Dehydration is caused when dogs loss to much body fluids. Not only water but also vital minerals can be lost in serious amounts when dehydration occurs. Dehydration in dogs can cause some very serious health problems if left untreated. Dogs don’t sweat, instead releasing heat when they pant. Extensive panting, especially hard panting, can lead to dehydration.

One of the best ways to avoid dehydration is to always have sufficient shelter and fresh, clean water available for the dog. Heat stoke is a common cause of dogs becoming dehydrated. There are other causes of dehydration, such as severe vomiting or diarrhea or fever.

Heavy panting is generally the first sign that a dog might be becoming dehydrated. Other thing to check is the elasticity of the pet’s skin and the condition of the dog’s gums. By gently pinching up a fold of skin on either the dog’s neck or head you can gauge how dehydrated the pet is. When a dog has plenty of fluids the fold of skin will return to its place very quickly, when the dog is dehydrated it will return slowly. A dehydrated dog’s gums tend to be sticky and dry, while a properly hydrated dog will have slick gums.

If the pet is showing signs of dehydration the first thing to do is to check the level of dehydration. If the dog is severely dehydrated it is very important to get veterinarian care as soon as possible. Veterinarians can provide more advanced solutions like IV fluids which amateurs don’t have on hand. Dogs with a serious fluid loss can not drink enough water to correct the loss of electrolytes and fluid. If dogs drink to much water they will vomit and loss even more fluids.

It is important to re-hydrate the dog slowly. Rather than using plain water, give the dog an electrolyte supplement. Avoid sport drinks since they have more sugar than a dog can handle properly, instead using a canine equivalent such as pedialyte. Give the dog small amounts of the fluid at very frequent intervals. If the dog is unable to drink on its own, use a medicine syringe and place the fluids in its mouth.

In addition to dog food selection, Taylor Martinerin writes about selecting an outdoor dog bed or a waterproof dog bed.