Symptoms Of Dehydration In Your Dog That Should Have You Rush To A Vet Clinic

If you have been under the impression that Fido is only at the threat of becoming dehydrated during the summer, you are grossly mistaken. Much as in humans, dogs become dehydrated when their intake of electrolytes and water has dropped. This can further be compounded by losing excessive amounts of fluid, such as via sweating during the summer, but it does not mean that heat exclusively leads to dehydration.

Dehydration can occur due to illness, forgetting to put water out for your pet and other unfortunate reasons. You must monitor the overall wellbeing of your pup so that you can notice any signs of potential dehydration before this condition becomes life-threatening! To help you establish if your dog needs medical attention, here are a couple of symptoms of dehydration that should have you rush to a vet clinic.

Sudden onset of fatigue

Whether your dog is still a puppy or is past a certain age, you likely are familiar with their normal behaviour. Thus, even if your dog may not be particularly boisterous, you should be able to notice a dramatic change to their overall behaviour if they suddenly begin to act incredibly lethargic. For instance, they may no longer be interested in their daily walk, they may have lost interest in their toys and so on. 

Although fatigue does happen to be a common symptom associated with a range of canine medical conditions, it is still essential to go to a vet clinic near you to have your pup assessed by a medical professional. Sudden onset of lethargy should also be especially worrying if your pet had been previously playing outdoors in sweltering sun or if they have recently gotten over a bout of illness.

Unusually dry mouth

Most dogs slobber all over their owners. And while this may seem irritating on occasion, it is a good sign since it means that your pup is generating enough saliva. The moment that you no longer find their toys or yourself slathered in saliva, you should treat this as a sign of potential dehydration. Your dog's saliva is not merely for drooling. Healthy production of saliva is crucial in fighting infections in your dog while also facilitating proper digestion of food.

If your dog is dehydrated and they are experiencing a substantial drop in saliva production, you will notice that they are constantly locking their lips. You should inspect their gums to check for signs of dryness or stickiness. You may also notice that their gums have lost colour. 

For more information on pet dehydration, reach out to a vet clinic near you. 

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