You’ll be happy to hear that giving your dog Pedialyte can make a lot of sense when they refuse liquids or are otherwise dehydrated.
Water deficiency (or low electrolytes, like potassium or sodium) is a serious problem for pets.
Insufficient fluid intake, diarrhea and vomiting all contribute to dehydration. You obviously want to prevent this from happening to your dog.
Here’s the deal:
While there are many treatments, one works great to restore lost electrolytes and fluids.
You guessed it: Pedialyte!
It is a safe and effective solution, and a popular choice.
Pedialyte Works For Dogs Too
Though primarily made for humans, when necessary it can also be given to four-legged friends.
Pedialyte is a replacement therapy. It basically replenishes important minerals including chloride, sodium and potassium.
An electrolyte formula, it is a fantastic re-hydrating treatment for when a dog is on the verge of dehydration.
We witnessed it first-hand when our oldest was sick last year — turns out he has a love for bubble gum-flavored Pedialyte!
Dosing Pedialyte For Dogs
There are several different products.
Some are already diluted (you may or may not need to mix the contents with water). Be sure to check first.
In any case…
Exact Pedialyte dosing is open for debate. Play it safe and go with an amount that factors in your dog’s body mass.
Half a cup of diluted Pedialyte, every hour or so, is acceptable for a 40-50 pound canine. Don’t exceed 4 cubic centimeters per pound of weight.
Other than water, avoid mixing with other fluids. Sugar additives could worsen your dog’s condition by drawing out more water from the cells.
A syringe ensures enough Pedialyte is consumed. That, or a flavored-version to encourage drinking, may be necessary.
Signs of a Dehydrated Dog
Your dog is made up of approximately 60% water.
H2O is critical for good health, dissolving foods and eliminating toxins. A deficiency is dehydration and serious indeed.
Symptoms include:
- Sunken eyes
- Decreased elasticity of the skin
- Abnormal panting
- Dry nose
- Dry eyes
- Dry mouth
Again, Pedialyte is an excellent remedy (particularly in the early stages).
Watch this video!
Caution: You really must visit a vet if your dog is already severely dehydrated.
Reasons For Dehydration
Dehydration occurs quite easily.
Aside from illness, a hot or dry environment is a big factor when combined with insufficient fluid intake.
Fever, diarrhea, vomiting, diabetes, viral or bacterial infection, kidney disease and panting or drooling will worsen your dog’s condition.
These signs may also indicate an underlying medical issue. But, whatever the reason…
Persistent dehydration is a real concern.
Get professional help if Pedialyte isn’t working. It may not be the solution you are seeking.
When to Get a Vet’s Help
Moderate dehydration is usually when you don’t observe your dog vomiting.
This can be remedied with Pedialyte given orally (either by syringe, bottle or drinking bowl).
More serious cases require aggressive replacement of fluids.
Some owners use Pedialyte for dehydration resulting from Parvos virus, but your dog may need something more for such dire circumstances.
Application of IV fluids could be vital. A vet may need your dog to stay overnight or until they’ve clearly recovered.
The Bottom Line
Dog dehydration can be serious (especially left untreated).
Pedialyte is safe for animals and extremely useful. It is proven effective for rehydrating dogs.
Speak with a vet and follow their Pedialyte dosing recommendations.
And if your dog has problems that persist, or worsen, bring them in ASAP.
I have a 9 year old Yorkie. She has been suffering from loss of protein for a year now. She had been on Prednisone 5mg- Metronidazole 50mg- and Actigall 300mg.
They put her on a low fat diet due to vomiting and diarrhea. Her vitals went up and she was doing well. But, all of a sudden, she stopped eating and was drinking tons of water.
I brought her back to vet and he claimed all vitals were up. But kidney problems occurred. So he is giving her fluid shots under the skin for seven days. She is starting to eat better now.
I am making her homemade food and giving a little Pedialyte to help her along. They say we are going day by day, but she seems to be doing okay to me.
Do you agree that it’s just a matter of time before I loose her? The vet says it’s a slow process, but she isn’t showing bad vibes like not walking and not going up steps. What do you think?
What kind of fluid shots? I have a similar situation going on with my dog and we haven’t found a cure. I’m really afraid of loosing my 4 year old dog. He is experiencing similar symptoms including no appetite, lots of vomiting and diarrhea.
