Considerations

• Dehydration results from not drinking enough water. Hot weather is a common cause of dehydration, but a dog can become dehydrated in any climate.
  
  

Identification

• A dehydrated dog will seem tired and depressed. One way to test for dehydration is to gently pinch and release the skin between a dog's shoulder-blades. A dehydrated dog's skin won't snap back smoothly when released, but it will remain bunched for a moment and settle slowly.
  
  

Potential

• Dehydration causes a dog to lose electrolytes, which negatively affects its nervous system. Pickles and pickle juice are full of electrolytes, and can help raise a replenished nervous system to normal levels.
  
  

Warning

• Pickles and pickle juice are also full of sodium. Sodium can worsen your dog's dehydration. Too much sodium is deadly for dogs.
  
  

Size

• Pickle juice must be diluted before given to a dog. The extent of dilution depends on the size of the dog, but the ratio of pickle juice to water should be very small in any case.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• A dehydrated dog needs to see a veterinarian. Your veterinarian will take safe steps to rehydrate your dog and advise you about pickles and pickle juice.