LARGE 7" CHILLY BONE
The perfect way for any pooch to
cool down quickly and have a bit
of fun chewing on it too!
The perfect way for any pooch to
cool down quickly and have a bit
of fun chewing on it too!
Don't Ignore Dehydration in Dogs
Learn about the importance of maintaining proper hydration in dogs.
by Robin Truelove Stronk, DVM
Summer brings better weather, more activities with our pets and, with it, more danger of their
becoming dehydrated. We would not plan a family hike or picnic without packing along water and
possibly a sports drink or juice. It is equally important to take your dogs' replacement requirements
into consideration. Any type of stress, including "good stress" like family fun leads to increased
fluid loss through panting. When the ambient temperature rises, bodily fluid loss increases as well.
We don't see the loss as graphically as in species that sweat, but anyone who has mopped up
after a panting, drooling, overexcited dog has some idea how fast and copious the loss can be.
Heat, exercise or anxiety can cause the dog to increase their respiratory rate. This allows
evaporation from the tongue and respiratory tract to increase. During exercise water loss can
increase ten to twenty times over the resting rate. Even mild dehydration has been shown to
produce circulatory instability, reduced physical work capacity, threat of kidney compromise and
contribute to the possibility of heat stroke.
For any dog, adequate water intake is the most important dietary consideration. The definition of
adequate varies from dog to dog and with environmental factors. Heat exhaustion can occur in
working dogs when water and electrolytes become depleted. The dog may exhibit fatigue,
weakness, tremors and mild temperature elevation. At the first sign of distress the dog's
temperature should be checked as the metabolic cascade happens very quickly resulting in
thermal damage to tissues. With increased thermoregulatory strain the duration over which
maximum work can be maintained is significantly reduced. We should also keep in mind the
"special needs" dogs that require extra attention. The geriatric dog with kidneys that have been
performing adequately will probably not be able to tolerate even brief dehydration without losing
precious kidney tissue. Dogs on medications that are metabolized through the kidney must have
constant good urine flow to insure safe handling of the drugs. Pregnant and nursing bitches have
greatly increased fluid needs. Especially in the first few weeks of lactation, drinking extra fluids is
one of the surest and safest ways to encourage adequate milk production. Dogs who are
recovering from surgery or illness often neglect to drink adequately and need to maintain normal
fluid balance to speed their recovery.
Measures can be taken in advance to ward off dehydration. It is preferable to encourage hydration
or even mildly over-hydrate your dog prior to a stressful event rather than deal with the
consequences later. When under-hydration is allowed to develop, the sensation of thirst may be
reduced, thus making the animal reluctant to drink at a time when it may be critical. If exercise
continues, the animal's condition will deteriorate. Travel, showing, performing or even boarding
can result in increased fluid and electrolyte needs. When traveling, dogs often reduce water
consumption because they are not accustomed to the flavor of water in a new environment. When
excited in competitive situations, they are often too distracted to drink in the amounts that their
body requires. Unfortunately, we cannot explain to them the importance of hydrating prior to an
event. Hot weather means more consideration for the dogs' needs, attention to their condition
(and conditioning) and plans to maintain hydration needs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robin Truelove Stronk D.V.M. is a 1975 graduate of the veterinary college at Cornell University. After 5 years in
mixed practice and teaching veterinary technicians at Quinnipiac University she purchased Windham Veterinary
Clinic in Brattleboro, VT with her husband, John. She has written a health column for Spaniels in the Field
magazine for 10 years and has had many articles published in similar publications in this country and England.
She is a member of the American Canine Sports Medicine Association and works closely with agility, field trial,
hunting, tracking and assistance dogs.
Learn about the importance of maintaining proper hydration in dogs.
by Robin Truelove Stronk, DVM
Summer brings better weather, more activities with our pets and, with it, more danger of their
becoming dehydrated. We would not plan a family hike or picnic without packing along water and
possibly a sports drink or juice. It is equally important to take your dogs' replacement requirements
into consideration. Any type of stress, including "good stress" like family fun leads to increased
fluid loss through panting. When the ambient temperature rises, bodily fluid loss increases as well.
