Suppose you’re a dog owner or thinking about getting a furry friend in your life. In that case, keeping your dog healthy is naturally a priority for you. However, a common question that you may be wondering is- can dehydration in dogs cause seizures?
Dehydration is a huge cause for concern when you have a dog. You must be aware of this as a dog parent, especially with the warm, humid summer days approaching. So, if you’re a concerned dog parent and want your furry friend to be safe and healthy in the sweltering summer heat, continue reading!
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Dehydration in dogs
So, can dehydration cause seizures in dogs? Before answering that, it’s essential to understand the meaning of dehydration in dogs. The topic of dehydration in dogs is quite a vast topic. When your canine’s body loses more electrolytes and water than your pet consumes, dehydration can occur.
Canines, like human beings, need water to ensure that their bodies are functioning optimally. Therefore, just like humans, water is extremely important for all bodily functions in dogs.
Dehydration in dogs can lead to devastating health consequences such as unconsciousness, seizures, kidney failure, and, unfortunately, even death (in extreme cases).
The dehydration process in dogs
Understanding the causes of dehydration can help identify if your dog is at the risk of getting dehydrated and therefore avoiding any possibility of your dog getting a seizure.
Various reasons can lead to dehydration in dogs. These include diarrhea, persistent vomiting, heatstroke (from getting overheated), fever, and inadequate fluid intake.
A moderate degree of fluid loss is normal in dogs through breathing, panting, defecating, urinating, and evaporation through a canine’s paws. However, there is a significant reduction in a pup’s bodily fluids and electrolytes when it comes to dehydration.
As a result, blood circulation slows down. Consequently, the amount of oxygen getting delivered to the muscles and vital organs reduces, which impacts nerve activities, muscle function, and more.
Dehydration symptoms in dogs
Suppose you know the key symptoms of dehydration in general and severe dehydration in particular, which can cause seizures in dogs. In that case, you’ll be able to treat the condition quickly and hopefully avoid the onset of a seizure. So, here are the symptoms of dehydration in canines:
Dryness of the mouth is a key symptom of dehydration. A canine’s mouth should always be glistening and wet. When dehydrated, a dog’s mouth feels tacky to the touch and looks pale. This condition is called xerostomia.
The saliva consistency also changes when a dog is dehydrated. The saliva becomes thick and tenacious.
Skin elasticity is also affected by dehydration. When a dog is dehydrated, you’ll see a loss of elasticity in the dog’s skin. If you gently pull on their skin and know that it hasn’t come back to its original position quickly, it may be a sign of dehydration.
Extreme cases of dehydration in dogs may cause a dog’s eyes to become sunken, and the canine might even collapse (if they’re in a state of shock).
Other symptoms include dry nose, excessive panting, and loss of appetite.
Did my dog just have a seizure from dehydration?
As you already know, severe dehydration can affect the oxygen and electrolytes supply to the brain, muscles, and other organs. In addition, the low oxygen supply and electrolyte imbalances affect nerve activities, which may cause seizures in dogs.
Seizures are basically a temporary disturbance (involuntary disturbance) of normal brain function. Uncontrollable muscle activity is a sign that your dog is having a seizure.
Now that you know the answer to can dehydration in dogs cause seizures, it’s important to take immediate action if you see that your dog just had a seizure or is showing symptoms of dehydration.
Immediately treating dehydration is essential. Contact your veterinarian immediately (even if your dog behaves normally right after the seizure). Talk to your vet and figure out if there’s any pattern to your dog’s seizures so that the treatment plan can be designed accordingly. Another thing to remember is that you can’t allow your furry friend to drink too much water too quickly if they’re dehydrated. It can make your dog nauseous.
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