Content
- Symptoms of a Dehydrated Dog
- What causes dehydration in dogs?
- Types and Degrees of Dehydration in Dogs
- Puppy Dehydration Symptoms
- How to Treat a Dehydrated Dog
- How to Hydrate a Dog
- Coconut water for dog
Dehydration is a disorder that can affect dogs and is caused by several reasons. It can occur in varying degrees and the severity of the condition will depend on it. For these reasons, it is important that all caregivers know the signs of dehydration in dogs, to give them proper attention, which usually includes veterinary treatment, as we are facing a potentially deadly imbalance.
In this PeritoAnimal article, we'll talk about the dehydrated dog - causes and what to do. It is important to know how to identify the signs of this problem to be able to treat as soon as possible and restore the health of our furry friend.
Symptoms of a Dehydrated Dog
Basically, dehydration occurs when the dog eliminates more fluid than it recovers, which causes a liquid imbalance, but also of electrolytes. This situation affects the entire organism and if the degree of dehydration is severe, the dog's life is in danger.
What causes dehydration in dogs?
The causes of dehydration in dogs are multiple, but most often are associated with diseases in which they lose fluid through vomiting and/or diarrhea. So, whenever our dog presents this clinical picture, we must pay attention to its state of dehydration. Other pathologies, such as kidney disease, can also produce this imbalance, as well as emergencies such as insolation. In addition, fever and other serious illnesses can cause the dog not to drink water or significantly reduce its water intake, leading to dehydration.
To find out if a dog is dehydrated, we can perform a simple check that consists of gently and gently pulling the skin from the area of the dog. withers of the dog (area that is more or less behind the neck and above the shoulders) separating it from the body by a few centimeters. Upon release, the skin of a healthy dog instantly regains its shape.
In a dehydrated dog, on the other hand, the skin takes a long time to return to its position, more or less time depending on the degree of dehydration, as we will see. Thus, this fold, which is no more than a sample of the skin's elasticity, is one of the symptoms of dehydration in dogs, although we can find others like the following:
- dry gums
- thick saliva
- darkened urine
- In more severe cases, sunken eyes
In addition, it is common for the dog to present lethargy (very tired or sleeping a lot) and anorexia.
Types and Degrees of Dehydration in Dogs
It should be noted that dehydration is a state that will not be reversed by giving the dog a bowl of water, except in the case of really mild dehydrations, for example, if our dog vomited a few times and didn't drink for a few hours or didn't drink enough water on a hot day.
You vomiting and diarrhea are the most common causes of dehydration in dogs since, in these episodes, it is normal for the dog to stop eating, which, together with the loss of fluids, produces this clinical picture. However, as we saw in the previous section, serious illnesses can also develop this situation.
If we observe signs of dehydration in the dog, we should go to the veterinarian to establish the exact diagnosis and its corresponding treatment, as it would be useless to provide it with plenty of water if we do not treat the primary cause of dehydration.
there are several types of dehydration in dogs, that are called isotonic, hypertonic and hypotonic, as a function of the amount of water lost in relation to that of solutes (in dehydration an imbalance of electrolytes is also produced). Also, depending on the severity, several degrees of dehydration in dogs can be distinguished, which are as follows:
- Less than 4% dehydration: is the lightest case and we won't see any symptoms.
- Between 5-6 %: with this percentage we will see that, if we check the skin, the fold takes a while to recover.
- Between 6-8%: in this situation it is evident, as the skin fold takes a long time to recover.
- Between 8-10%: in addition to the delay in skin recovery, we will see dry mucous membranes and sagging of the eyeballs.
- Between 10-12%: in addition to the above symptoms, the dog will start to go into shock and we will observe pale mucous membranes and cold limbs, among other symptoms.
- Between 10-15%: the shock is already severe and the dog is in imminent danger of death. More than 15% dehydration is considered incompatible with life.
