Dogs
Just like human beings, even dogs are susceptible to the problem of dehydration. Dehydration is the condition when fluids are lost from the body. The dog's body consists of 90% water, and dehydration can be caused even with the loss of just 10 - 15% of bodily fluids. Along with water, the canine may also lose essential electrolytes including potassium, chloride, sodium, etc., from the body, which may result into serious dog health problems. Therefore, it is important for every dog owner and dog lover to know about the dehydration symptoms in canines, to take immediate action when the need arises. However, let us first discuss the reasons that result in loss of water in dogs.
Causes of Dehydration in Dogs
The most common cause of loss of water is heavy panting in dogs. After the dogs are exposed to heat or after they indulge in physical exercises, they are known to pant and drool to cool themselves, as they do not have sweat glands like human beings. In this process, they lose a lot of body fluid, and if they are not rehydrated immediately, dehydration can occur. Diarrhea or vomiting in dogs can also be the cause for dehydration. Other dog illnesses that can lead to dehydration include fever, kidney disease, diabetes, etc.
Dehydration Symptoms in Your Canine Pets
A dehydrated dog should be taken to the vet as soon as possible. However, before taking your pet to the vet, there are certain steps that you can take to rehydrate it. Keep your dog at a cool location and let it drink lots of water. However, if dehydration is very severe, do not make the mistake of allowing your dog to gulp the water quickly, because this may lead to vomiting, and subsequently further loss of bodily fluids. So, allow your dog to drink water slowly, taking little sips at a time. You can also try giving your dog pedialyte, which is an electrolyte product which will help in regaining the loss electrolytes in the body. However, if your pet refuses to drink any water, rush it to the vet for further treatment.
As dehydration can cause serious problems like failure of organs and sometimes death too, it is your responsibility as a dog owner to take all the necessary steps to prevent it from getting affected by dehydration. You have to see to it that your dog remains hydrated throughout the day. Place bowls of water at different places at your home to ensure that your dog drinks water regularly. Feeding your dog with moist foods will also do the trick. Apart from this, it is better to keep you pet indoors during hot and dry climatic conditions. If you have to take your canine outdoors for long trips, remember to give it clean water at regular intervals. Dehydration in dogs can be a symptom of some other major disease. So, if you notice any of the dehydration symptoms in dogs, the vet will help you in finding out the actual reason, and subsequent treatment if severe.
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Dogs
Dehydration Symptoms in Dogs
Just like human beings, even dogs are susceptible to the problem of dehydration. Dehydration is the condition when fluids are lost from the body. The dog's body consists of 90% water, and dehydration can be caused even with the loss of just 10 - 15% of bodily fluids. Along with water, the canine may also lose essential electrolytes including potassium, chloride, sodium, etc., from the body, which may result into serious dog health problems. Therefore, it is important for every dog owner and dog lover to know about the dehydration symptoms in canines, to take immediate action when the need arises. However, let us first discuss the reasons that result in loss of water in dogs.
Causes of Dehydration in Dogs
The most common cause of loss of water is heavy panting in dogs. After the dogs are exposed to heat or after they indulge in physical exercises, they are known to pant and drool to cool themselves, as they do not have sweat glands like human beings. In this process, they lose a lot of body fluid, and if they are not rehydrated immediately, dehydration can occur. Diarrhea or vomiting in dogs can also be the cause for dehydration. Other dog illnesses that can lead to dehydration include fever, kidney disease, diabetes, etc.
Dehydration Symptoms in Your Canine Pets
- One of the most common dog dehydration symptoms is loss of skin elasticity. If you suspect that your pet dog is suffering from dehydration, a simple elasticity test will help in diagnosing it yourself. Pinch a part of your dog's skin on the area of the shoulders. Observe the skin carefully when you release it. If the speed in which the skin goes back to normal position is slow, you canine may have dehydration. However, this is not a very reliable test as the skin's elasticity will also depend on how fat or thin the dog is.
- Another sign of dehydration in dogs is lethargy. If your dog, who is normally very lively and energetic, suddenly becomes uninterested in playing and sits at the same place for a long time, chances are there that it has dehydration. Loss of appetite in dogs is another clear symptom, where your pet is constantly refusing any kind of food and sometimes even water. Check if the dog has a rapid heartbeat, as this also another symptom of dehydration.
- The eyes of a dehydrated dog may look sunken, and sometimes the mouth, gums as well as nose may also appear to be dry. Usually, the mouth and gums of a healthy dog is wet and slippery. However, dehydration takes away all the moisture, making it dull, dry and sticky. There is another test too that can reveal whether the dog has dehydration. This is called the slow capillary refill time. You have to press a part of the dog's gums with your finger gently until the red color changes into white. After that just release your finger, if the color returns back to red immediately, the dog is healthy. However, if it remains white or if it takes time to return to red, there are chances that the dog has dehydration.
A dehydrated dog should be taken to the vet as soon as possible. However, before taking your pet to the vet, there are certain steps that you can take to rehydrate it. Keep your dog at a cool location and let it drink lots of water. However, if dehydration is very severe, do not make the mistake of allowing your dog to gulp the water quickly, because this may lead to vomiting, and subsequently further loss of bodily fluids. So, allow your dog to drink water slowly, taking little sips at a time. You can also try giving your dog pedialyte, which is an electrolyte product which will help in regaining the loss electrolytes in the body. However, if your pet refuses to drink any water, rush it to the vet for further treatment.
As dehydration can cause serious problems like failure of organs and sometimes death too, it is your responsibility as a dog owner to take all the necessary steps to prevent it from getting affected by dehydration. You have to see to it that your dog remains hydrated throughout the day. Place bowls of water at different places at your home to ensure that your dog drinks water regularly. Feeding your dog with moist foods will also do the trick. Apart from this, it is better to keep you pet indoors during hot and dry climatic conditions. If you have to take your canine outdoors for long trips, remember to give it clean water at regular intervals. Dehydration in dogs can be a symptom of some other major disease. So, if you notice any of the dehydration symptoms in dogs, the vet will help you in finding out the actual reason, and subsequent treatment if severe.
- Remedies For Your Dog's Upset Stomach
An upset stomach, is a common dog health problem that can cause nasty episodes of diarrhea and vomiting in dogs leaving the canines and their owners quite distressed. This can be even more problematic if you little puppy loves to wander around the...
- Dog Kidney Failure Symptoms
Kidney or renal failure refers to the inability of the kidneys to remove waste products from the body, and maintain electrolyte balance. Kidney failure in dogs is generally classified into two categories, acute and chronic kidney failure. The acute...
- Upset Stomach In Dogs
Every dog breed is prone to suffer from an upset stomach at some time or the other. It is a common dog health problem, that all dog owners should be aware about. Puppies are most likely to develop this condition and to treat it on time, it is essential...
- Dog With Loose Stool
Loose stool is also known as diarrhea, or it can be regarded as one of the symptoms of diarrhea. It is a common medical condition that is known to affect dog health. Cases which are severe might not have any options to be treated except for at the...
- Chronic Kidney Disease In Dogs
As in case of humans, dogs too develop kidney disease. In fact, it is one of the common causes of death in older dogs. Kidney disease in dogs is classified into two types - acute and chronic. While acute kidney disease symptoms develop all of a sudden,...