Do you think your German Shorthair Pointer is getting dehydrated easily? But first of all, are you always preparing a bowl of fresh water for your GSP? Do you regularly change the water your GSP drinks?
Dogs generally are heavy water drinkers because that is how they maintain their body temperature. This is especially true when your dog has just completed a vigorous exercise or when it is hot.
Regardless, your GSP needs fresh water to maintain optimum health conditions. You may think of food when you hear the word “nutrition,” but water is very much the elixir of life in dogs too!
Water aids in digestion, lubricating the joints, and cushioning internal organs, among others. It plays a vital role in healthy blood flow and functioning organs. Are you wondering:
- What causes German Shorthair Pointers to become dehydrated easily?
- How do German Shorthair Pointers show signs of dehydration?
- What are the effects of dehydration on GSPs?
- How much water should my GSP drink?
German Shorthair Pointers get dehydrated easily if they are not fulfilling their daily water intake level and are constantly playing or undergoing rigorous exercises. It may also be because the GSP is ill, has a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or an underlying medical condition.
In general, dogs should drink at least one ounce of water per pound of body weight, and this level should increase during summers or if the dog is always active.
Why does German Shorthair Pointer get dehydrated easily?
Dehydration in dogs is a serious health condition and, if left unchecked, can cause death. Dogs constantly gain and lose weight throughout the day, losing water while defecating, urinating, panting, and even breathing.
Hence, an equal or higher amount of water should be taken daily to compensate for this water loss. But, if you notice that your GSP is getting dehydrated easily, it may be due to other reasons.
GSPs can suffer from dehydration due to changes in diet, environmental conditions, or other health problems. In fact, a dry nose is a common health problem mostly seen in GSPs, and dehydration is one of the major reasons.
Is your GSP vomiting or has diarrhea? If so, there are high chances of your GSP dehydrating easily. Vomiting and diarrhea in dogs is a serious condition that causes excess fluid loss.
This loss must be compensated through eating and drinking, but that’s not always the case. When a GSP is vomiting continuously, the lining of the throat becomes inflamed, causing pain when they swallow anything.
Therefore, the GSP may refrain from eating or drinking anything in such cases. Administering IVF is essential in such a condition to prevent dehydration.
Also, another point to remember is that GSPs are very active and highly energetic dogs. Leave them in wide-open fields or the wild, and they can keep running for hours and miles.
Such hyperactive dogs require ample water daily because of the excess water loss through breathing and panting. Therefore, it’s obvious that GSPs will get dehydrated easily since their body demands high water intake every day.
What are the signs of dehydration in German Shorthair Pointer?
Here are the common signs and symptoms of dehydration in dogs generally and not specific to GSP!
Sticky mouth
Dogs usually have wet mouths that drool or salivate when panting or breathing. But, if your GSP is dehydrated, the gums and the tongue will seem sticky or dry and not wet. The saliva may also seem sticky.
Loss of skin elasticity
This is a common test for dehydration in dogs. Grab the scruff of your GSPs neck, stretch it gently and let it go. If the skin does not snap back quickly, then it’s a sign that the dog is dehydrated. In extreme dehydration, the skin remains stretched and won’t retract.
Gum test
Gently press the gums of your GSP and check for hydration. When gently pressed, the blood flow is blocked, making the gum appear white. As soon as you let go, the gums should turn pink in two seconds; if the process takes longer, your GSP is dehydrated.
Loss of appetite
Dogs usually don’t eat when they are extremely dehydrated. They may want to drink a few sips of water at the most, which won’t be enough to hydrate their bodies back to normal.
What are the effects of dehydration on GSPs?
Dehydration in GSPs is a life-threatening illness and can cause death in severe cases. Prolonged dehydration can cause the failure of organs such as the kidney and lead to death.
Dehydration causes the loss of electrolytes in the body that helps operate important bodily functions, such as nutrition movement to tissues, balancing the body’s pH, and more.
Therefore, you must ensure that your GSP doesn’t reach this stage in the first place. If it gets worse, IVF will be necessary to prevent further dehydration.
How much water should my GSP drink?
An adult GSP must drink at least an ounce of water per pound of body weight, which differs in the case of a puppy GSP or senior GSP.
A GSP puppy must drink at least 1/8 of a cup of water per pound of body weight. This amount should increase on days of high physical activity or high temperatures.
Conclusion
Keeping your GSP well hydrated is one of the first duties of a responsible pet parent. GSPs are highly active dogs who won’t sit for more than a few minutes. Hence. Ensure your GSP has fresh drinking water always ready throughout the day.
Also, you must know that dogs don’t like it when their water bowl is dirty. Since they are used to drinking clean water, they will not like drinking it if the water is old or dirty.
Make a habit of changing the water bowl twice a day. In addition, giving fruits such as watermelon can also help in keeping your GSP hydrated.