Puppy Dehydration Symptoms
In puppies, but also in puppies that are in a vulnerable situation, such as the elderly or those with some illness, if we notice any symptoms of dehydration, we must urgently go to the veterinarian. The smaller the puppy, the greater the risk it runs if it suffers from dehydration, as can die in a matter of hours. This is especially relevant in babies, as they can become so weak that they stop breastfeeding, which will worsen the condition.
Dehydrated puppies will present the dry mouth, what can we notice if we offer them to suck a finger, generalized weakness and loss of tone. Also, if we take a fold of skin, it won't regain its shape. Therefore, if a puppy that is still nursing presents with diarrhea, a common cause of dehydration, we should seek immediate veterinary assistance.
In this other article you can see how to take care of a puppy.
How to Treat a Dehydrated Dog
If we see signs of dehydration in our dog and the veterinarian confirms that he has this problem, the most important thing is to determine its cause and establish a treatment that will allow us to reverse this situation and, consequently, balance the body. Usually the dog's hydration process is carried out by replacing fluids intravenously, for which the veterinarian will place a catheter, usually in one of our dog's front paws, to administer the dog serum containing fluids and electrolytes.
In mild cases, the serum can be prescribed subcutaneously, through injections under the skin or, in milder cases, and if there is no vomiting, it can be administered orally, sometimes with a syringe, little by little, from the side from the mouth. When administration is intravenous, the dog will need hospital stay for 24-48 hours.
In puppies, in which it is difficult to place a catheter, intraosseous administration of the serum may be necessary. It is important that the veterinarian prescribes the amount of serum that our furry friend needs to regain his hydration, as it will depend on the weight and severity of the dehydration.
If, for whatever reason, we are in the middle of an emergency and we do not have access to a veterinarian, we can prepare a homemade solution, although it is essential to go to the specialist as soon as possible. For this, we recommend consulting the article on how to make homemade serum for dehydrated dogs.
How to Hydrate a Dog
As we mentioned, the dehydration of a dog, except in very mild cases, will not be solved by offering water to drink, but we can follow a series of measures to prevent the signs of a dehydrated dog:
- Ensure water supply at all times, and that it is clean and fresh. This is especially important on hotter days. If we are going to go away, we have to make sure that the trough does not overturn, as this would imply that the animal would run out of water.
- Never leave it in a closed car in the sun, provide shade if you are outdoors during the hottest hours and avoid exercising during those same hours, as these situations predispose to heat stroke.
- If our dog has any disease that increases its risk of dehydration, such as kidney disease, or has just gone through some condition that has dehydrated it, we should make sure you drink water, for which, in addition to having one or more drinking fountains always with clean, fresh water, we can encourage you by offering ice cubes or broths. We can also change the ration for moist food to increase fluid intake. Read this article about how much water a dog can drink each day.
- In addition, if we notice any of the dehydration symptoms mentioned, we should consult the veterinarian, especially if our dog is a puppy or suffers from some disease.
- Lastly, as first aid, if we find a dog dehydrated, we can offer him water if he is not vomiting, keep him in the shade if we suspect heat stroke and go to the vet immediately.
Coconut water for dog
We learned early on that one of the best ways to promote our hydration is to drink coconut water, as it is rich in vitamins, fiber and minerals. But is that can you give coconut water to a dog?
The truth is that this is a topic that raises many questions. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA its acronym in English), coconut water, although not considered toxic, can cause imbalances in the body of dogs if there is an excess of consumption.
Thus, it is possible to offer coconut water for dogs, but in moderation. Also know that you should not substitute fresh mineral water for coconut water and if you have a case of dog with diarrhea, it is not recommended to offer it to the dog without consulting a veterinarian.
Now that you know how to identify a dehydrated dog and have seen all the dog hydration tips, you might be interested in this video where we explain if a puppy can drink milk:
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Dehydrated Dog - Causes and What to Do, we recommend that you enter our First Aid section.