rest of the day (and maybe even the next day) after your pup suffers from mild dehydration. Just chill out on the couch with the AC cranked up and let your pooch catch up on his favorite TV show.
