Dehydration is a condition that can occur in dogs when they eliminate more liquids than they have ingested, something that can happen in many different pathologies. Far from being a trivial matter, it can become a veterinary emergency, since severe states of dehydration can endanger the life of the animal
To deal with this dangerous situation as soon as possible and properly, it is important for the owner to learn to recognize situations where dehydration can occur, as well as symptoms that indicate low body fluid levels.
Treating it is very simple (as long as it is not severe dehydration), and in this article on our site we show you how to make homemade serum for dehydrated dogs.
Causes and symptoms of dehydration
As we mentioned initially, dehydration occurs when the liquids eliminated far exceed the liquids that the animal has ingested, this usually happens in the case of vomiting and diarrhea, as well as in very high temperatures that can cause heat stroke.
The most typical symptoms of dehydration are the following:
- Loss of skin elasticity.
- Dry gums.
- Dry tongue.
- Dejection.
- Lethargy.
Another signal that can alert us is the increase in capillary refill time, that means that when pressing one of the dog's pads it takes too long to return to its previous color, indicating decreased blood supply.
Why should dehydration be treated urgently?
Loss of body fluids leads to loss of electrolytes Electrolytes are electrically charged minerals that are present in the blood as well as in other fluids, fulfill important functions such as pH regulation, participating in numerous chemical reactions.
The loss of electrolytes can result in an alteration of the acid-base balance (pH) as well as in the alteration of multiple chemical reactions Bearing in mind that everything in physiology is governed by chemical reactions, the loss of electrolytes can lead the animal's organism to a serious state of imbalance that puts its life in danger.
In case your dog is dehydrated because he doesn't drink water, you can also consult this other article on Why doesn't my dog drink water?
Home serum to treat dehydrated dogs
In any pharmacy we can find oral rehydration serums that are also suitable for our pets, however, if we do not have this possibility we should know that it is also possible to make it at home, let's see whatingredients you will need:
- 1 liter of natural mineral water
- 3 tablespoons of sugar
- 1 small teaspoon s alt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- The juice of half a lemon
How to make homemade serum for dogs?
- The liter of water must be boiled.
- Once the water has come to a boil, turn off the heat and pour it into a suitable container (not plastic).
- Add all the ingredients and stir well.
This serum should replace the dog's water and is stable for 24 hours, therefore, the next day we must remove the that he has not been drunk.
How to hydrate a dog?
If you find yourself with a dehydrated dog and you don't have serum, first observe its seriousness, and then try the following remedies to hydrate dogs:
- Give him fresh, clean water: Give your dog fresh, clean water to drink and hydrate. If you're not at home, look for a fountain or buy water at your nearest stall.
- Give him wet food: If for some reason the dog refuses to drink water but does eat, offer him wet food to that hydrates at the same time that it is nourished. You can also provide bits of fresh fruit or raw meat. Here we explain what is the best wet food for dogs?
- Products with electrolytes: at your veterinarian you can buy supplements with electrolytes that help hydrate dogs.
- Wet him to revive him: If the dog shows signs of dehydration due to heat stroke, in addition to offering him water, wet him a little to help him perk up and be more active.
- Give him ice chips: Sometimes if the dog vomits and cannot drink water, we can also offer him ice chips, since that you will be able to chew it and digest it better while hydrating.
If your furry friend is in a very serious condition and you don't know how to revive a dehydrated dog, we advise you to Go to the vet immediately.
Dehydrated dog, when to go to the vet?
- There are many canine diseases that can cause dehydration, so it is essential that you take your dog to the vet so that it can proceed to a review.
- Home treatment with oral rehydration solution is not a substitute for veterinary supervision.
- If the symptoms of dehydration are severe and the animal is very affected, you should go to the vet urgently, since in some cases it is necessary to replace fluids throughintravenously.
- If your dog does not drink the serum, you should go to the vet urgently to rehydrate it through other routes.