I failed to recognize the symptoms of dehydration in my dog. He had CHF for over two years and was very stable without obvious signs of decompensation. I misinterpreted, unfortunately, my vet’s advice on diuretic administration on and gave my dog daily diuretics for 2 months.
Dehydration signs and symptoms gradually ensued including leathery/weakness, loss of appetite, restlessness, confusion, stumbling or losing balance, more sleeping than usual and excessive thirst. All three vets within 4 days attributed his demise to old age, 14 years – 8 months, and his medical condition as the cause.
One vet recommended euthanasia which was done. My dog’s initial symptom when he was diagnosed with CHF was dry cough. He only coughed occasionally during the subsequent 2+ years for which I gave short-term low dose Lasix. He never coughed, exhibited SOB or panting subsequent to that vet visit.
Posthumously, something just did not feel right to me so I researched as much online veterinarian information as possible. Everything pointed to dehydration. No lab or diagnostic tests were performed during those final evaluations. My wife and I are just devastated with loss of our beloved dog.
Be absolutely sure that your veterinarian knows every symptom of your pet. No one knows your pet better than the owner. You have to be informed through research of symptoms and be sure there’s good communication with your vet. You have to be the voice because your dog has no voice.
We have an older dog and she has a big abscess near her bottom. We have given her antibiotics and she has lost so much weight. Today she hasn’t eaten anything so I have been given her pedialyte. We’re watching her closely. I even have to carry her today. I’m so worried about her.
My dog is 12 years old and recently lost his companion to cancer. He refuses to drink anything and we can’t afford a vet again. I’m really worried. Can I give my dog water and chicken broth or Pedialyte in a syringe? If so how often and how much?
I went on a trip for 2 days and when I came back my dog was really sick. He won’t eat but he does drink a bit of water. When I came back from the trip he wouldn’t look me in the eyes. I fell really bad. What can I do?
Take him to a vet immediately. It could be Parvo which is deadly if not treated aggressively.
My 18 pound Dachshund threw up her food from this morning’s breakfast. It looked undigested. The dog has since thrown up 2 more times. She’s drinking a lot of water but still acts lethargic. Should I give Pedialyte and if so how much? Alternatively, should I just try to treat her for upset stomach?
Lots of urination is a sign of renal failure. She needs fluids, antibiotics and anti-nausea meds. Take her to the vet ASAP. You should be able to take home a bag of IV fluids and inject subcutaneous fluids everyday, for awhile, to rehydrate her.
I have a 6 month old German Shepherd. He’s been throwing up and has had diarrhea for 24 hours now. Can I give him Pedialyte?
With a 6 month old, I’d go straight to a vet. I am having the same problem with my 9 year old Bichon. I did give him some Pepto Bismol (which helped with diarrhea) but that’s my choice and I’m not a vet.
Pedialyte will help with electrolytes. Perhaps call a vet school clinic. I hope your puppy is doing well now.
We have a 5 pound Yorkie who has not been feeling good and acting a bit strange. We had him to the vet for two different blood tests. The first test brought us to the second test for Addison disease. Because his electrolytes are low, we want to give him the Pedialyte for humans but we’re unsure how much to give him. Do you go by the amount prescribed for infants or less? How do you administer it, eye dropper? Any help would be appreciated.
Start with 1/3 of the children dose. This is 2/3 water and 1/3 electrolyte. If he does not get better use 1/2 dose. This would be 1/2 water and 1/2 electrolyte.
Make it easy on you and your Yorkie. Fill a bottle with an eye dropper and then let him sit on the table. Put your arm around him and hold his head gently. Open his jaw and apply the eye dropper in his mouth. I position the dropper towards the throat, not at the front of the mouth.
If he is scared just talk to him gently. My Yorkie peps up within an hour and starts to run around. Good luck!
I use Pedialyte when my dog has the runs. She is a 12 pound mini Pinscher. I do about a teaspoon of Pepto in a syringe and about 2 tablespoons of Pedialyte in a baby syringe. My sister is a vet tech and after talking to her boss, he uses similar methods for dogs with Parvo. It can only help when your dog isn’t feeling to well!
My diabetic dog has diarrhea after insulin and food. Can I give Kaopectate or Pepto? The vet is closed today and tomorrow. His glucose is fine. He acts okay, less energy. He eats and drinks.
Local pet stores should carry several brands of anti-diarrhea medicine for dogs and puppies. They are usually open on days vets are closed.
