Has Your Dog Stopped Drinking? (Jose Alfredo Gomez Soberano Photo)

Is My Dog Dehydrated?

Is your dog dehydrated? Dehydration is fairly common in a sick dog or cat. And unfortunately, it’s a condition that can make a sick pet even sicker. Ultimately, a pet can die from dehydration, so it’s a condition that pet owners must know how to recognize, prevent and treat.

How Did My Pet Get Dehydrated?

When a cat, dog or other pet is sick, it’s not uncommon for the pet to stop eating and/or drinking. Cats in particular are prone to dehydration when they stop eating, as many cats who eat wet cat food get a good percentage of their fluid from their food.

In addition, pets who are vomiting or suffering from diarrhea are even more prone to dehydration, since they have a reduced water intake, in addition to the fact that they’re actively losing fluids.

What Are the Symptoms of Dehydration in Pets?

So how can you determine if a dog or cat is dehydrated?

• Pinch the pet’s skin. At the scruff of the neck, pinch the skin into a “tent.” In a well-hydrated pet, the skin should immediately flatten out. But in a dehydrated dog, cat or other pet’s skin will remain in the “tent” once you release the skin, sometimes taking as long as a few seconds to flatten out. This is a symptom of dehydration and the longer it takes the skin to flatten out, the more dehydrated the animal is.
• Examine the pet’s gums. In a normal, healthy animal, the gums will be pink, wet and slick. In a dehydrated pet, the gums will be dry, sticky and often pale.

What Should I Do if My Dog or Cat Gets Dehydrated?

A dehydrated pet needs fluids and lots of them. Often, the only effective way to treat dehydration in a pet is to give a subcutaneous fluid injection. The fluid is injected under the skin, and the body absorbs the fluid. This is especially effective for treating dehydration in a pet with vomiting or diarrhea, as the fluids can be provided in a manner that bypasses the digestive system.

Pet owners can slow the progression of dehydration in a few ways:

• For dogs and cats, mix the pet’s water with unflavored Pedialyte in a 50-50 mix.
• For dogs, offer low-sodium chicken or beef broth or place a cube of bullion in water to give it a more appealing taste.
• For cats, offer clam juice. Cats may also drink the water from a can of tuna, mixed with a bit of water.

In sum, a pet who is not eating or drinking and who is showing signs of dehydration will need veterinary attention, particularly if the pet is still refusing to eat and drink.

But the above-mentioned techniques are sure to help slow the progression of dehydration so the pet is in better condition when he or she arrives at the veterinary clinic.

Dehydration can turn fatal, as the dehydrated body’s organs will begin to shut down. In addition, dehydration will also cause the pet’s underlying illness to worsen. In the end, dehydration is a problem that’s better treated sooner rather than later, so in some cases, you may want to consider taking your pet to the veterinary clinic emergency room, as dehydration is absolutely a life-threatening condition.

One great way to track a pet’s condition when they’re ill involves starting a pet log. Read this article to learn more about how to start a pet log for your dog, cat, bird or other pet.

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Many dog owners are hesitant to put their dog under anesthesia for a procedure like a spay or neuter, and many wonder the precise benefits of spaying or neutering a dog.

In this article, we’ll examine the advantages of spaying a dog.

Many dog owners are hesitant to spay a female dog due to the cost, which tends to be a bit more (between 25-50 percent more) than neutering due to the invasive nature of the procedure. And recovery from spaying also tends to take a bit longer, since spaying is a more invasive procedure.

Unlike neutering, which results in a visible change to the dog’s anatomy (a change that’s especially difficult for many men to stomach), spaying will not change the dog’s outward appearance. But it will lead to some very dramatic changes in the female dog’s lifestyle; perhaps more dramatic than the changes that occur as a result of neutering a male dog.

Spaying Benefit: A Spayed Dog Cannot Get Pregnant

The prevention of pregnancy in female dogs is an obvious benefit of spaying, but it’s a very important benefit nevertheless.

Pregnancy in a dog can lead to expensive veterinary bills – and that’s if everything goes as planned. Complications during a dog’s pregnancy can lead to veterinary bills in the thousands, along with loads of anxiety and worry for the owner.

Pregnancy, no matter how you cut it, can be very risky to the female dog’s health; this is especially the case with certain breeds. The pug breed, for instance, is more apt to require a cesarean section due to the large size of the puppy’s skull in some cases.

Accidental pregnancy in dogs also only worsens the problem of pet overpopulation, which ultimately leads to the death of many animals. So preventing pregnancy by spaying or neutering a dog is an effective way to save lives.

