How to Prevent Dogs from Being Dehydrated and Home Remedies For If They Do

Dehydration affects all mammals. Not just the two legged. Dogs need you to watch out for them just like you do for yourself or your family. You often here on the news when it is cold to remember the 3 p's, pets, plants and pipes. In the summer it is even more critical. It is important to know how to prevent dehydration, what signs to look for, and what to do when it comes to your pets and the heat.

Prevention

To prevent your dog from getting dehydrated remember these main keys.

Know the temperature

Find shade

Provide water

Prevention starts with knowing the temperature before you grab your coffee and lock your dog outside of the house for the day. On one of your days off go outside and check to see if there is any shade in your dogs area. If there is not shade then move him. Shade can drop the temperature by 15 to 20 degrees. That takes a blistering 99 to a mild 79.

Not the doghouse.

Don't trust the doghouse as a source of shade. You may watch your dog on a hot day digging a hole and sitting in the sun rather that climbing into his 'nice doghouse'. The reason that he does this is to keep cool. Try taking the temperature of his doghouse and then the hole. The hole will be much cooler. The doghouse sadly may be much hotter than even in the slight breeze outside. Most doghouses have little to no ventilation. This is great for holding heat in. But does little to cool a dog down.

You can help your dog by placing his doghouse in the shade. One friend of mine had no shade and no trees so she made a little wooden cover for her dog's little house. It looked like a table with 4 legs and a top. As inventive as she is she also hung a bowl from it to deter the ants from eating his food. This worked great. Just make sure that it is big enough to shade your dog's house at the heat of the day.

Other options:

The house. Put your dog on the side of the house away from the late day sun.
Trees. Make sure that they really give shade.
Allow your dog to sleep under a shed.
Keep your dog inside with you. We have a kennel inside for hot and cold days.

What do you do if your dog does get caught in the sun?

Take the heat seriously. Pay attention to your dog and notice his breathing. Is his breathing normal or overly heavy? Is he panting? Was he out of water? Is he more tired that usual? If you answered yes to more than one of these questions then you may want to get your dog to the vet.

Here are a few home remedies in case a vet is not available.

Rinse your dog down with tap water. Not ice water just cool water. Keep him in a bath to cool him quicker. (If he'll let you.)

Provide water for him to drink. Expect that he may throw up the water. Prevent this by giving it to him a little at a time.
If he throws up or even before put a little Gatorade in his water. He is low in electrolytes just as you would be.
Keep him in a cool place while you watch him.

See if he will eat something with potassium. You may try mixing bananas, pineapple, milk or nuts into a little bit of food. Not much though. If he'll eat it on his own that would be better.

Add a little salt, sugar and limejuice to his water bowl. This can help restore electrolytes.

What not to do.

It was 101 outside and my big black and white Lab/Great Pyrenees mix was panting so hard he couldn't keep his tongue in his mouth. He hung his head and didn't pull on his collar once as I brought him inside. We had someone over and put him outside for 1 hour. Seriously 1 hour. When I brought him in I gave him water and let him cool down. Before I knew it he was throwing up all over the tile. His eyes were drooping and he went to lie down.

To his dismay I pulled him up and soaked him down. I knew that he needed to cool down and fast. Just like people dogs get dehydrated too. Never underestimate the power of the sun. Always remember to check for shade. You dog will find it if there is some. But you have to make sure that they can get to it. Know your yard and know your dog. Keep him safe.