I have a 12-pound Silkie-Terrier. He is almost 13 years old. 2 days ago he was around lots of dogs at a park, the first time in all these years he’s been around a bunch of dogs like that. And of course wouldn’t you know it – one of the puppies there was a sickly-looking skinny Poodle.
About 18 hours later, I woke up to him throwing up several times, what looked like bile along with the dogie treat I gave him before we went to bed. A few hours later I discovered a decent sized pool of liquid-thick diarrhea on the hardwood floor.
He is drinking a whole lot, which is very important – but he won’t eat well. I couldn’t get him to eat anything yesterday except one hot dog bun and that was after wetting his appetite with the smallest smear of butter.
Then today he ate a tiny bit of peanut butter (not the best thing I know!) but better than nothing I thought. I have yet to see him eat anymore of the bread.
He hasn’t thrown up since yesterday that I can see. But the diarrhea is still happening, and is quite severe, a pale brown close to absolute liquid. I did notice 5 long strands of grass, each protruding and each were in need of my gentle assistance in being removed completely.
That’s the situation. I’m going out now to get some Imodium. I read vets say it’s 100% okay, at .5/1 mg per dog pound, so I’m going to give him 1mg. And I’ll find some Pedialyte and give it to him with a 50/50 water mix.
I’m concerned what he could have gotten from that skinny looking dog. He has always had a sensitive stomach but without savings and on disability going to the vet would have to be a by-payments method. I haven’t taken him to a vet in the last 12 years. He’s been pretty healthy since then.
My questions are what could he have picked up from the sickly-skinny puppy, and does it sound like a germ or rather an upset stomach? He is drinking like a champ! Every few hours he drinks a ton of water and he keeps the water down.
But he won’t touch any of the cooked chicken or salami that he usually can’t resist. That’s his regular food, and it does not smell bad or look spoiled. I made it all around 4-5 days ago and it’s kept in a closed container in a very cold fridge.
Anyone have any ideas or advice? I know small dogs are in a way like tiny children or babies in that they can be running and walking around all good and fine but have the ability to go downhill very quickly. So I am highly concerned. Thanks for any advice.
I’m concerned about all of the things you are trying to give your dog. I would definitely not be giving him bread with butter, peanut butter or salami. If he’s old and sick already, those high fat items could make him worse. Boiled chicken is okay. Totally plain scrambled eggs made without butter, oil, salt, pepper, etc. are very easy for them to digest.
Mashed sweet potato is good for them, too. It’s the same story – cook, mash, nothing added and make sure it is really a sweet potato. Pumpkin puree can help with the poops, just make sure you get 100% pumpkin rather than pumpkin pie filling. All of that stuff is gentle on the tummy. Butter? Salami? No!
Please take your dog to the vet.
Your dog could have picked up intestinal worms from the dog park. Hookworm, roundworm, ringworm and a couple others are quite common to pass between pets.
The eggs or larvae are easily transmitted from infected feces (or the ground nearby) from another dog, or licking his paws if he walked on an infected area. Your vet can look at a stool sample under a microscope to identify and give your dog a deworming dose.
You’ll need to repeat 2 weeks later and maybe a third dose, too. Our shelter stray had hookworms and roundworms and the same symptoms as your dog.
I have 2 Pomeranians and a Pit bull. The Pit is up-to-date on everything. My youngest Pomeranian is 11 weeks and she had her first set of shots. She isn’t due to get her second set for a while and my other is 4 months and goes for his boosters fairly soon.
They all have been experiencing diarrhea and vomiting lately. I talked to my vet and they said it is very possible that they could become affected with Parvo even if vaccinated. The Pit bull has no diarrhea but is spitting up thick clear mucus. My youngest Pomeranian has diarrhea and my 4 month pom has watery puke with bits of his food in there as well.
Could I give them Pedialyte to stop the puking and diarrhea? Please help! These are my babies.
All 3 need to see a vet as soon as possible.
I have a 6 1/2 year old Cairn Terrier. He weighs 25 pounds and he has had very loose stools for the last 2 days. Can I give him Pedialyte and see what happens and if so how much do I give him?
It won’t hurt him and it will prevent dehydration. I use a baby syringe dropper. At 25 pounds, probably use a full dropper. If my dog gets runs, I use a little Pepto and Pedialyte.
