With temperatures climbing across the UK as we head closer to summer, many of us sun-loving Brits have been rushing outdoors to make the most of the warm weather.
But for those of us with dogs at home, the hotter months are a time that we have to look out for our canine companions more than any other. Unlike us, dogs can't sweat through their skin and instead rely on panting and releasing heat through their paw pads and nose to keep cool, which means that they aren't as well-equipped to deal with scorching temperatures as we are.
It's all too common for our four-legged friends to become dehydrated easily in the summer, which can lead to heatstroke - a serious and potentially fatal condition that develops when your dog is unable to reduce its body temperature. Fortunately, there are some easy tell-tale signs of dehydration to watch out for in order to avoid getting to this scary stage, The Mirror reports.
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Dr Anna Foreman, in-house vet at Everypaw, has urged pet owners to carry out some simple tests to see whether your dog might need to drink more water. One of the easiest ways to check this is by looking inside their mouth at the colour of their gums, the expert advised.
"If an animal is well-hydrated, their gums will be pale pink and moist," Dr Foreman advised. "However, if dehydrated, their gums will be pale and dry."
Another sign that your dog could be dehydrated is a 'skin tent' - this is when the skin stays 'tented' up over their scruff, the area of loose skin at the back of their neck, when pinched. As in humans, skin elasticity is an indication of how hydrated your pet is, and this can be tested by seeing how quickly it springs back into place.
Dr Foreman advised gently pinching the loose skin on the back of your dog's neck if you think they may be dehydrated. While your pet's skin will instantly spring back to its original position if they are well-hydrated, taking longer than two seconds to fall back into place is an indication that they likely need to drink more water.
Alongside carrying out these simple tests, it's also vital for owners to familiarise themselves with the early symptoms of heatstroke - spotting them and getting them treated early may just save your dog's life. Dr Foreman explained: "If a dog shows any signs of dehydration, is excessively panting, passes any vomit or diarrhoea, or is weak or lethargic, they should be taken straight to the vets to have their temperature checked.
"In the meantime, active cooling measures (such as wrapping the animal in a cool water-soaked towel) can be put in place. An animal should not have cold water thrown over them as this can lead to shock," the doctor warned.
Dogs should typically drink between 15ml and 45ml per day, per kilogram of their weight - so for example, a small Yorkshire Terrier weighing 4kg should be drinking an average of 60ml to 180ml a day, whereas a 30kg Labrador should be drinking between 450ml and 1350ml. Dr Foreman said: "In the hot weather, a dog will drink more water much like humans.
"Normally this will not exceed the 45ml/kg/day. If a dog is consistently drinking more than this, regardless of the weather, then they should visit the vet as it may be a sign of an underlying issue," she advised.
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