Keep Your Retriever Hydrated
by Bill Mays
Wing and Clay Editor

When the mercury level drops below 40 degrees, how many think of keeping their retriever hydrated? Common sense seems to tell hunters when the weather turns cold hydration is not a problem. On the contrary, hydration is more important as the temperature drops and the dog looses moisture through the respiratory process.
 
An article written by Ronnie Smith & Rick Ellis in Pointing Dog Journal said, “The 1991 U.S. Commerce Guide to Survival, said most animal deaths during the winter storms are due to dehydration.” As the temperature drops and the air becomes colder and dryer, animals like people loose moisture through their respiratory process.

Goose hunters, hunting in dry fields need to be especially cautious and carry water for the dogs and themselves.  If the hunter is in a hot goose field and the dog is retrieving heavy geese for a large hunting party, the dog is exerting a lot of energy and gets heated up in a hurry. The more the dog exerts itself the more it pants and speeds up the dehydration process. Dehydration can be a silent problem and can come with little or no warning according to Dr. Clader who runs Labrador retrievers for upland game and sled dogs in the winter.

“The dog retrieving dove in September has almost the exact same water requirements as the dog hunting quail in January,” says Dr. Clader.

Waterfowl hunting in the marsh is usually not a problem as the dogs will drink the pond water. This writer always carries a bottle of fresh water and usually my lab “Sassy” doesn’t want to drink. It’s still important when the dog is making many multiple retrieves to offer the dog water by pouring it around its mouth. In many puddle duck ponds or places like the Tule Lake Marsh, the water smells bad and dogs choose not to drink the water. It’s also important to keep the water at a reasonable temperature; dogs refuse to drink freezing cold water in cold weather.

The first sign of dehydration is lack of performance. They can’t run or stop hunting altogether. Other signs are dryness of mouth, sunken eyes, exhaustion, vomiting, circulatory collapse, and appetite loss.

Dr. Clader says, “Another sign is when the skin along the back of a dog is picked up into a fold, it should spring back into place. If it does not spring back into place quickly the dog shows signs of dehydration.” He goes on to say, “When the natural reservoir of body water and fluid reserves is below ninety-five percent or ninety-six percent, you can look at a dog and say it is 2-4 percent dehydrated. But if there is any skin delay falling back into place, the dog is probably 10% dehydrated and needs professional attention as soon as possible.”

When traveling long distances, stop every 4-6 hours and let the dogs stretch, “empty out,” and offer them water before loading them back up. Don’t expect dogs to go all day without water. Bicycle squirt bottles work well when traveling and teach your young pups to drink from a squirt bottle at a young age.

At the end of the day, mixing canned food with the kibble and adding some warm water will fire up the dogs’ appetite. Many times a hunting dog will not want the same old dry kibble after hunting hard and food consumption works hand and hand in maintaining hydration. A diet high in fat will increase the production of metabolic water in animals. A diet high in protein or carbohydrates but lacking in fat content will not be nearly as effective in preventing dehydration.

Whether your hunting or training in cold weather, the ever present threat of dehydration is always present. Maintain a hydration routine for the health of your dog and a good hunt in the field.

SQUIRT BOTTLES: Teach your retriever to drink from a squirt bottle at a young age. It will make travel and in the field an easy way to keep your retriever hydrated in the field. Standing water many times smells bad and retrievers will not drink the water. Make sure to bring a bottle of water for you and the dog to stay hydrated.

PHOTO BY JJ MAYS