How can I tell if my dog is dehydrated?

2022-08-04



I. How owners should tell if their dog is dehydrated


As summer approaches, both humans and dogs face an extremely serious problem. It is the unbearable heat and hot sun of summer. The human cooling system is already one of the best in the animal kingdom, but in the face of that summer, we still need to rely on external objects such as air conditioners to living comfortably, so what about dogs, whose cooling system is even worse? They can only rely on the consumption of water in the body to dissipate heat in the summertime. Once the owner does not prepare sufficient water for the dog, the dog is likely to have dehydration problems as a result.

Symptoms of dehydration in dogs
Lethargy

Sunken eyes

Loss of appetite

Dry mouth and thirst

These are four signs that your dog is dehydrated, in addition to diabetes, cancer, or kidney failure. These diseases can make it difficult for dogs to keep water locked in their bodies, and if dogs have diarrhea and vomiting, they can also fall into a state of dehydration.

How to encourage your dog to drink water
Sometimes a dog doesn't feel thirsty, but his body is telling you that he needs to be hydrated right now. Dealing with a dog that doesn't like to drink can be a real problem. But luckily, we have dog trainers who can show us some ways to encourage your dog to drink.

1. Add ice to the water. Sometimes dogs don't want to drink water because the summer heat has heated the water to a level that is unacceptable to them, and this time, we can choose to add a block of ice to the dog's water. Not too much, just one or two pieces. After all, too cold can lead to other problems.

2. add a little broth to the water, this practice can make the original flavorless water become a little taste so that the dog drinks more happily to coax the dog to drink water.

3. give the dog to play with ice or eat ice, this method is very similar to the first, only not directly to the ice the dog. But this method has a disadvantage, it is likely that after you feed your dog, you need to clean and sanitize.

4. soak the dog food in water, so that the dog can drink water while eating. However, it is important to note that dog food that has been soaked for too long is not good.

5. Feed your dog some canned food with hydrating effects and wonderful fresh packets to make your dog happy and hydrated.

6. Soak your dog's favorite toy in water, so that your dog can drink the water inside while chewing or picking up the toy.

What if my dog still won't drink water?
If you have a dog that is so tough that it would rather die of thirst than drink water, we need to contact your vet and have them hydrate your dog with subcutaneous water injection. Of course, there must be a reason why the dog won't drink water, most likely because of some physical lesion, which can be solved by the vet.

If your dog is a northern breed that is afraid of heat, then you need to pay more attention to this problem. Keeping your dog well hydrated will help them get through the summer heat.

How can I tell if my dog is dehydrated?



II. Dogs hiding in air-conditioned rooms and not wanting to go out need to be careful of dog dehydration and determine if they are dehydrated


Now it's May, and although the weather in Guangdong is still fluctuating at full thirty minus fifteen, it's not certain that the sun will shine from next week onwards, officially moving into summer. Whenever the weather gets hot, dogs with less than excellent heat dissipation will begin to hide in air-conditioned rooms, unwilling to go out. Although the dog's subjective feeling is to feel comfortable, in fact, because of the air conditioning blowing, they continue to lose water in their bodies. If the owner cannot drive them out, then they need to pay attention to whether the dog will suffer from dehydration as a result.

Is your dog dehydrated?
If the owner finds the dog hiding in the air-conditioned room all day, it is important to check the dog's condition about every four or five hours to see if the dog is dehydrated. After all, although the air conditioner will bring us cool, it will also take away the moisture from our body. We can determine if a dog needs to be hydrated based on these phenomena.

Pinch up the back of the dog's neck skin and see if it falls back normally, if not, then the dog needs to drink water.

The owner can stroke the dog's gums, if they are not moist, then the dog needs to be hydrated.

Silent dog's nose, if the dog's nose is not moist, then I may also need to hydrate the dog.

Ways to hydrate your dog.
1. soak the dog food in water for the dog

2. make a bowl of broth and give the dog the broth with the meat

3. feed your dog raw meat

4. Give your dog some canned food and snacks with hydrating properties.

How to coax your dog and drink more water?
Some dogs can be inexplicably stubborn and refuse to take in water even though their bodies are already showing signs of dehydration. It takes coaxing from the owner before they are willing to drink the water into their stomach. We also have some small ways to coax your dog to take in more water.

1. Ice cubes: This is a dog's favorite thing in the summer, first of all, it is made of water. Dogs prefer this solid, nibble-able, already cold water to regular water.

2. tap water: dogs will be interested in this water of unknown origin, and they will approach it with a playful mindset. Of course, they will not ingest a lot, just will drink some of it during play. But also can be a good way to replenish the dog's water. 3.

3. toys: we can fill a plastic bottle with water inside, and then transform this plastic bottle into a toy. When the dog squeezes the plastic bottle, the plastic bottle squirts out water. This will make the dog feel like having fun. Therefore, the dog will enjoy the water inside the toy more.

4. buy a water dispenser for dogs: like dogs, they will think that live water will be more delicious and safe than dead water. So we can buy a water dispenser for dogs to make the dead water "move". Increase your dog's desire to drink.

Changing your dog's diet can also help
In addition to maintaining your dog's health through hydration in the summer heat, we can also try to change your dog's habits to make them more comfortable this summer: 1.

1. If you are a homemade dog food owner, you can increase the fat content and decrease the protein content during the summer. Protein is more efficient at producing heat than fat, and changing the structure of your dog's diet can change the way your dog's body temperature and feelings.

2. Add fruits and vegetables to your dog's diet as part of the snack and main diet. It is best to choose fruits and vegetables with high water content, cucumber and watermelon are the best choices. The dietary fiber in fruits and vegetables is good for regulating the stomach and intestines.

3. keep the dog's bowl always have fresh water inside, and it is best to maintain a good habit of changing the water in the bowl twice a day.

Whenever the heat is high, dogs are as hard to bear as we are, and owners can't just focus on their feelings and forget to take care of their dogs. After all, dogs are far less able to dissipate heat than humans. They will be more dependent on the air conditioner than the owner. If the owner does not give the dog timely hydration, the dog is likely to suffer from air conditioning disease. It will bring more trouble to the owner.
  • Category:Dogs Diseases
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  • Release Date:2022-08-04 11:10:34
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