We don't see the loss as graphically as in species that sweat, but anyone who has mopped up
after a panting, drooling, overexcited dog has some idea how fast and copious the loss can be.
Heat, exercise or anxiety can cause the dog to increase their respiratory rate. This allows
evaporation from the tongue and respiratory tract to increase. During exercise water loss can
increase ten to twenty times over the resting rate. Even mild dehydration has been shown to
produce circulatory instability, reduced physical work capacity, threat of kidney compromise and
contribute to the possibility of heat stroke.
For any dog, adequate water intake is the most important dietary consideration. The definition of
adequate varies from dog to dog and with environmental factors. Heat exhaustion can occur in
working dogs when water and electrolytes become depleted. The dog may exhibit fatigue,
weakness, tremors and mild temperature elevation. At the first sign of distress the dog's
temperature should be checked as the metabolic cascade happens very quickly resulting in
thermal damage to tissues. With increased thermoregulatory strain the duration over which
maximum work can be maintained is significantly reduced. We should also keep in mind the
"special needs" dogs that require extra attention. The geriatric dog with kidneys that have been
performing adequately will probably not be able to tolerate even brief dehydration without losing
precious kidney tissue. Dogs on medications that are metabolized through the kidney must have
constant good urine flow to insure safe handling of the drugs. Pregnant and nursing bitches have
greatly increased fluid needs. Especially in the first few weeks of lactation, drinking extra fluids is
one of the surest and safest ways to encourage adequate milk production. Dogs who are
recovering from surgery or illness often neglect to drink adequately and need to maintain normal
fluid balance to speed their recovery.
Measures can be taken in advance to ward off dehydration. It is preferable to encourage hydration
or even mildly over-hydrate your dog prior to a stressful event rather than deal with the
consequences later. When under-hydration is allowed to develop, the sensation of thirst may be
reduced, thus making the animal reluctant to drink at a time when it may be critical. If exercise
continues, the animal's condition will deteriorate. Travel, showing, performing or even boarding
can result in increased fluid and electrolyte needs. When traveling, dogs often reduce water
consumption because they are not accustomed to the flavor of water in a new environment. When
excited in competitive situations, they are often too distracted to drink in the amounts that their
body requires. Unfortunately, we cannot explain to them the importance of hydrating prior to an
event. Hot weather means more consideration for the dogs' needs, attention to their condition
(and conditioning) and plans to maintain hydration needs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robin Truelove Stronk D.V.M. is a 1975 graduate of the veterinary college at Cornell University. After 5 years in
mixed practice and teaching veterinary technicians at Quinnipiac University she purchased Windham Veterinary
Clinic in Brattleboro, VT with her husband, John. She has written a health column for Spaniels in the Field
magazine for 10 years and has had many articles published in similar publications in this country and England.
She is a member of the American Canine Sports Medicine Association and works closely with agility, field trial,
hunting, tracking and assistance dogs.
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GAZILLION BUBBLE MACHINE
Dogs can't get enough of popping
fun, colorful bubbles. So, why not
give them what they want with a
windstorm of bubbles for them to
bite, chomp, and pop!
Dogs can't get enough of popping
fun, colorful bubbles. So, why not
give them what they want with a
windstorm of bubbles for them to
bite, chomp, and pop!
FREEZE 'N CHEW
Just run one of these heavy-duty
canvas pops under running
water and then put in the freezer.
In about an hour your dog will
have a fun-to-chew (and
reuseable) pupsicle or catsicle!
Just run one of these heavy-duty
canvas pops under running
water and then put in the freezer.
In about an hour your dog will
have a fun-to-chew (and
reuseable) pupsicle or catsicle!
VIBRAM ACORN TREAT TOY
Just fill the rubber Acorn with
your dog's favorite treats and
watch as he has a ball trying to
get the treat's to fall out of the
Acorn's holes. Dogs love this
fun, boredom-busting dog toy!
Just fill the rubber Acorn with
your dog's favorite treats and
watch as he has a ball trying to
get the treat's to fall out of the
Acorn's holes. Dogs love this
fun, boredom-busting dog toy!