Dehydration in Dogs: Causes and Symptoms

Dehydration happens in dogs when their bodies have expended more water than they’ve consumed. Every animal requires water to stay alive, and it is essential to a properly functioning body. Water is crucial to joints, internal organs, digestion and regulating body temperature. Without enough water, the cells in a dog’s body cannot properly absorb nutrients.

How Can My Dog Get Dehydrated?

The amount of water in a dog’s body fluctuates throughout the day. Playing, panting, breathing, sweating through the pads of his feet, and going to the bathroom are all ways of expending fluid. As they lose liquid, they make up for it by eating and drinking. It’s highly important that your dog has a generous supply of fresh drinking water at all times do counteract their expenditure of water.

If your dog is playing vigorously or outside on a hot day, they are more susceptible to dehydration. If their body starts to run out of water, their blood flow slows down and their organs and tissues don’t get enough oxygen.

Dehydration can also cause them to lose electrolytes like sodium, chlorine and potassium. Without these important minerals, their body may have a hard time properly metabolizing food, balancing their body’s pH, and regulating muscle and nerve function. In extreme cases, dehydration can cause organ damage, or even death.

Although they can’t talk, there are many ways their body and behavior communicate when they are feeling dehydrated.

Symptoms of Dehydration in Dogs

Common symptoms that could mean that your dog is dehydrated include:

Skin Dryness

If a dog is properly hydrated, you should be able to use your thumb and forefinger to pinch a piece of skin on the back or top of their head and have it bounce right back into place. As they begin to expel moisture, the skin slowly returns to form and in cases of more extreme dehydration, the skin might not even spring back at all.

This loss of elasticity is called a “skin tent.” This test is a little harder to conduct in older or obese dogs, or breeds with a lot of folds in their skin such as Pugs or Sharpeis.

Panting

While it’s perfectly normal for your dog to pant when they're excited about something or playing, pay close attention to the way they're panting and if it’s accompanied by other behaviors. If their pupils are dilated, or they start to seem lethargic, it’s important to get them some water immediately and monitor their symptoms.

Vomiting

If a dog is starting to get dehydrated, this may result in them feeling dizzy and nauseous. You might not notice they are feeling out of sorts right away, but they might throw up as a result of the loss of fluid.

Vomiting on its own is not indicative of dehydration, but if they've been outside on a hot day or playing strenuously, this could be an indicator of dehydration and it’s imperative to get them some cool water immediately.

Diarrhea

A dog that’s starting to feel dehydrated might have a runny stool or diarrhea. This is their body’s involuntary reaction to not having enough fluids and they should be given water right away.

Dark Urine

When a dog is properly hydrated, their urine should be light in color and highly transparent. As their body runs out of fluids, their urine gets more concentrated and gets darker. If you notice that your dog’s urine looks dark or different than usual, make sure they get water, and pay attention to the appearance of their urine.

If their urine still seems abnormal even after they've been sufficiently hydrated, this could be the sign of something like a urinary tract infection or kidney issue. Your vet will want to collect a sample to run a urinalysis to determine the reason or reasons behind the change in the appearance of their urine.

Increased Heart Rate

Your dog’s heart might start beating faster as their body starts to feel dehydrated. If you notice their heartbeat has quickened, pay attention and if it goes above 140, they might be feeling dehydrated.

Changes to Behavior

A dog that is getting dehydrated may start acting confused or disoriented. They may also become lethargic or fatigued. If you notice your dog behaving out of the ordinary, give them plenty of fresh water and pay close attention to the way they act in the next few hours.

If the behavior doesn’t improve, your vet may want to give them fluids and check to see if there is anything else causing the change.

Causes of Dehydration in Dogs

Some causes of dog dehydration include, but aren't limited to:

Vomiting

While vomiting can be a symptom of dehydration, it can also be a cause. Sometimes when a dog eats something they shouldn’t have or has something else going on which results in them throwing up, it can lead to dehydration.

If your dog has been vomiting, it’s important to make sure they have plenty of fluids and wet dog food if possible.

Excessive Heat

Dogs are more prone to dehydration because of their thick skin and fur coats. Their body temperature can rise quickly on a hot day or inside a hot car or home. It’s important never to leave your dog in a car or home without the same level of air conditioning you would feel comfortable in and to bring them indoors on particularly hot days.

Changes to Health

Older dogs are at a higher risk of dehydration because their bodies aren’t as efficient as they once were and they made need more water than they before in order to keep everything functioning properly.

Mother dogs that are pregnant or nursing are also more susceptible to hydration because their bodies are expending so much fluid providing nutrition for their offspring.

Long term ailments such as kidney disease or cancer can also lead to dehydration, as the dog’s natural ability to maintain hydration is compromised.

Breed and Size

Small breeds, like Chihuahuas are more prone to dehydration because their little bodies are already working so hard to keep everything regulated. On top of that, due to their size, they simply can’t retain as much fluid as a larger dog.

See an Emergency Vet if Your Dog is Dehydrated

All sorts of things can cause a dog to be dehydrated and the presentation of symptoms varies widely. As a rule, always make sure that your dog has access to fresh, clean water. If you take them for a walk, be sure to bring water for them too.

If you notice that your dog may be dehydrated, it's important to take them to the veterinarian to have an examination to make sure there isn't something more serious that's also causing this problem. If your dog is experiencing severe symptoms of dehydration, you should take them to your nearest EVCC location so they can start being treated immediately.

Our experienced team at Emergency Veterinary Care Centers are here for your pet 24 hours a day so that they never have to wait to be treated. While dehydration may not require emergency care right away, the condition can get worse if left untreated.

If you think your dog may be dehydrated and don't know if you should bring in your pet, contact any of our locations and our team will be happy to help you any time of day.