How to Tell If Your Dog Is Dehydrated

When your dog is vomiting, running fever, or has diarrhea, it could become dehydrated. Here are simple steps to check for dehydration.

Things You'll Need

• Dog

Instructions

1. 

   Check the elasticity of the skin on your dog's neck. In a normal dog, when you pull the skin on the top of its neck and then let it go the skin quickly goes back to its normal position. (the skin may be different on elderly or obese dogs)

2. 

   To test for dehydration in elderly or obese animals, feel the gums. Dehydrated dogs have dry, sticky gums.

3. 

   Check the color of the gums. Your dog's gum color indicates how much oxygen there is in its bloodstream. Lift a lip and look at the color of the gums or lips. You may need to see a veteranarian if they don't look right. By regularly checking, you are more likely to identify when something is wrong with your dog.

4. 

   If your dog has pigmented gums (Black), check the color of the mucus membranes inside the lower eyelid, in her vulva, or his prepuce.

5. 

   Check capillary refill time. How long do your dog's gums remain pale, after applying pressure? When blood is circulating normally, finger pressure on your dog's gums blanches or pales the area under pressure. When the pressure is relieved, the area instantly refills with blood. 1-2 seconds is normal. More than that is an indication something could be wrong.

Tips & Warnings

• Yellow gums = jaundice

• Blue = Lack of oxygen

• White = Possible Shock or blood loss

• Pale = Possible early shock, anemia, or blood loss.

• Pink = This is normal

• Red = Possible carbon monoxide poisoning or bleeding in the mouth.

• Your dogs temperature, heart rate, and breathing rate are important indicators of its health also.