It’s incredibly easy for our pets to become dehydrated, especially if they’re cats, and National Pet Hydration Awareness Month aims to help increase awareness about this. When the weather is crazy hot, keep an eye on any animals in your home for any signs of dehydration. Try to counteract dehydration by ensuring there is plenty of water to be found in your home.
Put out more water. Instead of having a single water bowl, place several bowls in different areas of your home with fresh water.
- Make sure each pet in your home has their own water bowl to avoid animals competing for water.
- If you have cats, try out water fountains and other moving water bowls, as felines are more likely to drink water if it’s moving.
- If permissible, add wet food to your pet’s diet.
- Place water bowls where they are easily accessible, especially if you have pets with limited mobility.
- If you have cats, ask your vet about hydration supplements.
- Remember to replace old water with fresh water.
- Always carry plenty of water when walking your dog in any sort of weather.
Signs of dehydrations can be recognized as:
- Eating less
- Lack of energy
- Panting
- Skin is less elastic
- Gums that are sticky and dry
- Sunken eyes
- Drinking less
Your pet may have some or all of these signs if they’re dehydrated. Here are a couple of ways you can assess their condition. The first method is to check their gums. In a well-hydrated pet, the gums will be moist and shiny; however, in an animal that is dehydrated, the gums will be sticky and dry. The second method of testing your pet’s hydration is the “skin turgor test”. This method simply involves pinching (gently!) a bit of the skin between the shoulder blades and lifting it away from the body. If your pet is hydrated, the skin will fall back into place when you release it. But if your pet isn’t hydrated, the skin will stay in the position you pulled, much like humans. This has been an unusually beginning of a hot summer with no relief any time soon. Follow these guidelines and keep your pets safe and enjoy the “hot dog days of summer”.
Hot temperatures and dehydration occur in cars too!
Mon Valley Paws 