What are the signs of dehydration in dogs?
Dehydration has three classes; Mild dehydration: up to 5% Moderate dehydration: 5 – 10% Severe dehydration: 10% or more Signs of dehydration include; • Sunken eyes • Dry mouth • Poor skin elasticity (see below for instructions on how to check this) • Lethargy • Increased heart rate • Poor capillary refill time (see below for instructions on how to check this) • Constipation. Water is re-absorbed from the colon & if the cat is dehydrated, the body will try to conserve water by removing additional water from the stool. Skin turgor test: To check for dehydration grasp some skin at the base of their neck (the scruff) and gently pull it up. In the hydrated dog, the skin will spring back immediately. In a dehydrated dog, the skin will be slower to retract. The more severe the dehydration the slower the skin will take to retract. Capillary refill time: This helps you to test your dog’s blood circulation & can indicate dehydration, heart failure or shock. To test capillary refill time life you
