Dehydrated Dog Treatment - Dealing with Dog Dehydration
Posted: Sunday, July 01, 2007
by Mary Gibson
http://secretsofdoghealth.com
They listen patiently as we complain about the terrible day we had.
In addition, they sit staring at us with their loving eyes, giving us a sympathetic lick every so often. No wonder many of us think of our dogs as more than just pets. They are our friends and we'll do anything for them.
We buy them the best food we can afford, play with them and look after them. Yet we often neglect to pay attention to the very thing that could seriously affect their health and even cause death - Dog dehydration.
Many people do not realize that dogs, like humans, can suffer from dehydration. Dehydration is caused by loss of fluids in the body without replacing it. The body not only loses water but also electrolytes, which are much-needed minerals such as potassium, sodium & chloride.
Many of the body's normal functions are dependent on electrolytes and are severely compromised if adequate levels of electrolytes are not present.
Untreated, dehydration in dogs can lead to organ failure and death. As dog owners, we should be aware of how easy it is for our dogs to become dehydrated. We should also realize that dogs could become dehydrated any time of year, even in the coldest of winter.
A variety of factors can cause dehydration in your dog. Illness, especially if accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea can very quickly cause dehydration.
Dogs do not have sweat glands and therefore pant to regulate their body temperature. This panting causes fluid loss. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat, without taking in enough water, can also very quickly cause dog dehydration.
There are a number of dog dehydration symptoms. Sunken dry eyes, as well as a dry mouth, gums and nose are usually a sure sign of dehydration.
A way to test is to gently lift your dog's lip and press with a finger firmly against the gums until white. A healthy dog's gums will turn pink immediately when you remove you finger.
A dehydrated dog's gums could take a few seconds to become pink again. Their skin elasticity can also give a good indication. Roll the skin on the back of the neck into a fold. It should go back in place as soon as you release it. If there is a lack of moisture, the skin will move back either very slowly or not at all. This is a definite indication that your dog is dehydrated.
Dehydrated dog treatment should not be postponed. If you suspect that your dog suffers from dehydration, start replacing fluids immediately. Rather give small quantities of water every few minutes instead of a whole bowl.
Too much water at once can cause vomiting and further loss of fluids, making the situation even worse. If necessary give your dog ice to lick, that will replenish fluid slowly. It is also very important to replace the lost electrolytes.
The same solution used for infants is quite safe for your dogs. If your dog is noticeably dehydrated and refuses to drink you should take him to the vet immediately. It is anyway always a good idea to have you dog checked by your vet when showing signs of illness or dehydration.
As with most things, prevention is better than cure. Although dogs can easily become dehydrated, there are easy ways to prevent it. Making sure that your dogs always have enough fresh, clean water available is a good start.
When you notice your dog vomiting or suffering from diarrhea, make sure you keep him hydrated and take him to the vet. If your dog refuses to drink, check the mouth for anything that might prevent him from drinking. Taking care of the little things, will in the long run be worth your while.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)My white jack russell died a few days ago and am worried i did something wrong. He seemed fit and well, perfect weight and was 7 years old. It was a hot day, mid 70F, so my two dogs were swimming. I left them after they got out for about 20 mins and got a concerned knock on the door. My JR was laying in the shade with what looked like vomit around his mouth. I brought him inside but he was very limp. His breathing was shallow and his eyes, which were milky in appearance, flicked from side to side. He was still quite damp from swimming. his condition worsened and after about 15 mins had what looked like a fit and died. Is there anything which i described that can allow you to tell me what went wrong? Could i have done anything? Most people seem to think he had a stroke but was wondering if it could have been dehydration and/or heat stroke. I live many miles from any vet and don't drive. My other dog who is larger and black was fine.
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