How to Tell If a Puppy Is Dehydrated
When a puppy is sick or weak, it may not consume enough liquid. Dehydration can occur during the newborn stage when a nursing puppy encounters problems feeding, or when an older puppy fails to lap a sufficient amount of water due to possible illness or injury. Stimulation of urination and an examination of the puppy's coat and skin offer two ways you check for signs of dehydration.
Instructions
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Stimulation Method
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1
Wet a cotton ball with warm water. Squeeze it gently so that it does not drip but remains saturated.
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2
Rub the puppy's urinary opening---on its underside near the tail---with the warm, wet cotton ball to stimulate it to urinate.
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3
Observe the color of the urine. If it is light yellow or clear, dehydration should not be a concern. If it's dark yellow, the puppy is dehydrated.
Skin-Pinch Test
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4
Grip a section of skin on the top of puppy's neck between your thumb and middle finger and pull gently upward. You may also use the skin on the side of the chest area.
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5
Release the skin and watch to see if it returns to its original position within 1 to 2 seconds.
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6
Contact a vet if the skin stays in the pinched position or does not return fully to its original position within 2 seconds. Dehydration may be indicated.
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Tips & Warnings
As an added test of dehydration, you may lift the puppy's lip on one side and feel of its gums. Gums that are dry and sticky may indicate dehydration.
The skin-pinch method is not suitable for puppies that are skinny or overweight. Use another method in either of those cases.
If you suspect your puppy is dehydrated or you are uncertain, contact a vet for further instructions. Do not wait to take action because dehydration can cause severe issues that may not be able to be reversed after a certain period of time.
References
- Photo Credit Labrador retriever puppy image by crazy.nataly from Fotolia.com
