How to Tell if Your Dog is Dehydrated
"Is my dog dehydrated?" "How do I know if my dog is dehydrated?" They're common questions that arise when a pet owner's dog is sick. A dog who is sick may refuse to eat and drink - a common cause of dehydration, which only serves to make the dog even sicker. A dog who's vomiting or experiencing diarrhea is also extremely prone to developing dehydration. And when both symptoms - vomiting and diarrhea - are present, dehydration will set in within a matter of hours, leaving the dog in critical condition and in need of life-saving veterinary attention. Dehydration lowers blood pressure and saps the body's cell of fluid, ultimately leading to organ failure and death, so it's very important that dog owners understand how to determine if a dog is dehydrated. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to find out if your dog is suffering from dehydration.
Things You'll Need
- A Dog
- About Five Minutes of Your Times
- Pedialyte and Water -OR- Broth -OR- Water with Bullion
- A Visit to the Veterinarian
Instructions
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1
HAS THE DOG BEEN VOMITING, EXPERIENCING DIARRHEA OR REFUSING TO EAT AND/OR DRINK? When a dog vomits, suffers from diarrhea or refuses to take in food and water, this leads to dehydration, which can set in in as little as 18 hours. If a dog has refused to drink water for a 24-hour period -OR- if your dog is vomiting and/or experiencing diarrhea, your dog is dehydrated. This means that proper measures must be taken to replenish the dog's fluids at home or with a visit to the veterinarian.
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ARE THE DOG'S GUMS DRY AND STICKY? A normal, healthy dog's gums will be slick and wet. But when a dog is dehydrated, the dog's gums will be sticky and dry to the touch due to a loss of fluids within the dog's body.
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HAS THE DOG'S SKIN LOST ELASTICITY? One of the symptoms of dehydration in dogs is a loss of elasticity in the skin. Try the following test: Pinch a bit of skin at the dog's scruff and pull it up into a "tent." A normal dog's skin will be very elastic, so when you release the "tent," the skin will flatten out and return to normal instantly. But in the case of a dehydrated dog, the skin will take one second or more to flatten out. The longer it takes the dog's skin to flatten out, the more severe the dog's dehydration.
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Tips & Warnings
To counteract dehydration at home, offer small amounts (1/4 cup at a time for a medium sized dog) of unflavored water mixed with Pedialyte every 20-30 minutes for 8 hours.
If your dog won't drink voluntarily, tempt him with beef broth or water with bullion added in.
If your dog has been vomiting and/or experiencing diarrhea for 24 hours or more, a visit to the veterinarian is vital to prevent organ failure and other serious and potentially-deadly health effects.
In the case of a dog who cannot hold down water due to vomiting, or if the dog is losing fluids due to diarrhea, the only way to counteract dehydration involves giving subcutaneous injections of Ringer's Solution or IV fluids. This must be performed at the veterinarian's office.
When your dog is sick, the longer you delay a visit to the veterinarian's office, the more your dog's health will decline, which means that treating the dog will be more expensive, with a poorer prognosis for recovery. So when it comes to taking your dehydrated dog to the vet, sooner is better than later!
Resources
- Photo Credit Rodolfo Clix Photo
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Comments
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Vanessa B
Jan 14, 2009
I think one of my dog's was recently dehydrated. He wasn't eating very much and not drinking either, but he was vomiting and didn't feel good. I noticed it didn't really change until I took him on a really long hike and then he came home and wanted to eat and drink a whole bunch. Since then he's been fine! :) 5*
