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Electrolytes and Hydration for Active Dogs
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Read Time 5 min
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. This content should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition or health issue. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.
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Are you keeping your dog hydrated?
Dogs get dehydrated the same way we do, especially during the hotter months of the year. And just like us, water alone isn’t enough. To stay hydrated, your dog needs electrolytes.
Electrolytes are even more important for active dogs. If you have a working or service dog—or you just love taking your dog on long walks—electrolyte minerals are essential to its wellbeing.
Let’s talk about signs your dog may be dehydrated, why electrolytes are so important for pets, and an easy way to add electrolytes to your dog’s water bowl.
Signs Your Dog May Be Dehydrated
Your dog can’t tell you when it’s dehydrated, and the signs are often subtle. In addition, many dog breeds hide pain or discomfort from their owners. It’s a survival instinct inherited from their wolf ancestors—showing weakness made you a target for predators.
So how do you know when your dog is dehydrated? Watch for the following signs, especially if it’s hot outside or your dog has been active.
Signs of Dehydration in Dogs
Foam around the mouth
Thick saliva
Dry or sticky gums
Excessive panting
Drinking lots of water, or an empty water bowl
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
If you think your dog is dehydrated, you can also do the pinch test. It measures skin elasticity, which decreases with dehydration.
The pinch test is easy: just pinch the skin along the back of your dog’s neck. If your dog is hydrated, its skin will snap back into place immediately. If the skin stays tented or takes a few seconds to lie flat, your dog is dehydrated.
If you notice any of the above warning signs, check your dog’s water bowl and make sure it’s full. You may also want to add extra electrolytes to help your dog stay hydrated throughout the day.
Active Dogs Need Electrolytes to Stay Hydrated
The most important part of hydration is making sure your dog has fresh, clean drinking water throughout the day.
However, sometimes drinking water isn’t enough. If it’s the middle of summer and your dog has a long coat—like a Golden Retriever or a German Shepherd—it’s a good idea to provide extra hydration.
Dogs that are highly active also need extra support. Highly active dogs include:
Working dogs (sheepdogs, farm dogs, hunting dogs, etc.)
Service dogs
Dogs that spend time outdoors (long walks or runs, park visits, being in the sun most of the day, etc.)
Research shows that active dogs get dehydrated faster and do best with free access to electrolyte water.
In one study, researchers gave tracking dogs either normal or electrolyte-enhanced water, then took them for a long walk in the heat. The dogs who got electrolytes had lower core body temperatures and fewer markers of dehydration throughout the walk. [*]
In a second study, working dogs got either normal water, electrolyte-enhanced water, or IV fluids during a hot day. The dogs who drank electrolyte water stayed hydrated longer and were less prone to the negative effects of dehydration. [*]
Another study tracked the saliva of working dogs as they learned how to pull sleds. The study found that when dogs were more active, they lost more electrolytes through panting. The authors recommended replenishing dogs’ electrolytes on highly active days to prevent dehydration. [*]
Active pets need extra hydration. If your dog goes outside often or moves throughout the day, you may want to pay special attention to keeping them hydrated.
Can Dogs Take Human Electrolytes?
No, you should never give your dog electrolytes made for humans.
Dogs don’t need as many electrolytes as humans do. They also don’t sweat, except through the pads of their paws. [*] Instead, they stay cool through panting, which causes different patterns of electrolyte loss and requires a special formula for pets.
Finally, many electrolyte drinks and powders made for humans contain sweeteners that are toxic to dogs, like xylitol. [*]
Electrolytes meant for humans can make your dog seriously ill. Your best bet is to use a formula made specially for dogs.
Canine Electrolytes: Better Hydration for Your Dog
At BEAM Minerals, we make it easy to keep your dog hydrated, all year long.
Our Complete Canine Electrolytes contain the same high-quality minerals we make for humans, in a special formula that’s ideal for dogs. Our electrolytes are plant-based and contain no harmful additives or artificial ingredients—just fast-absorbing electrolytes and water.
They also have no taste or smell, which makes them convenient for even the pickiest of eaters. Just add them to your dog’s water bowl each morning. You can use the table below to figure out how much your dog needs:
Make sure your dog stays hydrated this summer. Try our Complete Canine Electrolytes today.
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FAQs
Can I take BEAM Minerals with my other supplements?
Yes, in fact, BEAM Minerals will enhance the bioavailability of all your other supplements.
What is the difference between Micro-BOOST™ and Electrolyze™?
Electrolyze™ is primarily composed of Fulvic Mineral Complexes . Fulvic complexes are small molecules that provide inter-cellular transport for nutritional elements into the cells and carry bio-waste out of the cells. Fulvic complexes are flavonoids , which provide many benefits in the body.
Micro-BOOST™ is primarily composed of the Humic Mineral Complexes . Humic complexes are large molecules that are extra-cellular, meaning they do not enter the cells but stay outside the cells. They are highly-charged molecules that attract, through their electrical charge, bio-waste, free radicals and heavy metals. They ultimately carry bio-waste out of the body. Thus, we call them “Nature’s Janitor”.
How many milligrams (mg) of an electrolyte (Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium, Calcium, etc.) is there in BEAM Minerals?
The quantities of each element in BEAM Minerals products are measured in “parts per million” (ppm), rather than the “milligrams” (mg). Here is the information which usually helps to understand the difference:
Milligrams (mg) vs parts per million (ppm)
In comparing our products to other supplements, people want to know how much of an electrolyte is in our products (like potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium). Usually they are looking for an amount in milligrams (mg).
We have a hard time answering that question, because the electrolytes (and other elements) in BEAM Minerals products are measured in parts per million (ppm). So how can consumers compare?
The answer is a little complex, but here’s the high points.
The electrolytes in BEAM Minerals products are provided in “trace” amounts that are completely dissolved and thus 100% bio-available, immediately introduced into your circulation when you consumed them and will produce and active effect.
When you take a 320mg pill of magnesium, your body is only able utilize about 12-20% of it as it takes some time because your body has to digest it first. Whatever is not dissolved gets processed out of your body.
When you take a capful of liquid Electrolyze™ and/or Micro-BOOST™, you receive approximately 5.22 ppm of magnesium in which 100% of the magnesium is immediately available to your body. In addition, an important to know is that the magnesium in BEAM Minerals products stay in your system much longer building up healthy levels as you continue to take it daily.
