Dog Dehydration in Summer

Spending time outdoors with your dog during summer is great as it is an excellent time to create lasting memories. However, most people aren’t away that the summer heat can be potentially damaging to their dog’s health. Dehydration is a massive concern as dogs typically get hot much faster compared to people. It is also easy for healthy dogs to get dehydrated. You must plan and consider the higher summer temperatures to ensure that your dog thoroughly enjoys themselves outdoors.

Understanding Dog Dehydration

The word dehydration means lack of water in the body. Nearly 60% of a dog’s body is made of water. Water is not only the component that flows in veins and arteries, but it’s also the critical component within tissues and cells. Given this ever-present feature, it is easy to see why not having a sufficient supply of water in the body would affect bodily functions, including blood circulation and blood pressure, among others.

What Causes Dog Dehydration?

The leading cause of dog dehydration is where the dogs aren’t consuming enough water despite losing significant amounts of water. For instance, dogs that are sick with diarrhea or vomiting may get dehydrated if they don’t feel well enough to keep drinking water to address the fluid losses. The other cause of dehydration is kidney disease, where the kidneys keep producing more urine whether or not the dog drinks water.

Most significantly, the heat in summer promotes dog dehydration. It can occur when the dog doesn’t have easy access to water. Some dogs also get dehydrated when they get too engaged with their activities or games to drink water. The heavy panting that comes in summer can easily lead to dehydration.

What Are The Symptoms Of Dog Dehydration?

Here are a few of the symptoms that a dog may show when they are dehydrated:

•    Increased heartbeat rate

•    Trouble breathing

•    Exhaustion and weakness

•    Sticky and dry gums

If your dog becomes dehydrated, quickly move them to an environment with shade or air conditioning and provide water for them to drink. Seek out veterinary care if these symptoms do not improve after a few minutes.

Tips to Prevent Dog Dehydration

•    Switch to evening or morning exercises with your dog to avoid that intense summer heat

•    Ensure you bring along some water when leaving the house

•    Give your dog plenty of water breaks and rest during activities to avoid dehydration

•    Offer frequent water access at least one time every 15 minutes

•    Make sure your dog drinks water and isn’t overly immersed in doing other activities, like playing.

Conclusion

Remember to watch out for dog dehydration during summer. At times it may even be better to leave your dog at home to keep them away from the intense summer heat.

References: Pet Health Network, Mercola, Vets Now