August 2020 Newsletter 
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CHRIS’ PETS FOR VETS
By Jo-Ann Clark
 

Hope everyone is doing their best to stay cool during these dog days of summer!  With that in mind, would you know how to recognize the signs of dehydration in your cat or dog?  I found this article in PetMD which gives some advice on recognizing and treating dehydration for your cat and dog.  Dehydration occurs when there is an excessive loss of fluid from the cat’s body. It is not just water that is lost, but also electrolytes like sodium, potassium and chloride, which are important for normal body function.
Dehydration is usually a symptom of another disease -- one which makes the disease that much worse. Rehydration (replacing water and electrolytes) thus becomes an important part of many treatment plans.

What to Watch For
The classic sign for dehydration is skin tenting. If you take a pinch of skin over the cat's shoulders and pull up gently, the skin should snap back into place when released. As the cat gets more dehydrated, the skin goes back in place more and more slowly. If the pinch of skin stays up (the "tent"), it is a sign of severe dehydration. The cat should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
Other signs that may be noted include:

• Dry, tacky gums
• Listlessness
• Refusal to eat
• Symptoms related to the underlying health problem

Primary Cause
Inadequate water intake or excessive water loss results in dehydration. Vomiting, diarrhea, fever, trauma, heatstroke, diabetes, and other illnesses can all lead to dehydration.

Immediate Care
Since most cases of dehydration are the result of another problem, that issue should be attended to directly. If the cat is able to drink, put him in a cool, quiet place with fresh cool water. Cats can be encouraged to drink by using a water fountain for cats, putting juice from canned tuna or salmon in the water, or using a meat flavored water and electrolyte supplement available at some pet stores.
If you are familiar with the technique of giving fluids subcutaneously (under the skin) and have the right supplies, you can give your average adult cat up to 300 ml of lactated ringers solution under the skin. Do not do this in burn or trauma cases. If you are unsure about the correct type of fluid to use or or the amount which to give, contact your veterinarian.

Veterinary Care
Diagnosis
Your cat’s history, skin tenting, and dry, tacky gums are the parameters first used by your veterinarian to determine dehydration. Blood tests may be done to confirm dehydration in some cases. Your vet will also do such tests as necessary to determine what medical problem may have led to dehydration.

Treatment
Depending on the cause and the severity of the dehydration, your veterinarian may give fluids under the skin, which only takes a few minutes, or hospitalize your cat and give fluids intravenously for 1 to 2 days. Your veterinarian will also start treatment for the underlying problem that caused your cat to become dehydrated.

Other Causes
Dissatisfaction with the water or the water bowl may keep your cat from drinking. Accidental confinement in a place with no access to water can also eventually result in dehydration.

Prevention
Make sure your cat has easy access to plenty of fresh water. Some cats have a preference for running water. Therefore, investing in a water fountain designed for cats may be worthwhile. Some cats have sensitive whiskers and will prefer to drink from a wide, relatively shallow bowl that doesn’t rub his whiskers.
Source: PetMD Editorial, Aug 15, 2008 Dehydration is a common emergency in which a dog loses the ability to replace lost fluids orally. These fluids are comprised of vital electrolytes and water.

What to Watch For
The most common symptom of dehydration is the loss of elasticity in the skin. When pulled lightly, the skin will not readily come back to its original place. Another alarming symptom is xerostomia, in which the gums lose moistness and become dry and sticky, and the saliva becomes thick. In advanced dehydration, the eyes sink in and the dog may collapse with shock.

Primary Cause
In addition to persistent vomiting and diarrhea, illness, fever, heat stroke, and a deficiency in fluid intake can all cause dehydration.

Immediate Care
If there is moderate dehydration and the dog is not throwing up, you can treat the dog with Ringer's lactate (“lactated Ringers” with 5% dextrose in water). You can also administer an electrolytic solution at a rate of 2 to 4 ml per pound (1 to 2 ml per kilogram) of the dog's body weight per hour. Electrolyte-enhanced waters may be of assistance as well. If you have questions concerning dosage, contact your veterinarian.
If your dog is suffering from severe dehydration, however, seek immediate medical attention. They will be able to administer intravenous fluids to avoid further loss of fluids and to replace the present loss.

Prevention
For a dog with continuous and severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhea, you can prevent dehydration by giving the dog electrolytic solutions until the illness passes. IV fluids, however, may be the only solution in severe cases.

Source: PetMD  Vladimir Negron Sep 20, 2010

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