Is Your Puggle Dog Dehydrated?

Author: Richard Cussons

Summer is the best time not just for you and your family but also to your Puggle dog to enjoy more outdoor activities. But you must remember that along with the fun and excitement these activities bring is the risk for your dog of becoming dehydrated. Dehydration is an excess loss of bodily fluids that usually involves loss of both water and electrolytes.

Yes dogs get dehydrated too! And dehydration in dogs can be a serious matter. There are lots of reasons why dehydration among dogs occur. It could be caused by illness, exposure to extreme heat or lack of fluid intake. Prolonged vomiting and diarrhea can also cause dehydration.

Loss of skin elasticity is one sign of dehydration. To check your dog’s skin elasticity, pinch a little skin between your thumb and forefinger on your dog’s back. It should be back on its place immediately as soon as you release it. However, the skin moves back slowly as the tissues under the skin losses moisture. Other signs of dehydration include lethargy, depression, sunken eyes, dry gums, increased heart rate and delayed capillary time. Capillary refill is the rate at which blood refills empty capillaries. To check for his capillary refill time, simply press a finger at his gums until they appear white. The gums of a normal dog refills quickly but dehydrated dogs could take more than 3 seconds to refill.

Dehydration, though can be a serious matter, is curable and can be prevented. Once you suspect that your Puggle dog is suffering from dehydration, the best thing for you to do is to give him fresh water mixed with electrolyte. But liquid should only be given in small amounts especially to severely dehydrated dogs. Too much water will cause your dog to vomit and loss fluids further. Immediate veterinary care is always recommended for most severe dehydration cases.

As easy as it is acquired, dehydration can easily be prevented also. The best way to prevent dehydration is to always leave a bowl filled with water to make sure he gets enough to drink. But avoid giving him excessive amount of water after a strenuous exercise session. Wait a few minutes after his exercise session and then give frequent and in small amounts every few minutes. To those who live in dry climate areas, keeping your dog indoors as much as possible can be very effective in preventing dehydration.

Though dry foods benefit your dog’s dental health, moist foods also help maintain right levels of bodily fluids in dogs. Both dry and moist foods are important for your dog’s health so giving these two types of dog food is a very good idea.

Always watch put for your dog’s behavior. Because of the absence of sweat glands, dogs pant to regulate their body temperature. Meaning a panting dog is a hot dog. Take good care of their fluid intake before it’s too late.

Richard Cussons is a great lover of dogs. href="http://www.pugglesavvy.com/puggle-dogs.html">Discover more about Puggle
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