My 11 year old Pug is a newly diagnosed diabetic with diabetic ketoacidosis. He’s been in the hospital since Tuesday and is on 1-2 units of insulin BID. We had to bring him today due to inclement weather and financial concerns. Is it okay to give him Pedialyte since there is no glucose in it? I didn’t ask my vet before the clinic closed. He also has a UTI and is on a cephalosporin.
I cannot get my almost 10 year old female retriever mix to eat since Christmas. I have tried soft foods, hard foods mixed but nothing works. I did get her to eat a few dog biscuits but she won’t eat those now. She is drinking on her own but not often.
She does urinate, has not thrown up, but does have diarrhea. I can’t see a vet right now. What can I do for her between now and then so she does not get dehydrated? She is losing weight quickly.
I have a 12 year old Akita/Border Collie mix. We just came back from camping Sunday and he seemed fine. On Tuesday, I noticed that he didn’t want to eat all his food and he has always been a good eater. About 1 hour later, he vomited about 4 times.
Since then he has not wanted to eat and he does not drink as much water as he usually does. I tried giving him bread last night and he ate it but threw it up about an hour later. What should I do?
Felix if your dog’s symptoms do not improve within 24 hours you should visit your vet. Keep the dog under close observation and if the condition worsens visit a veterinarian immediately. It seems he was exposed to something over the weekend.
My rescue Dog, Buddy, is a Terrier mix who weighs 26 pounds, approximately 11 years old and is blind. In the last 2 weeks he has been drinking an excessive amount of water even during the night and urinating often.
I live in Miami, Florida and attributed it to the heat 90+ degrees. In the last week he had 2 episodes of collapse/sort of seizure like that lasted about a few minutes while on short walks. He also starts the walks out panting, which he has never done.
This morning he got up from his kennel walked a few feet and collapsed again this time losing control of the bladder. The event lasted the same amount of time but he was lethargic about getting up and around. Blood work was done after the first episode and the only thing found was a slightly lowered level of kidney function.
The vet suggested low protein food which I have tried for 3 days. I believe that he becomes dehydrated. I am going to try Pedialyte. Do you have any suggestions?
Go see the vet and do a half and half, Pedialyte and water mix.
My Toy Poodle has not eaten for a while. I went to the vet yesterday. He had fever and was still not eating. The vet gave him 4 injections, and a formula to take 1/2 hour before eating to protect the stomach. Well he got the that twice and still has not eaten. The doctor said to give him Ensure. Today he threw up everything even the water he drank, 3 to 4 times!
I turned to Pedialyte and gave it to him twice already in a syringe, 6ml each. Earlier, I also gave him 1/2 a dose of vitamins, 1cc that stayed down. He is resting comfortably and I hope all stays down so he can get chicken broth with rice tomorrow. Can anyone tell me how long it takes to dissolve in the stomach? I don’t want to overfill his stomach.
Is it safe for him to get liquids during the night, or 2 or 3 in the morning? He is very weak and can hardly walk, but he’s hanging in there! In June, he got a sickness and was recuperating fine.
If you don’t see an improvement in the next 24 hours I would return to the vet Monday morning. I hope he regains his strength by the time you wake up on Sunday!
The most important thing is fluid for a dog. Just like humans, they can go longer without food than fluids. Leave some food next to their water as well. For fluid, give them Pedialyte and your friend will be alright. Good luck and let me know how he’s doing, will pray for you both.
I have an 8 year old, very stubborn, German Shepard. For some reason in the last few years, he has become fearful of his water bowl. I cannot think of any incident that caused this. He has always been a little skittish about water bowls, but water from puddles, lakes, snow, glasses, and anything else that would not conveniently hold daily water for a dog is fine.
We have tried dozens of different bowls and we have one now he will use, but he still isn’t drinking enough. I’ve noticed a change in his urine since the snow and rainy season is over. Can Pedialyte be a daily, long term treatment? If he isn’t going to cooperate with drinking enough water, I need to find a way for him to get more out of the water he drinks.
My 11 week old Morkie is on his 3rd day Parvo IV treatment. He’s able to keep Pedialyte and baby food in but we have to springe or finger fed him. I’m hoping I will see a difference soon by the 5th day. Vets aren’t giving me real help but instead giving me the mortality rate.
What do you mean they are giving you the mortality rate? Are you serious? Please find another vet ASAP!
