When water intake does not equal water output, your pet can become dehydrated. Dehydration can cause serious complications for all living things, including your pets. Water makes up about 80% of your dog's body and needs to be replenished daily to maintain health. Water dissolves natural and unnatural substances and is necessary for proper circulation, temperature control, saliva, transportation of nutrients throughout the body, digestion, and waste removal.

Dehydration can be caused by reduced water intake or the increase of fluid loss. Reduced water intake can happen due to drinking less water, hot weather, strenuous exercise, or even high altitudes. Excess fluid loss can be caused by vomiting or diarrhea, especially in puppies.

Some of the symptoms of dehydration in dogs include:

• Sunken eyes

• Lethargy

• Loss of appetite

• Dry Mouth

• Depression

You might be able to detect dehydration in your dog by lifting the skin on the back of the neck to see if it returns to the original position quickly or not. This is equivalent to gently pinching the skin on a person's wrist or hand to see if it stays pinched (dehydration) or returns to normal quickly (hydration). If you suspect dehydration, you should take your pet to a veterinarian as it may be indicative of underlying problems.

Dogs at risk for dehydration are similar to people. Various illnesses such as kidney disorders, cancer, diabetes, and infection can cause dehydration. Older dogs and pregnant or nursing dogs are more susceptible to dehydration. At the vet, your dog will probably be given intravenous fluids as well as tests to find the cause.

Dehydration can be prevented with the following precautions:

• Provide clean water at all times, changing it frequently to prevent stagnation and bacteria.

• Monitor your pet's intake of water, especially if he has had vomiting, diarrhea, or other symptoms that contribute to fluid loss. General a dog needs about one ounce of water for each pound of body weight per day.

• Make sure his water bowl cannot be knocked over.

• Bring extra water for traveling or exercising, especially in hot weather.

• If your dog seems to be drinking less than normal, check his mouth for sores, sticks, etc.

• Avoid chaining your dog where he could get entangled and not be able to get to his water bowl.

• If you dog or cat is prone to drinking out of the toilet, keep the toilet lid closed. This water is a source of bacteria.

Many pet owners have found a solution to their dog or cat's hydration problems with a pet fountain. There are several makes and models on the market today and each has pros and cons that will help determine if it is a good fit for your pet. Lots of pets enjoy drinking water that is running and not still, dirty, and stagnant and they tend to drink more if a clean, moving water is available.

B. L. Martin enjoys large dogs, but needed to find solutions to the dirty water that has contributed to dehydration and sickness. You can check out her website on pet fountains that provided the solution she was seeking at Drinkwell Pet Fountains, where she provides additional information on the wide range of choices Drinkwell offers, including the Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain as well as the Drinkwell 360 and Big Dog Pet Fountains.