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How to Ensure Your Dog is Drinking Enough
When it comes to your dog’s nutrition, water is even more important than protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Your dog’s body will naturally lose water all day. They lose water as they sweat through their paws and when they pant. A dog that loses too much water — just 10% to 15% of the water in their body — can become very sick which can potentially lead to death.
How to ensure your dog is drinking enough
Start with the basics, by making sure your dog has 24/7 access to fresh, pure water. Change the water every day and clean the bowl regularly. Mixing water into his food can help increase his fluid intake as well. Because some dogs are more attracted to running water, a pet fountain may also encourage him to drink more. In some cases, you might want to consider a humidifier in the home.
Additionally, a hydration-boosting product like Petralyte goes a long way to making sure your dog is consuming enough water, by drastically improving the speed and efficiency of water absorption. “It decreases the need for dog parents to worry if their companions are in fact hydrating enough,” says Dathan. “Petralyte also delivers glucosamine (for mobility and joint comfort), cranberries (to help promote renal function and bladder health), and taurine (an amino acid that keep your dog’s eyes healthy).”
How much water is enough?
Signs of Dehydration
When dogs don’t drink enough water or if they lose too much water, they become dehydrated. Older dogs and dogs that are sick, pregnant, or nursing can get dehydrated easily.
Symptoms of Dehydration includue
Little energy
No interest in eating
Sunken eyes
Dry mouth
You can use these two methods to quickly check your dog for dehydration:
- Lift the skin on the back between your dog’s shoulders. It should sink back to its normal place right away
- Gently press on your dog’s gums until the pressure creates a light spot. The normal color should come back right away when you remove your finger. Also, the gums should feel slick and moist.
Want to read more about how important Petralyte is for your dog’s hydration?
Go read the science and white paper to find out why we created Petralyte!
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