How to determine if your dog is dehydrated

Puppies and smaller dogs are particularly susceptible to dehydration. A normal amount of water for a dog to drink per day is 20-70ml per kilo of body weight. If your dog is ill, has had diarrhoea and/or vomiting for a long time, it may be time to check for dehydration.

There are a few ways to check if your dog is suffering from dehydration. First, you can start by grabbing your dog's neck skin and lifting it upwards. If a dog is not dehydrated, the skin will fall right back into place after you let go of the neck skin. However, if it takes longer for the skin to fall back, this may be a sign of dehydration.

You can also look at the mucous membrane in your dog's mouth. Lift the lip and look at the colour of the mucous membrane, which should be moist and pink. Press your finger against the mucous membrane for a few seconds. When you release your finger, the colour should return to pink within 1-2 seconds. If the colour slowly returns to pink after you release your finger, it may be a sign of dehydration. The same applies if the mucous membrane feels dry and sticky.