Texas A&M University Newswire released a discussion with Dr. Sarah Manning, a professor at the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science, on the importance of keeping pets hydrated, especially in the summer heat.
Manning began by explaining hydration's essential role in functions of the body like digestion, joint mobility, organ function and body temperature regulation. She also notes that the amount of water necessary to maintain these functions is heavily dependent on the species, body shape and size of the animal in question.
“A cat should drink about a cup of water per day,” she says. “For dogs weighing less than 50 pounds, it is advised that intake be up to 5 cups of water per day; dogs greater than 50 pounds need upwards of 10 cups per day. However, when they start to get hot and exercise, they will need more water.”
Manning insists owners should take an active role in keeping their pets hydrated, as complications caused by dehydration can become lifethreatening over time. Dehydration can result in heatstroke, kidney failure, neurological issues and hypovolemic shock, leading to organ failure.
To detect early indications of dehydration, Manning explains that signs often reside in a pet’s mouth.
“You can check their mucus membrane, which is the pink tissue underneath their lips and over their teeth,” she says. “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 to check for dehydration in pets is by pinching the skin on the back of their neck, lifting it up to create a tent-like shape.
“In a well-hydrated animal, that skin tent should drop right back down,” Manning claims. “In an animal that’s starting to get dehydrated, it’ll stay in place a little before it slowly starts to return down.”
Severe dehydration can result in a general decline in a pet’s well-being, as “they may appear not to be feeling well, may not be as active and may not want to eat or drink.”
Dental disease, nausea, unclean water bowls, arthritis and other, more serious illnesses can also be a result of a pet’s avoidance of drinking water. Manning says to contact a veterinarian if concerns arise so as to determine whether the issue is behavioral or related to an underlying problem.
Manning explains that there are strategies for owners whose pets have a behavioral avoidance of water, like ‘water baiting’, which means adding supplements to water to encourage consumption, engaging pets with moving water or trying out wet food options.
Manning ultimately encourages owners to actively monitor their pets’ hydration and to 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,” she says. “Encouraging steady hydration throughout the day and being proactive with hydration measures are what’s most important to preventing dehydration and further bodily harm.”