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What is
dehydration?
Also known as
hypohydration is a serious & potentially life threatening
condition which is defined as excessive loss of water &
electrolytes (minerals such as sodium, chloride &
potassium).
Most animals
are made up of around 60% water. When the water ratio falls
5% below normal, cats will start to show signs of
dehydration.
Dehydration
requires veterinary attention immediately. Failure to do so
may
result in death.
What are the
causes of dehydration in cats?
-
Vomiting &
or
diarrhoea
-
Sickness - A
sick cat may go off it's food & water & therefore not
receive enough fluids & become dehydrated.
-
Increased
urination - Medical conditions such as diabetes & renal
failure in which the cat urinates more often may cause
dehydration.
-
Heatstroke
-
Lack of
available, fresh drinking water.
-
Shock
-
Blood loss
-
Fever
What are the
signs of dehydration in cats?
Dehydration
has three classes;
Mild
dehydration: up to 5%
Moderate
dehydration: 5 - 10%
Severe
dehydration: 10% or more
Signs of
dehydration include;
-
Sunken eyes
-
Dry mouth
-
Poor skin
elasticity (see below for instructions on how to check
this)
-
Lethargy
-
Increased
heart rate
-
Poor
capillary refill time (see below for instructions on how
to check this)
-
Constipation. Water is
re-absorbed from the colon & if the cat is dehydrated, the
body will try to conserve water by removing additional
water from the stool.
Skin turgor
test: To check for dehydration grasp some skin at the
base of their neck (the scruff) and gently pull it up. In
the hydrated cat, the skin will spring back immediately. In
a dehydrated cat, the skin will be slower to retract. The
more severe the dehydration the slower the skin will take to
retract.
Capillary
refill time: This helps you to test your cat's blood
circulation & can indicate dehydration, heart failure or
shock. To test capillary refill time life your cat's upper
lip & press the flat of your finger against the gum tissue.
Remove the pressure & you will see a white mark on the gum
where your finger was placed. Using a watch with a second
hand, time how long it takes for the pink colour to return
to the white spot. In the healthy cat it should take around
1 - 2 seconds to return to pink.
How is
dehydration in cats treated?
Dehydration is
reversed by giving fluids either subcutaneously or via IV.
This will need to be done at your veterinarian's surgery.
Addressing &
treating the underlying cause of dehydration is also
essential.
How to avoid
dehydration in cats:
Ensure there
is a constant supply of fresh, clean drinking water
available at all times.
Provide your
cat with a cool, sheltered area if it has access to the
outdoors.
If your cat is
sick, monitor it closely for signs of dehydration.
Seek
veterinary attention if your cat has vomiting or diarrhoea.
Seek immediate
veterinary attention if your cat displays signs of increased
thirst or urination.
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a
veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a
veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for
informative purposes only.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great
care has been made in the creation of these articles, we
cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages.
If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical
advice. |
