Benefits of Electrolytes For Dog Hydration

Benefits of Electrolytes For Dogs

For a lot of active dog owners, summer means more time in the sun. You know how you react to the heat. You bring your water bottle with you to rehydrate as you sweat. But what does this added heat and exercise have on the hydration levels of your dog? 

The very simple truth is this: dogs sweat differently than humans.

They don’t have sweat glands like we do.The few in their paws are not enough to regulate their core body temperature. Instead, panting is their primarily method to help regulate their body temperature. With this, comes water loss. But don’t panic! 

Naturally, dogs gain and lose water throughout the day. Panting, normal breathing, potty breaks, and evaporation through their paws are all normal ways they lose water.

Dogs will pant any time they are overheated, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with your own dog’s normal levels. Provide easy access to water to gauge when they seek it.

The problem comes when your dog loses...too much water. 

The Problem with Dehydration in Dogs

When a dog’s body gets to the point where normal fluid intake fails to make up for water loss, they need to rehydrate quickly. At this point,blood flow and the volume of fluids is reduced, whichrestrictsthe delivery of oxygen to organs and tissue. Dehydration in dogs also results in a loss of vital electrolytes, such as sodium, chloride, and potassium. 

These minerals have important functions in the body, such as:

• Regulating proper pH balance 
• Promoting muscle function 
• Transporting nutrients into cells
• Maintaining nerve function

How to Keep up Proper Hydration and Electrolyte Balance

One major challenge with proper hydration comes from your dog not wanting to drink enough water. To help encourage proper hydration, flavored water has shown to help increase proper water consumption.

Science Daily recently reviewed three common hydration techniques: 

1. Free access to plain water
2. Electrolyte injections(subcutaneous hydration)
3. A chicken-flavored electrolyte drink

These techniques were compared to determine effectiveness ofkeeping “sniffer dogs” (working dogs, like search and rescue dogs or police dogs) hydrated when working in hot weather.They found that while all are safe and effective, dogs drink more and are more hydrated when given a chicken-flavored electrolyte drink.

The study concluded with, "If a dog is reluctant to drink, then a highly palatable flavored electrolyte solution may give them a boost.”

Our Solution

For any dog lover, encouragingyour pupto drink enough wateris a preventative health measure. Flavoring their water bowlscan be an effective way to coax the more “skeptical” noses to stay hydrated. Knowing your dog has had enough to drink helpsease our ownanxieties about spending longer periods of time outside in the heat. 

Meet, Go Dog, our powerful hydration formuladesigned for all pups (and perfect for their water bowls). 

Loaded with essential electrolytes to keep their hydration levels up, Go Dog is what pups need during the hot summer months, or any time their activity levels pick up. A mix of electrolytes, short-burst, and long-range energy fuels help keep your dog in their performance safety zone.

Here are some of the top reasons dog lovers choose Go Dog:

• Delicious (real) meat flavor that dogs love
• Supports healthy electrolyte levels, muscle function, and fluid balance
• Enhances exercise tolerance, performance, and endurance
• Promotes proper glucose metabolism
• Clean energy source (no sugar rush, no crash)
• Assists with normal recovery time after strenuous activity

Most importantly, your dog is protected against overheating and dehydrationduring any adventure, in the backyard or in the wild.

Keep them cool the natural way.