Water Worries: The Dangers of Dehydration in Pets
Dr. Sarah Manning, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, provides insight on how to ensure pets maintain the proper level of hydration as the temperature continues to rise.
Why Water Matters
Hydration is a basic necessity for a pet’s daily well-being, with water intake playing an important role in bodily functions such as:
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Digestion
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Joint mobility
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Organ function
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Regulating body temperature
However, the amount of water needed depends on the species and size of the animal.
“A cat should drink about a cup of water per day,” Manning said.
When considering dogs’ year-round hydration needs, body shapes and sizes are factors that must be considered.
“For dogs weighing less than 50 pounds, it is advised to intake up to 5 cups of water per day; dogs greater than 50 pounds need upwards of 10 cups per day,” Manning said. “However, when they start to get hot and exercise, they will need more water.”
Owners must actively make hydration a priority, as the complications caused by dehydration can become life-threatening over time.
Pets not properly hydrated, especially in the summer, are at risk for serious complications, including:
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Heatstroke
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Kidney failure
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Neurological issues
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Hypovolemic shock — a type of critical body state that occurs when the body loses too much fluid volume (like in severe dehydration or major blood loss), which can lead to organ failure
Signs of Dehydration
The key to detecting early signs of dehydration resides in a pet’s mouth.
“You can check their mucus membrane — the pink tissue underneath their lips and over their teeth,” Manning said. “If it feels very sticky to the touch, that’s a sign that they’re getting a little dehydrated. You would hope that their gums would be really slick with saliva, but if it’s dry and sticking to you, that’s going to be a problem.”
Another way you can check for dehydration is by gently pinching the skin on the back of their neck and lifting it up to create a tent-like shape.
“In a well-hydrated animal, that skin tent should drop right back down,” Manning said. “In an animal that’s starting to get dehydrated, it’ll stay in place a little before it slowly starts to return down.”
When dehydration becomes severe, owners may notice a decline in their pet’s overall well-being.
“They may appear to not be feeling well,” Manning said. “They won’t be as active and may not want to eat or drink.”
Dental disease, nausea, an unclean water bowl, arthritis, or more serious illnesses could be additional explanations for a pet’s avoidance to drinking water.
Contacting a veterinarian when concerns arise is important to determine whether the issue is behavioral or related to an underlying problem.
Methods To Help
For pets who are picky or avoid daily hydration, Manning says there are strategies that can help.
“Typically, owners choose to flavor the water or make the experience of drinking fun in some way,” Manning said. “One technique to flavor water is called ‘water baiting,’ which means adding a supplement to the water to encourage consumption. For example, owners can mix a tablespoon or two of wet food into the water to get their pet to drink more.”
When “water baiting” is not feasible, engaging dogs with moving water can encourage them to drink.
“Some dogs really like to play with the water hose, and inherently, when you’re playing with the water hose, they’re going to drink some of the water at the same time,” Manning said.
Cats, on the other hand, can be more particular.
“Some cats prefer water that’s in a nice big bowl; some cats prefer water that’s moving — such as from a fountain,” Manning said. “So, having different types of water out and available for them is the key.”
Another way to increase hydration is through diet. Wet food contains more moisture and can boost overall water intake, though many animals have set preferences when it comes to a wet or dry food diet.
“Dry foods don’t have much moisture to them, whereas a large component of wet foods is water,” Manning said. “With that said, you can always add water to a dry food and that kibble will soak it up. With the cans of wet food, you can add additional water and make it more of a soup-type consistency.”
Before choosing a hydration strategy, consult with a veterinarian to determine which option best serves your pet.
Pinpointing Preferences
Meeting the basic needs of a furry companion comes from taking the time to understand how they prefer to eat, drink, and play.
“I think an owner’s mistakes with hydration can come from not recognizing preferences — at least with cats,” Manning said. “Dogs tend to be better drinkers on their own. In the sense of summertime activities and heat, though, we sometimes don’t fully recognize that they might want to drink more.”
With hydration — as well as any aspect of care — an owner should carefully monitor their pet’s well-being and intervene when necessary.
“Some dogs might try to drink a lot of water all at once when they are dealing with heat stress and that can actually make them throw up, which makes them sicker,” Manning said. “Encouraging steady hydration throughout the day and being proactive with hydration measures are what’s most important to prevent dehydration and further bodily harm.”
Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to vmbs-editor@tamu.edu.