Jan 05 2009
How Can I Help a Dehydrated Dog?
How to Treat Dehydration in Dogs
“Help! My Dog is Dehydrated!”
“What Causes a Dog to Get Dehydrated?”
“How Can I Help My Dog if He Gets Dehydrated?”
“Can I Prevent Dehydration in My Dog?”
Dehydration is a common result of illness, so many dogs get dehydrated when they’re sick with a virus, disease, infection or other problem.
Are you wondering, “Could my dog be dehydrated?” If so, the Pet Health Blog article titled Is My Dog Dehydrated? will answer this dog illness question.
How to Help a Dehydrated Dog
If you suspect your dog is dehydrated, you need to act quickly. Dehydration can set in in as little as 12 hours, or less, especially if the dog won’t drink water during a bout or vomiting or diarrhea.
There are several things that can be done to help a dehydrated dog:
* Give Pedialyte to the Dog: Offer unflavored Pedialyte mixed 50-50 with water. If the dog won’t drink this voluntarily, the fluid will need to be given using a liquid syringe or turkey baster. If Pedialyte is not available, owners can offer the dog Gatorade, onion-free broth (turkey broth, beef broth, etc.), or water mixed with a cube of bullion to tempt the dog to drink.
* Offer Foods With a High Water Content: If the dog is eating, but the dog will not drink, an owner can offer foods that have a high water content. Fruits and vegetables, cottage cheese, baby food and wet dog food all have a fairly high water content, which will help fight dehydration.
* Visit the Veterinarian: Some cases of dehydration - particularly when the dog is vomiting or if the dog has diarrhea - require a trip to the veterinarian. There, the dog can get a subcutaneous injection (an injection given under the skin) of a fluid called Ringer’s Solution. The body will absorb the fluid after it’s injected beneath the dog’s skin. In severe cases, the sick dog will require fluids by IV.
More Help for a Sick Dog
Still wondering if your dog could be sick or dehydrated? Check out Is My Dog Sick? along with Why is My Dog Shivering? and Why Won’t My Dog Eat?
