Dehydration in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Cats can suffer many of the ailments their human companions can. One of the ailments cats can suffer from is dehydration. Cat dehydration can be life threatening; thus, it is important for cat owners to be able to recognize the causes and symptoms of pet dehydration as well as to know how to treat it effectively.

Cat dehydration, which is also known as hypohydration, occurs when a cat loses 5% or more of the water in its body. Important electrolytes, such as potassium, chloride, and sodium are also lost with dehydration. Water loss can occur for a number of reasons in felines. Vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination from kidney failure or diabetes, shock, fever, heatstroke, and blood loss can all cause dehydration in cats. Additionally, a lack of fresh water can lead to pet dehydration. Sick cats may also stop eating and drinking, which can also cause hypohydration.

Symptoms of dehydration in cats include: sunken eyes, increased heart rate, fatigue and lethargy, constipation, dry mouth, and poor skin elasticity, according to Cat World. You can check your feline's skin elasticity by pinching the skin at the base of your cat's neck (his or her scruff). Release the skin to see how fast it retracts. In hydrated felines, the skin will retract immediately while in dehydrated cats the skin retracts more slowly. According to Cat World, the more severely dehydrated your cat, the slower the skin will retract.

In addition, if your cat has thick saliva, he or she is experiencing dehydration. The website Healthy Water suggests touching your cat's gums in order to determine the thickness of his or her saliva. Your feline's gums should be covered with liquid saliva, not Jell-O-like saliva. Jell-O-like saliva on your cat's gums indicates pet dehydration.

If your cat is dehydrated, you may be able to treat very mild cases at home. Give your cat some ice chips to lick or put a little water into a syringe and squirt it directly into your feline's mouth. Don't give your cat too much water at one time, though, as it may upset his or her stomach, causing him or her to vomit and lose even more water. You may also give your cat a little watered down Pedialyte or sports drink in order to hydrate him or her. Check with your vet before doing this, however, for a recommended dose for your feline, based on his or her weight. If your cat continues to be dehydrated, however, you need to take him or her to the vet for treatment.

Moderate and severe cases of pet dehydration need to be treated by your veterinarian. Fluids may be given to your cat subcutaneously (under the skin) or intravenously. If your cat is suffering severe dehydration, he or she may even need to be hospitalized.

Dehydration in cats can be prevented. Change your cat's water often to ensure he or she has fresh, clean water to drink. You also need to determine what type of bowl your cat prefers drinking from and what type of water he or she likes. You may need to experiment with different types of water bowls and tap versus bottled water to determine what your feline prefers. Some cats also love drinking out of pet fountains that continuously dispense water.

Cat dehydration is a serious condition that can become life threatening very quickly. If you believe your cat is suffering from pet dehydration, call your vet in order to determine if your cat can be treated at home or if he or she needs to be treated with subcutaneous or intravenous fluids. Finally, remember to follow the simple steps above for preventing dehydration in cats.

Sources:

Healthy Water: Feline Dehydration is Serious, Preventable, & Treatable:

http://www.healthy-water-best-filters.com/feline-dehydration.html

Cat World: Dehydration in Cats:

http://www.cat-world.com.au/DehydrationInCats.htm

PetDoc: Dehydration in Cats:

http://petdoc.com/story/dehydration-cats

PetMD: Dehydration in Cats:

http://www.petmd.com/cat/emergency/e_ct_dehydration