Water plays a crucial role in your dog’s body. Not only does it help the body absorb essential nutrients, but it lubricates and cushions your dog’s joints a well as regulating body temperature.
In fact, every living cell of your dog’s bodyrequires water for it to function normally. Without enough water, your dog will dehydrate, and severe dehydration can lead to organ failure and even death. But Pedialyte for dogs is it safe?
Why hydration is vital to the health of your dog
Water is lost naturally through urination, panting, evaporation, exercise, and breathing. But dogs are usually good at hydrating themselves and restore this lost moisture by drinking and eating. However, when a dog loses more fluid than it can replace, it results in dehydration.
A healthy dog usually drinks enough to stay hydrated, but sometimes due to ill-health or extreme weather conditions, or just lack of access to fresh water, they don’t drink enough. As fluids are lost and not replaced, the body tries to remedy this by using water already stored in the body’s cells, drawing essential moisture and electrolytes out of the body and causing dehydration.
While common, dehydration is a serious condition and needs immediate attention to prevent permanent organ damage and even death. In fact, dehydration can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. So even if you suspect your dog is losing more fluid than they are taking in, make a veterinary appointment as soon as possible.
Dehydration in Dogs
Dehydration upsets the balance of salts and sugars found naturally in the blood. If the water level in your dog’s body drops too low, the body will pull water from the cells instead. This results in a loss ofelectrolytesthat are essential for normal bodily functions.
Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, so it’s essential it’s caught early. Mild dehydration can sometimes be solved by merely giving your dog a drink. However, moderate to severe dehydration often need more than plain water to get your dog hydrated and their bodies back in balance.
Signs of Dehydration
If you suspect your dog is dehydrated, there are a couple of ways you can check. The first is the skin pinch test; gently pinch your dog’s skin between thumb and forefinger. Well-hydrated dogs have skin that springs back quickly into place. Whereas in dehydrated dogs, the skin takes longer to fall back.
It’s useful to do this when you know your dog is hydrated so that you have a benchmark of what the skin looks like in its normal state. This is especially useful if you have a dog breed with loose skin like bulldogs, for example.
The second way you can check your dog for dehydration is to check your dog’s gums. Well-hydrated gums will feel moist, whereas dehydrated gums will feel tacky and dry. You can further check by gently pressing a finger against your dog’s gum.
In well-hydrated dogs, the gum will appear white for a second or so and quickly turn pink again. In gums that lack moisture, it takes much longer for the gums to return to their standard color, known ascapillary refill time.
Other symptoms of dehydration to look out for include;
- Loss of appetite
- Dry nose and gums
- Reduced energy
- Lethargy
- Panting
- Sunken, dry-looking eyes
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Dry sticky gums
- Excessive urination
- Diarrhea
- Excessive drooling
- Weak pulse
- Elevated heart rate
- Loss of balance
- Collapse
Causes of Dehydration
If you suspect your dog is suffering from dehydration, you must get your dog to the vet. Lack of water is only one reason why dogs can get dehydrated. More commonly, it’s a symptom of an underlying health issue or condition including;
- Kidney disease
- Heatstroke
- Diabetes
- Digestive problems – vomiting or diarrhea
- Lack of food or water intake
- Excessive panting or perspiration
- Fever
Don’t take dehydration lightly; it’s a severe condition that can escalate quickly and cause permanent damage.
Treating Dehydration
There’s a big difference between a thirsty dog and a dog suffering from dehydration. So, although it may seem like the obvious thing to do, giving your dog water is sometimes not sufficient to help a dog rehydrate.
Plain water does not replace lost electrolytes, so once your dog has gone past the stage of mild dehydration, they need something more than fluid intake to become hydrated. This is where a specialized electrolyte solution comes in.
One of the most well-known is Pedialyte. But what is it, and is it safe for dogs?
What is Pedialyte?
Pedialyte is an over-the-counter treatment for dehydration. Although not designed for use in dogs, many people do use it to help rehydrate their dogs.
It is specially designed to replace the vital minerals and nutrients lost through dehydration. It balances sugar and electrolytes and is available as a premixed solution, a powder you mix with water, and as freezer pops.
While many dogs will readily drink Pedialyte, others need more persuasion. Using a needle-less syringe can be useful in getting the solution into your dog’s mouth by placing it between your dog’s teeth and gums and squeezing slowly. As a guideline, dosage should be around fifteen milliliters per pound of body weight per day. Spread the Pedialyte throughout the day to make it easier for both you and your dog.
Although Pedialyte is safe for dogs, you should still take your dog to a veterinarian for a check-up as further treatment may be needed. Also, if your dog is diabetic, please check with your vet before giving Pedialyte as it contains glucose that may affect your dog.
Pedialyte for Dogs
While it’s true that Pedialyte won’t harm your dog, use it with caution. If your dog has had a tummy bug that results in vomiting and diarrhea, it’s a useful remedy to keep your dog’s fluid levels topped up until they feel better. But for recurring dehydration, it’s a good idea to get your dog checked by your veterinarian for any underlying medical issues contributing to the problem.
