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It’s summertime and the heat is sweltering! This means we need to keep dogs hydrated to beat the heat. Furthermore, keeping your dog cool and hydrated will help protect against heat stress and heat related illnesses.
Flipping through an issue of Taste of Home, I came across an article encouraging to keep dogs hydrated. They consulted with Dr. Jason Nichols, a pet-safety expert and executive chief medical officer at Preventive Pet.
As a result, he discussed ways to keep pets hydrated all summer. I want to share those tips with you. In addition, I want to share some other information I researched on heat stroke in dogs.
5 Tips to Encourage Hydration
1. Feed Dogs More Wet Food
Incorporating wet food into mealtime promotes hydration. Therefore, try adding wet food to dry dog kibble. Furthermore, you can also try adding some water to the mixture.
2. Treat Dogs to Multitasking Icy Treats
This is a fun way to cool your dog down and get them hydrated. For a one ingredient treat add chicken broth with water and freeze it in ice cube trays. In addition, add fruit such as blueberries or strawberries with water. Or add coconut milk and freeze it the same way. Check out our tasty, frozen watermelon treats here.
3. Limit Outdoor Playtime
Stay out of the heat and humidity when temperatures are the hottest. For instance, take your dog for walks early in the morning or late in the evening. However, you will still need to provide plenty of rest stops with shade. In addition, make sure you take a water bottle along with a collapsible bowl for water breaks.
4. Encourage Water Play
Allow your dog to play in a kiddie pool, around a hose or sprinkler. As a result, he or she is able to take in some inadvertent mouthfuls of water. In addition, they are not only staying hydrated but are also having fun getting some exercise.
5. Provide Plenty Sources Of Water
Try leaving out a few bowls of water in different locations of your house, on your patio, or in your yard for your dog to choose from. Furthermore, you can add some variety by leaving out taller, sturdy tumblers or mugs. To encourage your dog to drink more, you can add a little chicken broth to the bowls.
Know the Signs of Heat Stroke
Heatstroke is a serious risk for dogs during the summer if they are not hydrated and cool. Consequently, puppies, senior dogs, and those in poor health are at high risk. Following the above hydration tips can help with prevention. However, it is crucial for you to know what to look for.
Symptoms of heatstroke include:
- Excessive panting and/or salivating
- Obvious discomfort
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Disorientation
- Seizures
If you do notice any of these symptoms, get your dog into a cooler environment immediately. In addition, call your veterinarian. You can also intervene in the following ways:
- Squirt your dog’s chest and armpits with water and rub it in;
- Rinse your dog’s mouth with water to help the internal cooling system work more efficiently.
In Conclusion
You can perform a skin elasticity test at home to check if your dog is dehydrated. Gently pinch your dog’s skin between your thumb and forefinger. The skin will spring back into position in well-hydrated dogs. On the other hand, it takes longer in dehydrated dogs.
In addition, you can check for dehydration in your dog by checking their gums. Check for moist versus dry, tacky feeling gums.
How do you keep your dog hydrated in the summer? We would love to hear about it in the comments below.
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