The dog expert said that the myth is widely believed
A dog trainer is raising awareness among pet owners by sharing simple hack to check for signs of dehydration. With temperatures rising and summer in full swing, his advice comes at a critical time.
As well as this, he also debunked a common myth that many dog owners still believe – and it's all to do with their nose. So what does he suggest you do?
Max Randall, founder @mk9plus, is a IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers) Qualified Dog Trainer, posted the helpful tips on his TikTok account. He notes that the first thing you can do is check their gums.
He said: “The gums and lips should be wet and shiny. If they’re dry and kind of sticky, like a rubber glove feeling, they are lacking moisture.”
One other simple check he says pet owners should do straight away is checking their skin. All you need to do is grab a bit of skin on the back and neck of your dog and let go.
Once you do this, you should keep an eye on how quickly it “pings back”. If it does so quickly it means your dog is properly hydrated – but if they're not then “it will be much slower because just like gums, the skin underneath is sticky so it doesn’t ping back”. You can do this often to check what their ‘normal’ is like versus when they are dehydrated.
And on the myth that a dog with a dry nose is cause for concern, Max said this isn't necessarily true. He explained: “Dog’s noses are only wet because they lick them, so that’s not an indication.” It could also be like this because they've just had water.
Doctor Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the American Kennel Club also backs up the skin test.
The expert in veterinary emergency and critical care, also highlighted symptoms of canine dehydration to look our for. These include:
- Loss of skin elasticity;
- Loss of appetite;
- Vomiting (with or without diarrhoea);
- Reduced energy levels and lethargy;
- Panting;
- Sunken, dry-looking eyes;
- Dry nose;
- Dry, sticky gums;
- Thick saliva.