Articles: Dog Care

Zoe Suffered From Dehydration in Dogs

Hello again! It’s me Zoe again with an interesting idea to share. This time I would shift into a health related topic that is one of the most dreadful that dogs like me could experience – Dehydration! Boy! This is something that you would never want your dogs to go through. If left uncontrolled, lost of fluids and electrolytes would lead to greater complications specifically more serious dog health problems. But, before I move further to talking about my fight against Dog Dehydration I want to explain in the simplest way what this condition is all about. You see, just like humans dogs also need to have adequate fluid in the body in order to function properly. The dog’s body is composed of 90% water and losing even just 10%-15% would mean danger. Losing this percentage of bodily fluids is enough for us, dogs to become dehydrated. See the weight it can bring to our health.

Here’s my story how I have fought with Dog Dehydration, of course with the support and care of Mom and Dad…

One morning, I woke up with the feeling that I want to throw up. After a few minutes, the feeling isn’t feeling anymore because I started vomiting incessantly. I was embarrassed that I had vomited here and there inside the house. It’s not that I am not trained to do it outside, but I just can’t help it the minute the vomit wants to come out. It is totally uncontrollable! After a few hours, I was too weak to even get up. That is totally opposite of how lively and energetic I am. I can’t find the strength to play even if Dad is enticing me to play with my favorite ball. Mom prepared my favorite dog food, but I am just too lazy and weak to get up. I just want to lay down in my special corner. I can’t force myself to eat, I have completely lost my appetite. This is not Zoe, I was telling myself.

I felt dryness in my mouth, gums, and even my nose. Too far from the usual wetness that spells healthy Zoe. And I feel that my eyes are sunken. Believe me, even if I am not strong enough to walk to go to the mirror, I can totally confirm my eyes are indeed sunken during those times.

I saw Dad watching me as he is seated in his favorite couch. I want to go to him and sit on his lap just like I always do. But, I was too weak to do it. Maybe he felt, everything in me is really not okay. I saw Dad get up and without a word, carried me to the car and took me to the vet’s clinic.

As soon as the veterinarian saw me, he exclaimed “Zoe, you look dehydrated!” He then started to carry out a simple skin elasticity test. He pinched me on the shoulder’s area. He said that the slow return of the skin to its normal position is an indication of Dehydration in dogs. He also carried out a Slow Capillary Refill Time in my gums. This is also another diagnostic method to confirm diagnosis that I am really dehydrated during that time. My Dad relayed all the observations that he had seen in me such as loss of appetite, sunken eyes, weakness or lethargy and rapid heartbeat. This further confirmed the diagnosis that Zoe is really suffering from Dehydration in Dogs!

Hold on folks! The next part of my story would relate how I was treated with appropriate treatment of Dehydration in Dogs. Come again and I will share how I managed to get out of that weakening situation, of course with the guidance and support of my Dad and my Mom. Come again, buddies!