Help! My dog is a Morkie. I don’t know if he has parvovirus. He goes in to see a vet Thursday, that’s the earliest appointment they had. I’ve been giving him pedialyte and it seems to be working. He’s better today. What else can I do for him? I’m 8 months pregnant right now and I’m so emotional. I love this dog as if he was my baby.
It sounds to me your Morkie may have Gastritis if he’s up and around after the Pedialyte. I noticed in very small breeds their stomachs are super sensitive. My Chihuahua had similar symptoms and her intestines were acting up from human food she got a hold of.
Just keep her diet up with rice or cottage cheese for a few days to make sure she’ll hold it down OK. Hope this helps!
My Pit bull puppy has been acting sick. He hasn’t eaten for about two days but the second day I gave him Pedialyte and he vomited only once. Should I keep giving him Pedialyte and when should I take him to the vet? He has his second set of shots coming soon. Should I wait till then?
Judy, how is your dog now? What did the vet say? Please let us know. I hope your dog is okay.
Can I substitute a small amount of Gatorade for Pedialyte, until tomorrow? My English Bulldog/Pit Bull hasn’t eaten since yesterday. He has taken in about 7oz of water, twice. He ate an awful lot of pizza the day before yesterday, and threw up about 7 awful times. Then he got listless, tired and sick. He does not want anything to do with our food now. Poor baby. Lessons are learned by the whole family. No more sneaking him bites!
Pizza could be the problem. There are onions on most pizzas and onions can be poisonous. Dogs have difficulty digesting vegetables, too. Don’t ever give your dog chocolate, grapes, or raisins as these can be potentially fatal. Small amounts of Pedyalite is alright but be careful of the amount.
See your vet as the amount has to do with the weight of the animal. Be careful not to give it to him/her if eating/drinking something sweet. But always check with a vet before administering anything.
Great advice Julie. I hope to see more comments from you because it’s apparent you know what you’re talking about.
I have a 5-1/2 pound female Yorkie. She started having diarrhea recently. She expels about 1 tablespoon liquid stool about every 4 hours. I have been giving her Pedialyte (1 tsp every 3-4 hours).
Should I increase that amount? I removed food from her yesterday. Currently, I am snowed in and the roads are impassable, so cannot get to a vet. I have been giving her 1 tsp water per hour, via syringe.
Any responses to your question about your Yorkie? Mine is 15 years old and she started doing the same thing. This is the 3rd day. She will drink water now but I don’t want to give her too much at one time. Should I be giving her Pedialyte instead since she has lost so much electrolytes?
She has always been there for me and my kids. Kids are grown now and gone off to college, etc. She’s lost her hearing and almost can’t see. I can’t put her down and I know if I take her to a vet that is what they will do. Please help!
My 2.5 pound Chihuahua wakes up choking, drooling and disoriented with loss of balance. She does not want to eat or drink water. Will Pedialyte help her?
It could save her life. I know, I’ve been through a grueling bout of “Parvo” with our Pit bull pup, back in 1988. A whole lot of love and a wonder-drug called Pedialyte! No one thought Bud had a chance!
Totally agree. Saved my puppy with Parvo giving syringes of pedialyte every hour for about a week and antibiotics from vet. But he had intestinal issues later on and saved him from that. Then heart valve disease, Addisons disease as well.
He’s still kicking at 4 1/2 and I should have put him down with the Parvo. He has suffered much since. Just a thought. They are never ‘healthy’ after that.
My 3 pound Chihuahua puppy (we think she’s around 8 months) became lethargic, anxious, confused, disoriented, had a loss of balance and coordination, started excessively drooling, would blankly stare, and started pacing the perimeter of our apartment, along with other neurological issues developed over 3 days. The degree of severity varied, and not all symptoms occurred at once. She had suffered a Grand Mal Seizure 2 months ago, but recovered fully.
The vet put her on supplement to treat hypoglycemia and she was doing great until these symptoms gradually started. She quickly deteriorated and the vet ran a couple of simple blood tests which showed she has Hepatic (liver) shunt! Basically it means the liver is being bypassed and is not working, forcing kidneys to do all filtering in turn causing kidneys to now fail. Toxins are building up in body, causing seizures.
Unfortunately only surgery can cure this but can be managed medically with medicine and a special diet if caught early. Symptoms can be very subtle such as drooling, disorientation and loss of balance. You could save your pup’s life by doing simple blood test. It’s very scary but go to a vet ASAP! Good Luck.
Tara do you have an update on your Chihuahua? I hope she’s doing better now. Please let us know.