Did you know....
Both pups and pawrents bodies are made of approx. 60-70% water.
When either a canine or human is dehydrated, they can experience a wide range of symptoms from disorientation to poor digestion to fatigue.
Worried your pup isn't drinking enough water?
Maybe you're not drinking enough either?
Check out these tips and tricks to increase hydration for both you and your pup!
Signs of dehydration in dogs:
Decreased activity
Disorientation
Weakness
Dry nose, paws, elbows, skin
Sunken eyes
Dry, sticky saliva
Loss of appetite
Decreased skin elasticity (pull at the scruff- if it does not return quickly, this can indicate dehydration)
Fatigue
Signs of dehydration in humans:
Brain fog
Disorientation
Dry skin, nail, hair
Dark colored urine
Headache
Muscle fatigue
Muscle cramping
Weakness
Feeling thirsty
Irritability
Loss of appetite/ excessive appetite
Sources of hydration for both pups and pawrents:
Water
Produce
Coconut water
Broth (onion free only for dogs. Onions are toxic to dogs.)
Ice cubes
Popsicles
Ways to increase your dogs' hydration easily:
Make water more novel and exciting by putting out several bowls, different sizes, shapes, and locations in your home.
Add ice to water
Add produce or treats to water to make it more exciting. (ex: blueberries, cucumber slices, etc.)
Put out a small bowl of broth or coconut water
Pupsicles
Give produce (like watermelon, blueberries, cucumbers, etc.) as snacks
Always rehydrate kibble by soaking in water or broth for 10-20 minutes prior to serving to your dog.
Ways to increase your hydration easily:
Purchase a water bottle that is easy for you to bring with you and enjoyable to drink from
Add ice to water
Add cucumber slices, ginger, lemon, lime, blueberries, or some other produce to your water to add novelty and nutrition
Drink coconut water/ sparkling water/ tea/ etc
Set a timer to remind you to drink from your water bottle regularly
Set daily goals of how much water to drink
Track your water intake on an app or using a water tracking water bottle
Some things to know:
Dogs who are exclusively kibble fed are often chronically dehydrated. This is due to how the kibble is processed and how the moisture is removed in order to make it shelf stable for extended periods of time.
Similarly, highly process human foods also have low moisture in them to elongate their shelf life. If you are eating a diet full of Frankenfoods (cookies, cakes, crackers, etc.) these can be dehydrating and require you to drink more water than usual in order to stay hydrated.
Humans require 1/2 of their body weight, in ounces, every day in order to stay hydrated. This amount may be increased if you are exercising, sweating, or eating a lot of processed and dehydrating foods.
Now what?!
Set a hydration goal for you and Fido!
Aim to slowly increase both of your hydration over
a period of time in order to increase the likelihood of success. Know that both your bladder and your pup's bladder will strengthen over time and you will not always need to pee so much and so often as when you first start hydrating more. Your bladder, like most things, is a muscle which can be trained. Also, consider all the extra steps you'll add to your activity goal by going to the bathroom more!
How're you staying hydrated?
Tips? Suggestions? What's your pups favorite way to get their H20 in? Share with us on social!
@Engaged_Dogs
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