Healthy dogs can regulate their fluid intake naturally. When thirsty, dogs will drink water to refresh their bodies. A sick dog may not do this so he may become dehydrated. Therefore, if your dog is sick, you need to watch his food and fluid intake carefully. You also need to determine the right way to make sure your dog is getting the fluids it needs.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Checking Your Dog's Fluid Intake
Step 1. Observe changes in water consumption when the dog is sick
When a dog is sick, his behavior may change. Observe your dog's eating and drinking habits carefully and see if his drinking habits have changed or not. You need to treat a dehydrated dog immediately so that it doesn't cause other health problems.
Step 2. Know how much your dog is drinking
Give your dog a certain amount of water and then watch how fast he drinks it. Although quite variable, most dogs need 45-65 ml of water for every 1 kg of body weight.
Dogs weighing 4.5 kg should drink 1 glass of water every day. Dogs weighing 30 kg should drink 6 glasses of water every day
Step 3. Consider several factors that influence a dog's drinking habits
You need to consider several factors when measuring your dog's drinking intake. In humid and hot weather, dogs should drink more water. In addition, dogs who are often active also need more water intake. When dogs pant to cool off, they lose more fluids than when they relax on the couch.
Dogs in this condition may require twice the fluid intake than usual
Step 4. Consult a veterinarian to treat the dog's illness
Sometimes, when a dog's illness is treated properly, the dog will feel better and his appetite will increase again. By doing this, the dog's dehydration will generally go away on its own.
Remember, you should monitor your dog's fluid intake carefully if he is taking some medications used to treat heart failure, such as diuretics. This drug can cause severe dehydration
Part 2 of 2: Increase Your Dog's Fluid Intake
Step 1. Encourage the dog to drink
Try to lure the dog to gently approach the water container. When your dog is sick, he may not be interested in eating and drinking. Some ailments, such as acid reflux in healthy dogs, are nothing to worry about. As long as the dog is still drinking water every day regularly, he will be fine.
If in one day the dog does not drink water at all, consult a veterinarian to diagnose the problem the dog is facing
Step 2. Add water to dog food
For example, give your dog canned or wet food. Canned dog food contains 70-80% water. Meanwhile, dry dog food contains only 10% water.
You can also mix dry dog food with low-sodium gravy. Alternatively, you can mix water and dry dog food in a 1:1 ratio
Step 3. Make the water more appetizing for the dog
Try freezing low-sodium gravy to turn it into cubes of ice. Mix the gravy and water in a 1:1 ratio, then freeze. Some dogs also like to eat regular blocks of ice.
- Use bottled drinking water instead of tap water. Sometimes tap water chemicals are not good for your dog's health.
- Clean the dog's water container with soap and water and then rinse thoroughly. Change the water 2-3 times every day. Remove the used water from the water container and replace it with new one.
Step 4. Make sure the dog always has access to drinking water
A pet-only water dispenser is a good option for most dogs. This tool will make ordinary drinking water more appetizing.
- Leaving the faucet open a little is an alternative you can try. The result will be the same as a water dispenser, although a little extravagant.
- Place several containers of water in each corner of the house. This is best done if the dog gets tired quickly or has difficulty moving.
Step 5. Bring the water to the dog's mouth
Wet a clean cloth with water, then bring it to the side of the dog's mouth. Wiping the dog's gums and tongue with a damp cloth can encourage the dog to drink.
Use a syringe to give the dog a drink. Spray water into the dog's mouth. By doing this, your dog will at least swallow some of the water you spray
Tips
Record how much water your dog drinks and how often he urinates. This can make it easier for the veterinarian to determine whether the treatment the dog is getting is appropriate or not. The vet can also determine if the dog's grooming needs to be rearranged or not
Warning
- If your dog has diarrhea or vomiting, contact the nearest veterinary clinic immediately. If your dog doesn't drink enough water, he may become dehydrated or even die.
- Dogs who have diabetes or kidney disease are prone to fluid imbalances. Dogs need to be closely supervised under the direction of a veterinarian.
