Is My Dog Dehydrated? Symptoms & How to Safely Rehydrate

Why Dehydration Happens to Dogs

When a dog's body loses more fluid than it takes in, it is said to be dehydrated.

Water is essential for all animals—including dogs—to keep a their bodies operating correctly. Water is required for almost every major bodily function, including lubricating joints, cushioning internal organs, assisting digestion and regulating body temperature.

We usually think of food when we think about nutrition. Some foods can have amazing powers too. For instance, coconut oil can remedy dog seizures. Water is an essential part of nutrition that permits your dog's cells to absorb nutrients.

A dog's body naturally gains and loses water during the day. Normal water loss is caused by panting, breathing, peeing, defecating and evaporation via the paws, which your dog compensates for by eating and drinking.

When a dog's body reaches a point where regular fluid intake is insufficient to compensate for water loss: blood flow and fluid volume are decreased, reducing oxygen supply to organs and tissue.

Dehydration causes electrolyte loss in dogs, including sodium, chloride and potassium. These minerals have a vital role in their body:

• Keeping the body of a dog's pH in check
• Nutrient delivery to cells
• Muscle function
• Nerve function

The acute lack of fluids in the most severe instances of canine dehydration may potentially lead to kidney and other organ failure, as well as death. It's also needed to maintain a normal dog heart rate.

In fact, proper dehydration is a primary way to avoid some kidney issues such as kidney stones, so if your dog has renal issues—make sure they stay hydrated!

Symptoms of a Dehydrated Dog

So, how can you know whether your dog needs to drink more water? Our dogs can't verbally tell us they're thirsty, but understanding the symptoms of dehydration may help dog owners react swiftly and identify potentially significant medical situations before they become life-threatening crises.

Symptoms of canine dehydration, according to the AKC's chief veterinary officer include:

• Skin elasticity declines
• Appetite loss
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Low energy levels
• Panting
• Eyes that seem sunken and dry
• Nose that is dry
• Gums that are dry and sticky
• Saliva with a thick consistency

The best way to check for dehydration is to look for a loss of skin suppleness. You can gently hold a piece of your dog's skin at his or her shoulder blades, raising it, and then letting it go to check for it. Keep an eye on it as their skin settles back into place. In well-hydrated dogs, the skin returns to its former place almost instantaneously. Dehydrated dogs' skin, on the other hand, will take longer to return to its original state.

If you can, test your dog's skin first when you're confident they're well hydrated so you have a baseline for what normal skin elasticity feels like. This is particularly significant for owners of wrinkled breeds whose skin may not be as elastic even under normal circumstances.

Another test is to feel your dog's gums to see whether they're sticky or dry, and time the capillary refill time while you're doing it. Remove your finger after gently pressing it on your dog's gums. The region where you squeezed will seem white for a second before returning to its regular pink hue in a well-hydrated dog. The capillary refill period is substantially longer in dehydrated dogs.

How to Safely Rehydrate Your Dog

Give your dog water

If you think your dog is dehydrated, make sure he or she gets lots of fresh, refreshing water—particularly if it's hot outside. Dehydrated dogs lose their appetites, which drives them to eat less, which then decreases the water content they would typically obtain from their food. It can become a dangerous cycle.

To begin, fill your dog's water bowl with cold, fresh water and make sure they have easy access to it.

What to do if they won't drink it

If that doesn't work, try diluting the water with chicken broth to give it a more appealing taste. You may also use the broth or water to add additional fluids to your dog's wet or dry food.

You can also add ice cubes to their water bowl. Some dogs will take the time to enjoy it. Even if they're not feeling well, some of them consider it a pleasure, so it's a smart method to get water in their system.

Add electrolytes

Your dog may also need electrolyte replacement because when their body does not get enough water, electrolyte-containing fluids are pulled out of the cells, resulting in an imbalance that damages his or her organs. If your dog isn't vomiting, consider adding an electrolyte water.

Because hydration remedies for people (Gatorade, Pedialyte) may include too much sugar, we advise against giving them to your dog.

When to visit the vet

Take your dog to the vet right away if your dog has any of the aforementioned signs of dehydration, persistent vomiting or if you suspect heatstroke. These would be considered medical emergencies. Your veterinarian can immediately restore lost fluids and prevent additional loss by administering subcutaneous or intravenous fluids.

Dehydration is sometimes an indication of a greater disease, so your veterinarian will want to figure out what's going on and treat it.

How to Prevent Dehydration

If your dog has been dehydrated, you want to make sure it does not become a pattern. There are some steps you can take to make sure your dog stays hydrated going forward.

Make their water taste better

If they're not drinking their water, you first may want to test your water for purity. It's possible your dog isn't drinking the water because it's high in metals or some undesireable imbalance.

If your water purity is good, then you may consider adding flavor enhancers to it so they find the experience more pleasurable.

Add water to their food

You can also add water to your dog's food. This basically turns it into a soup. Many pet parents choose dehydrated food specifically for this reason—to add more water to their dog's daily intake.

Add coconut glycerin to their diet

Coconut glycerin is a heart-healthy ingredient derived from coconuts that helps the body retain more water.

No only is it used as a supplement by athletes—with scientific research supporting its benefits for increased water retention and improved heart activity—many humans and dogs use it too.

Here's a dog food with coconut glycerin we recommend if your dog isn't drinking enough water, or you'd like to increase their water consumption.

Please note that some dogs will drink substantially more water for the first week after introducing coconut glycerin to their diet. Coconut glycerin must be mixed into food—do not feed a spoonful to your dog by itself because it's very concentrated.

The bottom line

If your dog is dehydrated, follow the steps outlined in this article and they'll be back to normal in no time.

For dogs who are constantly entering a state of dehydration, it may be time to look at alternative ways to getting them to drink more water. This includes adding water to their food and feeding them a diet that includes coconut glycerin.

Ensure your dog is getting proper electrolytes in their diet too. Any AAFCO complete and balanced dog food recipe will ensure this. If you're making homemade dog food, be sure you're using a nutrient mix to ensure proper electrolyte consumption.