Spaying Benefit: No Doggy Menstruation or “Periods”

When a female dog goes into heat, she’ll get a period. This can be a messy ordeal, particularly if the situation unfolds while the dog is home alone.

Menstruation requires that owners diaper the dog, as many as two or three times per year. It’s a messy and inconvenient situation that’s caused many dog owners to change their mind about getting their female dog spayed. One round of canine menstruation and many dog owners are ready to bring their dog to the veterinary clinic the minute the bleeding stops.

Spaying Benefit: A Spayed Dog Will Not Go Into Heat

A dog in heat can be rather difficult to live with. She may exhibit sexualized behaviors at home and behavior problems are common when a female dog is in heat. Howling and vocalization in particular is very common in a dog who’s in heat. Collecting “babies” (anything from toys, stuffed animals, blankets – even telephones) and nesting behaviors are also very common.

A female dog in heat will also attract male suitors, so it’s not uncommon to find a throng of intact male dogs from the neighborhood congregating in your yard – a situation that can turn from inconvenient to threatening, particularly if you own male dogs, who may be more prone to attack from an aggressive, hormone-driven male suitor.

Spaying Benefit: Less Risk of Cancer and Other Illnesses

Spaying or neutering a dog dramatically decreases hormone levels; this decrease in hormone levels leads to fewer health problems.

Studies have shown that spaying or neutering makes the dog less prone to cancers and other diseases, as high hormone levels have been associated with the development of certain forms of cancer and other illnesses.

The decision to spay or neuter a dog should never be taken lightly. Any time a dog is placed under anesthesia, there is some risk. But in the vast majority of cases, the benefits of spaying a dog will dramatically outweigh the risks.

Dog owners may also enjoy “Should I Neuter My Dog?” along with “What Can I Expect After My Dog is Spayed or Neutered?”

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Help your dog recover after being spayed or neutered! (Benjamin Earwicker Photo)

For many dog owners, the first surgery that a pet will undergo is a spay or neuter operation. But the prospect of caring for a dog that’s just undergone surgery makes many dog owners very nervous.

Many pet owners simply don’t know what to expect when they get their dog home from the veterinarian. Read on to find out what to expect and how to help a dog after they’ve been spayed or neutered.

Expect the Dog to Be Drowsy With Poor Balance After Surgery and Anesthesia

In order to be spayed or neutered, a dog must go under general anesthesia, which means they’re unconscious during the operation. Most dogs will feel effects from the anesthesia until the following morning.

So when you pick up your dog from the veterinarian after a spay or neuter surgery, expect the following:

The dog will be drowsy and he/she will likely sleep much more than normal for the 18-24 hours following surgery.

Help the Dog In and Out of the Car

The dog may have poor balance. This will make climbing stairs or getting in and out of the care more difficult than usual, so be ready to assist.

Do not allow the dog to jump in an out of the car. Sudden movements can damage the dog’s stitches and cause serious pain. Lift the dog in and out of the car by wrapping your arms around the dog’s chest/front legs and rear/back legs – similar to the way you’d lift a sheep or goat. If possible, pick the dog up in a sedan or other low-to-the-ground car rather than an SUV, truck or minivan.

The Dog Will Have Little or No Appetite After Surgery

The dog will have a poor appetite. Anesthesia tends to make dogs experience nausea, so the dog may not want to eat when he gets home after surgery. Since the dog has not eaten since the previous day, this also means that stomach acids will have accumulated in the dog’s stomach. This can upset the lining of the stomach, also causing some nausea.

Offer bland homemade dog food. To encourage the dog to eat, while preventing an upset stomach, offer some plain white rice with plain, skinless chicken or boiled hamburger meat (with the fat strained away). This will be easy on the dog’s stomach. Do not offer a full size meal. Offer a smaller than usual meal – about 1/2 to 2/3 of the dog’s normal meal size. This will help to prevent upset stomach.

Dogs Will Pee More Often After Surgery; Leg Lifting Can Be Difficult

The dog will need to urinate more frequently after surgery. The veterinary surgeon will usually give the dog IV fluids to a dog who is undergoing spay or neuter surgery; this is a common supportive measure for a dog that’s undergoing an operation. What goes in must come out, so the dog may need to urinate more than usual after surgery.

And remember, a dog who is drowsy and recovering from surgery may not signal the need to go to the bathroom (i.e. standing by the door), so anticipate the dog’s bathroom needs to prevent an accident in the house.

