Can I Give My Dog Gatorade? Get The Facts

Trina

Do you get worried when your dog feels the slightest discomfort?

Don’t you want your dog to live a happy and healthy life?

Dogs are the kindest and most loyal creatures on earth. Every dog parent’s topmost concern and priority centers around his/her dog and their health. 

Along with health concerns loom typical questions like what should you feed your dog and how often should you feed, what is the right time to take them for a walk and how often, and so on. Being a dog parent is not as easy as it looks!

One question that people ponder on is about whether one should give one’s dog Gatorade or not. This article might help you in deciding if Gatorade should be part of your dog’s diet.

Gatorade is a liquid drink that many people prefer as a means of hydration and rejuvenation after intense, strenuous activity. Considered to be a “sports drink” it is manufactured by a well-established and reputed firm. It is a fast-acting product and gives an instant boost of energy. It can be given to your dog if given in an appropriate amount to replenish the fluid intake. 

Vets recommend Gatorade for dogs in many instances. Some of them are listed below:

GATORADE FOR DOGS WITH KIDNEY FAILURE

The kidneys are responsible for eliminating and expelling waste from the body through urine. Kidney failure is widespread in dogs, especially older ones. 

While the diet for each dog would differ depending on the severity of the disease and its nature, avoid giving your dog food or liquids with high sodium content. 

Gatorade is high in sodium and, if given, must be in very small quantities.

DOGS WITH PARVO

Parvo, also known as canine parvo-virus, is a disease that affects dogs and puppies. It can affect two areas mainly:

• Cardiac
• Intestinal

The main symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss and can lead to death by suffocation.

Ultimately, parvo can be cured only by the efficiency of your dog’s immune system, but a good hydration strategy is sure to help.

Giving Gatorade in small amounts is perfectly okay in this case. You can dilute it with water and give it in repeated small doses to provide relief to your dog.

GATORADE FOR DOGS WITH DIARRHEA

Diarrhea is indicative of something not being right with your dog’s digestion or bowel habits, and if left unattended, the dog might end up losing lots of fluids. To replenish the hydration levels, it is essential to increase their fluid intake.

Gatorade in small doses several times a day would help you replenish the fluid, electrolytes, and minerals lost during the illness.

KIDNEY DISEASE

Kidneys are responsible for ejecting waste from the blood and the body, so they are essential for the normal functioning of a dog. Kidney disease might include dehydration as one of its symptoms.

Dehydration might lead to the loss of essential nutrients and electrolytes during the illness. And thus, to replenish these, Gatorade may be a good option, in small doses. In such a case, consulting a veterinarian is the correct way to go about it.

GATORADE FOR DOGS WITH DEHYDRATION

Dehydration in dogs is a serious risk to life and health. The loss of electrolytes, minerals, and nutrients that accompanies dehydration is hazardous for your dog and its overall health.

Nutrients, electrolytes, and minerals are essential for good, strong muscle and bone development and a healthy immune system.

Symptoms of dehydration are wide-ranging from panting, dryness, sunken eyes to loss of appetite, lethargy, etc.

One must be extremely vigilant and work to replenish the lost essential products and help the dog to recover from the illness. Gatorade is a great option. The dog might take a liking to the flavor and prefer it as an option for hydration.

It is a viable option as it will help your dog to recover faster and restore her/his health and strength.

Dehydration is a severe illness, and Gatorade in small doses is not harmful in case of dehydration.

GATORADE FOR DOGS WITH VOMITING

Are you worried that your dog seems to be slightly under the weather and has already vomited once?

Vomiting is extremely common and is typically not something to worry about. It might occur because of a temporary, minor illness. Vomiting expels out food and water that may be causing distress and discomfort, and these ingested contents are expelled in this case.

To prevent loss of nutrition and ensure good health for the dog, you can serve the dog Gatorade. Consult a vet and then decide on the dosage and frequency.

GOOD OR BAD?

Dogs can make your sad day just a tad bit brighter and a good day even better. They trust us to do what’s best for them and will willingly take anything that’s offered by their pet-parent. Gatorade will not particularly harm your dog. However, if you plan to give it to your dog, what matters is the dosage and frequency.

You must ensure that you give your dog Gatorade in small doses throughout the day, in consultation with your vet. 

Gatorade is a great option to replenish the lost nutrients, electrolytes, and minerals. But one must always take care to consider the nature and severity of the disease and the dietary restrictions that may need to be followed to ensure a full recovery. As with humans, self-medication can be harmful. The condition might require different/specialized treatment, so giving Gatorade might not be a good option. Water is the best fluid for your dog, but Gatorade can also be a viable option.

You must consult a vet to ensure that Gatorade does not harm your dog or make the symptoms worse. Thus, Gatorade can be useful for your dog, or it can be bad for your dog, and each case is different. It is highly subjective, and it depends on the type and intensity of the disease, your dog’s behavior, likes, and dislikes, etc. 

But in most instances, Gatorade for dogs has turned out to be good.

Credit: Photo by form PxHere

by Dominika Roseclay from Pexels

 

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