One of the most serious and often overlooked threats to your dog’s health is dehydration. It can occur at any time of year and in any temperature. However, many dog owners associate dehydration with hot weather, so they can miss the symptoms in winter. Left untreated, dehydration can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, and death.
Natural Dog Health Remedies said, “Water makes up more than 90 percent of a dog’s weight. A 10 percent loss of fluid in the body can cause the dog to be extremely ill from dehydration.
Over the years we have rescued many starved and abused animals. Knowing the difference between a thirsty dog and a dehydrated one can save their life, so the skin elasticity test is one of the first ones we perform when we take in a new dog.
The skin elasticity test is a simple way to help you find out if a dog is dehydrated. To perform this test, gently pinch the skin between your dogs’ shoulder blades and lift it approximately an inch and a half. If the skin snaps back as soon as you let go, your dog is not likely to be suffering from hydration. If the skin returns to its normal position very slowly after you let go, or remains up in the shape of a tent, your dog is showing one of the many signs of dehydration. Other symptoms can include loss of appetite, unexplained vomiting, depression and lethargy.
While dogs of any age can suffer from dehydration, elderly dogs are more susceptible so the skin elasticity test should be performed more frequently on them. During the winter months, a quick skin test performed daily is a good way to catch the early signs of dehydration before complications develop.
If your dog fails the skin elasticity test, he or she will need immediate veterinary care. Subcutaneous fluids will be the first step in rehydrating your dog. Additional tests for kidney function and blood tests may also be needed to fully access your dog’s condition. As with all emergency situations, the sooner you get your dog to a veterinarian, the better their chances of survival.
Dogs can become dehydrated very quickly in cold weather, even if they only go outside for a short walk on a leash. If your dogs live primarily outdoors he or she needs to have access to a warm space, such as a dog house with a heat lamp in it, and fresh water at all times. A frozen water bowl is the same as no water at all. While some arctic breeds can tolerate cold better than others, no dog can survive without fresh water for very long.
Dehydration is a condition that can lead to death in less than 20 minutes in a hot car. During the winter months, the onset may be slower, but the results are just as deadly. As with humans, the sick or elderly are more susceptible to complications from dehydration. Fortunately, the condition can be avoided in every season by making sure you dog always has access to fresh, clean water, and checking for signs by using the skin elasticity test.