Male dogs may have a difficult time lifting their leg to pee. Due to the location of the incision when a male dog is neutered, lifting a leg can be painful. The dog’s poor balance may also prevent the dog from lifting his leg; instead, most male dogs will squat to pee.

Isolate Your Dog from Other Pets After Surgery

Keep other pets away from your dog after surgery. When your dog returned from getting spayed or neutered, he will be uncomfortable as a result of the incision and due to the after-effects of anesthesia. This means your dog will be more prone to snapping or nipping at other pets and even children. So to avoid problems, keep your dog isolated from other pets and children when he returns home from surgery.

More Tips to Help Your Dog Heal After Spaying or Neutering Surgery

After a dog is spayed or neutered, the healing process will take 10 to 14 days. During this time, dog owners must monitor the incision for any swelling, redness or excessive drainage.

The incision from a spay or neuter surgery must be monitored closely. It’s important to check and clean the incision two to three times per day.

The wound should be disinfected daily using betadine, a no-sting antiseptic solution that’s available in the first aid section of the drug store. Hydrogen peroxide should be avoided as it can delay healing by damaging the tissue.

Discharge is normal during the first day or two following surgery. To remove the dried fluids surrounding the dog’s incision, use a warm, wet washcloth as a compress for about five to ten minutes. A wet Q-tip can then be used to remove any crusting or fluid around the incision. This should be followed with a generous amount of betadine, which should be allowed to air dry.

Photographing the incision from a surgery can be helpful for dog owners. Using a digital camera, photograph the incision site daily and compare the photographs. Overall, the wound should be improving in appearance. If the wound appears to be getting worse in terms of swelling, redness or discharge, this indicates an infection.

Photographing the dog’s incision is helpful because it can be difficult to detect subtle changes from day to day. Photos are much more reliable than having to rely on memory and they can be brought in to the veterinarian as a way to show the progression of the wound, which can be helpful if a problem arises.

Most dogs will be sent home from the vet wearing an Elizabethan collar, also known as an “e-collar,” “cone” or “lampshade.” This will prevent the dog from licking or biting at the incision and stitches. The dog will need to wear this until the stitches are removed.

Keeping a first aid kit for pets in the house is always a good idea, particularly when a dog is recovering from a surgery, as there’s always the potential for a medical emergency. Learn what items should be included in a pet emergency kit in First Aid Kits for Pets. And learn about how to know if you should visit the veterinary clinic’s emergency room in Should I Take My Dog to the Emergency Room?

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Are you wondering if you should neuter your puppy? (Julia Starr Photo)

The decision to neuter a pet can be a difficult one, especially for male pet owners who understandably, find the idea of castration rather difficult to digest.

But in the vast majority of cases, spaying or neutering a dog, cat, rat or other pet is a wise choice. Spaying refers to the procedure used to sterilize a female animal, while neutering refers to the process used to sterilize a male animal. This article will focus on the benefits of neutering a dog, cat or other pet.

Neutering a Pet Cuts Down on Territorial Marking

Most male dogs and cats will begin marking their territory with urine once they reach adulthood; typically between 9 to 12 months of age.

For obvious reasons, this is a very undesirable behavior, but unfortunately, territorial marking is an extremely difficult habit to break. This is due, in part, to the fact that a male’s tendency to mark is not solely a behavioral problem; territorial marking is driven by the male’s hormones. This makes it extremely difficult to stop a male’s territorial marking. Neutering a dog reduces hormone levels, thereby stopping or significantly improving territorial marking tendencies in a male dog or cat.

Neutering a Pet Helps Reduce the Risk of Cancer and Other Health Problems

When a pet is neutered, this significantly cuts down on the animal’s hormone level. Hormones have been found to play a major role in certain illnesses, so neutering cuts down on a dog’s chances of developing diseases like cancer.
There is a fairly high rate of testicular cancer, for instance, in intact male dogs. Neutering the dog eliminates this risk.

Neutering a Pet Cuts Down on Fighting, Aggression and Wandering

Neutering a male pet greatly decreases his testosterone levels; testosterone plays a major role when it comes to aggressive behaviors. Therefore, neutering can help decrease fighting and aggression in male pets.

Male rats, in particular, can get very aggressive with other males. In a vast majority of cases, neutering one of the male rats will significantly cut down on fighting and other aggressive behaviors.

Eliminating a major source of the pet’s testosterone through neutering also cuts back on wandering behaviors in cats and dogs. In many cases, a dog or cat will run away or wander far from home in search of a female in heat; the pet will no longer have this urge to wander once he is neutered.

