Hydrate for Health – Importance of Pet Hydration
Summer has officially arrived in Canada!
What does this mean for you and your dog? Time to shake off the wintertime cobwebs, get outside, more trips to the dog park, longer walks, ball and Frisbee catching. As exciting as the dog days of summer are, when temperatures begin to soar we must be cautious and understand that pets require special attention and that includes understanding the importance of proper hydration.
Drinkwell Outdoor Dog Fountain
What are the signs of dehydration in dogs?
- Sunken eyes
- Decreased skin elasticity (gently lift the skin on the back of your dog’s neck or between their shoulder blades, it should immediately return to normal position).
- Dry mouth/nose and gums
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Depression
In a survey conducted by PetSafe® Brand, it was revealed that 66 per cent of Canadians were unaware that lethargy or unusual lack of energy indicates dehydration in their pets.
What can we do to help keep our pets safe from dehydration?
- Ensure our pets have a constant and ample supply of fresh water
- Exercise our dogs in the early mornings and evenings when the summer heat and sun is at it’s lowest
- Never leave our pets in a parked car
- Know your pet’s safety limits. Some dog and cat breeds need to be monitored more closely during hot weather
With the wide selection of water fountains available from PetSafe, it has never been easier to have a fresh water supply that encourages our pets to drink more water and stay hydrated.
Drinkwell 360 Plastic Pet Fountain
Whether our pets are active or calm, one thing is for sure; they require plenty of water to stay healthy and hydrated. With the various sizes and options of pet fountains available from PetSafe® Brand, it’s never been easier for Canadian pet parents to keep their pets from feeling parched and staying hydrated all year round.
You can learn more here about the PetSafe Brand pet fountains, and the many options available to best suit your pets lifestyle.
June 29, 2017
Whenever we leave our pets for a few days and have our petsitter come over, I constantly text them to remind them the importance of filling the water bowl!!
June 29, 2017
We are lucky that it is relatively cool here, even in the summer. I think a fountain would be great, but I wish they were battery operated.
June 29, 2017
That is the one thing that would be on my “wish list” as well – battery operated. There are places in my home I would like to place the fountains, but I must have an outlet for them to work.
June 29, 2017
Great reminder! Our gardens are certainly being hydrated right now (in Ontario). Having more than one dog, we make sure to change and top up both water bowls regularly.
June 29, 2017
We are in Ontario as well, and oh my gosh, the rain we’ve been having is something else! Lets hope this is not what the rest of the summer has in store for us.
June 29, 2017
Water and hydration is the most important thing for your pet’s health. Especially in summer. I keep water in my car in case my dogs or another dog needs it. Dehydration can lead to heat stroke, muscle spasms, and injury. It is so serious!
June 29, 2017
Yes! Having water available when taking out dogs/pets in the car is very important! You never know when you could get stuck in traffic or delayed and it takes no time at all for us and our pets to heat up.
June 29, 2017
My old man is terrified of all of the automatic watering systems we have tried so far lol. We have multiple buckets and bowls of water both inside, and out to keep the dogs hydrated. I often dump ice cubes out in the yard too so they can have a cool wet treat when it’s super hot!
June 29, 2017
You have to do whatever it takes to get fluids into you dog and if he likes ice cubes then go for it! I make “pup” cubes with fruit and some cut up vegetables as a treat on hot summer days. My dog likes to chew on them, they keep her cool, hydrated and it keeps her busy working at it.
June 28, 2017
We love PetSafe fountains! We have three different fountains throughout the house to stay hydrated.
June 29, 2017
We love the PetSafe fountains too! Both Edie and my cats enjoy drinking from them.
June 28, 2017
I would love to try one of their fountains. Ruby is not big on drinking water and I always worry about her in the hot months. I’m forever trying to find creative ways to get her to drink more water.
June 29, 2017
Edie is not the best drinker either. I find having running water from a fountain is encouraging, and I add water to her dry food each and ever meal to ensure she stays hydrated.
June 28, 2017
This is a great post! How do you get your dog to drink before walks…? I never want to drink before a walk, and then I’m thirsty when I’m out walking…
June 28, 2017
I feel Mr. N’s gums a lot to see if he’s dehydrated. He also doesn’t want to move too much if he’s really hot.
June 29, 2017
Mr. N is smart about keeping quiet and not moving much during the hot weather.
June 28, 2017
That looks awesome! Dogs love the fountains too, makes it more fun to drink. 🙂
June 28, 2017
Hydration is so critical for pets, especially in warmer weather or when they’re being very active. Thanks for sharing these interesting facts & tips on Pet hydration. I love this beautiful water fountain! It will surely entice any pooch to drink more.
Love & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
June 28, 2017
LOVING these water fountains for pets!! What a great way to keep FRESH COLD water for them and YES hydration is vital all year round – not just in the summer.
I had no idea about the skin lifting test! Thank you for that info!
June 28, 2017
Yes this is one factor that many people may underestimate. I learned about how vital hydration was for my cat (and for dogs) when my cat fell ill and was battling cancer. Without proper hydration daily, their body can quickly shut down. Thanks for posting this important topic.
June 28, 2017
Happy-Go-Doodle Chloe here!
I love drinking water out of the bathtub faucet when mom gives me a bath. That PetSafe fountain gets a four paws in the air from me!
Doodle kisses and hugs!
Chloe
June 28, 2017
Dehydration is a serious matter. I’m so glad you wrote this post with the warning signs. That fountain looks nice.
June 28, 2017
I love the outdoor fountain!! I’ve been thinking about getting one for my dogs. While they don’t hang out in the yard for very long during the summer, it only takes a little while for their water bowl to get warm and gross. Thanks for sharing these pet hydration facts! Such an important topic.
June 29, 2017
Yes, even though we have water outside for you pets, we must remember to change it often so it remains fresh and cool.
June 28, 2017
Spoiled cuties!!!!! Thanks for sharing such adorable photos!
June 26, 2017
A fountain is on my list. I travel with Victor, my dog, a lot and I have trouble getting him to drink outside, in the car or anywhere he’s distracted. Then, when he’s really thirsty, he drinks from a puddle, which drives me crazy … especially when there’s bottled water in the car or, more often than not, dumped beside the car.