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Questions
- Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration
- Causes of Dehydration in Dogs
- When to Call Your Vet if Your Dog is Dehydrated
Drinking water is just as important for our beloved pets as it is for us. Our dog’s bodies consist of around 70% to 80% water so it’s vital they always have fresh drinking water available to them. Dogs will usually drink one to two millimetres of water per kilogram of weight every hour. This means that in every 24 hours, a dog weighing five kilograms will drink about 240ml of water.
Water is lost through activity and they need to constantly replace it and take in electrolytes to keep their health and energy levels stable throughout the day. They lose water in a number of different ways including panting, urinating, defecating, breathing and sweating through their paw pads. If your pup is not drinking enough water to replace what is lost, then they risk becoming dehydrated. Dehydration in dogs, if not treated quickly can lead to them losing consciousness, liver disease and it can even be fatal.
We have collected together everything you need to know about dehydration in dogs, how to spot it and how to act quickly to resolve it
Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration
When their body isn’t getting enough water it’s not just a dry mouth your pup will suffer from, but water is vital in transporting oxygen throughout the body to all the organs and tissues that need it. It lubricates joints, protects organs and even aids in the digestion process. There is barely a single bodily function that can operate properly without sufficient water which is why it’s important to know the signs to look out for that your beloved pooch isn’t getting enough.
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Symptoms include:
Lethargy and low energy levels
Loss of appetite
Dry nose
Dry, pale gums
Thickened saliva
Sunken looking eyes
Panting
Loss of skin elasticity
If you suspect that your pup might be dehydrated, there are two tests you can do to confirm this. The first is checking their capillary refill time. If you lift their lip and press your finger to their gum, the blood should leave the point where you apply pressure. When you pull away it will appear white, but in a hydrated dog, it will go back to a healthy pink within a second, almost immediately to moving your finger. If your pooch is dehydrated, it may take several seconds for the blood to reach the area again.
Another test is if you pinch together the skin on the back of the neck, it should bounce back into place easily. A hydrated dog will have good skin elasticity while a dehydrated dog will take longer for the skin to flatten back into the normal position. You may be left with a little triangle shape as their skin falls back into place more slowly.
Can Dehydration Cause Seizures in Dogs?
In cases of extreme dehydration, dogs can have seizures. Two of the most common causes of seizures in dogs include heatstroke and dehydration. A seizure may look a little different in every dog but if you notice any of the following behaviours, your pup may be having a seizure and you should contact your vet as soon as possible.
Signs of a seizure include:
Rolling eyes
Shaking
Collapse
Thrashing
Lack of attention
From very obvious signs to more subtle ones, a seizure can look like a full trembling attack on the ground or it can just be a few moments of your pup spacing out. If you rustle a pack of their favourite treats and get out a toy they usually come running for but get no reaction, then it could very well be a minor seizure caused by dehydration.
Can Dehydration Cause Diarrhoea in Dogs?
Dehydration can cause diarrhoea in dogs. When their bodies don’t get enough water it also means they will be lacking in the electrolytes needed for the digestive system to function properly. Diarrhoea is one of the first signs that the digestive tract is suffering from an upset which can be caused by dehydration. If your pooch has diarrhoea while dehydrated then they will lose even more much-needed water.
Causes of Dehydration in Dogs
While the cause of dehydration might be quite simple to work out, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Clearly, your beloved pet isn’t getting enough water but there is usually a reason for that and it’s the cause of the decreased water intake that you have to work out to solve the issue. Dogs will only drink when they feel safe, if they are in a new and strange environment they might not want to drink water and put themselves in a vulnerable position.
Your pooch may need to be a bit more active to trigger them to want to drink. If they’re stressed and anxious or not in an environment they feel safe in, they may refuse to drink until they relax a little bit or get back to somewhere familiar to them. If you’re planning long car rides or walks, be sure to have a travel water bowl with you like the Zoon Travel Bowl Green so you can offer them water.
Illness can also cause dogs to become uninterested in food and water, often when they need to keep their strength and energy up the most, but an upset stomach can have them avoiding their food and water bowl.
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If your pooch is getting older, you might notice that they seem to be drinking less. Dogs will weigh up the effort of going to take a drink and if they have sore joints that hurt when they stand or bend down to their bowl, they may decide it’s too much effort. You can help your pooch out by making sure they are receiving any medication they may need for issues like arthritis and getting them a raised feeder so they don’t need to bend so far.
When to Call Your Vet if Your Dog is Dehydrated
If your pooch is showing any signs or symptoms, there may be a few things you can try to treat dehydration in dogs at home first. Making sure they have fresh water and a clean bowl might be the first things you try. It may be that you haven’t noticed they ran out of water, in which case they should have fresh, clean water available to them.
You can try feeding them wet food if they show more interest in eating, as it contains more water than dry food. If you have a new water bowl and it’s a different material, they may be worried by something like the noise of their metal tag hitting a metal bowl so you might even need to switch back to their old bowl.
If there are no obvious causes of their disinterest in water, then calling your vet should be a priority. They could be unwell and need to support of medication and fluids to get them feeling better again. For everything you need to help keep your pooch hydrated and all of your other doggy essentials, take a look in store and online.