In general, neutered males tend to be less high-strung and more relaxed thanks to the lower testosterone levels. Neutering also cuts down on hormone-driven vocalizations, like yowling in cats.

A Solution for Neuter-Hesitant Pet Owners

Many pet owners will decide against neutering a dog, cat or other pet due to the “less manly” appearance of a neutered male. In fact, neutering a dog or cat can disqualify him from competing in some dog shows or cat shows. But there’s now a solution for pet owners who fear that their dog will “miss” their testicles.

Neuticals are are testicular implant created for neutered dogs, cats, bulls and other domestic animals. When the veterinarian surgically removes the male dog’s real testicles, he can implant the Neuticals. Neuticals can even be implanted years after a male has been neutered. When healing is complete, the dog, cat, bull or other pet will appear “intact.”

If a pet owner is interested in Neuticals for their pet, it’s important to note that Neuticals should be implanted after the age of 9 months of age, when the pet is close to his adult size – this ensures that the proper size Neuticals are implanted. Wondering how much Neuticals cost? Pricing for a pair of Neutical Originals starts around $75 USD.

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A Sick Puppy Gets an IV at the Vet. Is Your Dog Sick? (Carol Adams Photo)

There’s lots of instances when a dog owner may wonder, “Is my dog sick? Should I take him to the 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic?” Making the decision to take a pet to the emergency clinic can be a difficult one, especially since most emergency vet clinics charge $100+ just for an exam. So monitoring your pet’s vital signs at home can be a great way to determine how sick your dog may be.

But unfortunately, few dog owners know how to check a dog’s vital signs. In fact, many dog owners still believe in the myth of checking the dog’s nose for wetness or temperature. In reality, the temperature or wetness of a dog’s nose indicates nothing. The only surefire way to determine if a dog is sick is to check his vital signs. Depending on your findings, you’ll get a better idea of whether you can wait until morning to take your dog to the vet or if an emergency visit is in order.

How to Check Your Dog’s Vitals

Here’s the things you will want to check on your dog if you believe he is sick. Be sure to write down your findings, so you can show them to the veterinarian.

If you opt to keep your dog at home instead of taking him to the emergency clinic, you will want to check the following signs every 1-2 hours. Write down your findings each time so you can monitor your dog and determine if he’s getting better or getting worse.

• Temperature – A normal temperature for a dog is between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not check temperature right after the dog wakes up or right after exercise. This will skew the results.
• Gums – Gums should be pink in color and moist and slick to the touch. If they are pale, sticky or dry, this is a problem. Visit How to Check a Dog’s Gums for more information on gum color and what gum discoloration means.
• Heart Rate – Young puppies and small toy dogs will have a fast heart rate, averaging around 180 beats per minute. Medium and large dogs will have a heart rate – between 60-160 beats per minute. The larger the dog, the slower the normal heart rate.
• Pulse – Pulse is taken in the extremities, while heart rate is monitored just above the heart. Pulse will be slightly slower than heart rate: 60 beats per minute for a large dog and 120 beats per minute for a small dog.
• Respiration – Like pulse and heart rate, respiration rate varies depending on the dog’s size. Small dogs will have a faster respiration rate around 30 breaths per minute and larger dogs will have a slower rate of respiration around 10 breaths per minute.
• Check for Dehydration – Check a dog for dehydration by pinching the skin at the dog’s scruff. Pull the skin upwards into a “tent” and then release. In a dehydrated dog, the skin will take several seconds to return to normal. The longer it takes the dog’s skin to return to normal, the more dehydrated the dog is. Dry gums are also a sign of dehydration.

Other Factors to Consider With a Sick Pet

In addition to considering the dog’s vital signs, it’s also important to look at the individual situation. An elderly dog or very young dog is likely to deteriorate quicker than a healthy, middle-aged dog. So that may be a case where you’d want to take a more conservative route by taking the dog to the emergency room.

You should also consider the dog’s overall health. A dog with a chronic disease or illness, like Addison’s Disease or Diabetes will be more likely to develop secondary problems relating to their underlying disease. So if your dog has a chronic illness or disease, you’d be smart to opt for the vet visit after-hours.

I always urge pet owners to trust their gut instinct. You know your dog better than anyone, which means you’re the best person to tell whether he’s seriously ill. If your dog’s vital signs look good, but you still have a really bad feeling, go with it and visit the emergency room. Pet parent intuition is very rarely wrong.

For more information on how to handle a sick pet, check out Handling Pet Emergencies.

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