Dehydration, the process of excessive water loss, is a serious condition in any dog—and, in the case of senior dogs, it can be a matter of life and death. Like humans, dogs need adequate fluids to help transport nutrients through their body, to keep the body cool, and to replace water lost to humidity. Since dehydration can be so bad for your dog, it's important to understand the essentials of this condition.
The hotter and more humid the weather, the more important it is to look for these symptoms.
External symptoms of dehydration include:
Behavioural symptoms include:
Here's a simple test to see if your dog needs more fluids: Simply pinch a little of your dog's skin between his shoulder blades with your thumb and fingertips. When you release it, the skin should quickly fall back into place. If the skin falls back slowly, your dog may be dehydrated.
If you believe your dog has symptoms of dehydration, you can do a number of things to help re-hydrate him and keep him cool.