17/07/2022
Maintaining hydration is vital whenever a pet loses body fluids excessively, for any reason.
This commonly occurs following a bout of vomiting and diarrhoea, strenuous activity and during extreme heat.
Continually replenishing fluids in such circumstances is especially important for young and older pets, who can quickly become dehydrated and ill.
A good homemade electrolyte solution can be used for this purpose.
The recipe is as follows:
½ (half) litre of boiled water
4 teaspoons of Manuka honey
⅓ (a third) teaspoon of salt
Stir the Manuka honey and salt into the boiled water, and allow to cool to lukewarm before using.
If your dog is happy to be handled around the mouth, and to accept oral fluids, give 1/2 (half) to 1ml per kg every 2 hours. For a 10kg dog this would be 5 to 10ml. For the average 20kg dog, it would be 10 to 20ml.
Also be sure to keep your dog indoors, and somewhere cool between 06:00am and 21:00pm on hot days, to avoid risking heat stress or burned paws.