Causes, Diagnosis of Dog Dehydration: Essential Tips

1. Reduced Fluid Intake

Our pets rely on a consistent intake of fluids to maintain hydration. When the food they consume doesn't meet their body's needs, dehydration can occur. If your pet is sick and unable to eat or drink adequately, dehydration is a real concern. Similarly, if your dog's food or water is accidentally or intentionally withheld, or if it accidentally spills its water bowl while left unattended, it may go without water for days.

2. Increased Fluid Loss

In certain illnesses, your pet may consume enough fluids to meet its body's requirements. The most common causes are vomiting, diarrhea, or kidney disease. As vomiting and diarrhea progress, excess fluids are lost. In kidney disease, the kidneys cannot retain fluids, leading to their excretion through urine. Other causes of increased fluid loss include excessive panting, fever, large wounds or burns with fluid leakage, or severe, prolonged drooling.

Deep Diagnosis of Dog Dehydration

There is no single test that can accurately determine the presence or severity of dehydration. Diagnosis is generally based on a history, physical examination, and laboratory tests.

Understanding your pet's recent history is crucial, as it can help identify the likelihood of dehydration and determine potential causes. Be prepared to answer questions such as:

1. Your pet's dietary habits

2. Any signs of vomiting or diarrhea recently

3. Whether your pet is urinating frequently

4. If it is excessively drooling

Record the time your pet's symptoms appeared and the severity of dehydration as a percentage. This percentage indicates the amount of body fluids missing. The maximum level of dehydration in a living animal is 15%. Dehydration beyond this limit is lifethreatening.

Be cautious with overweight or very thin pets experiencing dehydration. Overweight pets may be overlooked for the severity of dehydration due to excessive skin fat, making skin elasticity tests appear normal. In thin or extremely thin pets, the skin itself lacks normal elasticity, potentially leading to an overestimation of dehydration levels.

At a 5% dehydration rate, the skin will immediately return to normal. This mild dehydration is often not detected during a physical examination. At a 5% dehydration rate, the pet's skin elasticity will slightly decrease, meaning the skin will take longer to return to normal than in a healthy pet.

Pets with dehydration rates between 6% and 9% will take a long time for their skin to return to normal. Eyes may also appear sunken, and gums may be dry.

Pets with dehydration rates of 10% to 12% will have skin that cannot return to its normal position. The dog's eyes will be visibly sunken, the heart rate will increase, and the pulse will be weak.

Pets with dehydration rates between 12% and 15% are in a lifethreatening situation. These pets may collapse, become severely depressed, and go into shock. Without prompt and appropriate treatment, death is imminent.

Beyond physical examination results, laboratory tests are needed to determine the presence and severity of dehydration. Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and total protein tests are the most important methods. PCV tests the percentage of red blood cells in the current fluid circulation. Normal PCV values are between 35% and 50%. During dehydration, the lack of fluid in the blood makes it more concentrated, leading to an increase in PCV values.

Total protein refers to the number of large protein molecules in the blood. Like red blood cells, protein concentration increases during dehydration due to a lack of water. In dehydrated animals, both PCV and total protein values will rise.

Urine analysis can also help detect dehydration and even determine the underlying cause. During dehydration, urine concentration is higher than normal. If a known dehydrated animal has dilute urine, kidney disease may be suspected as the root cause of dehydration.

Complete blood count and biochemical analysis can help determine the overall health of the animal and identify possible underlying causes of dehydration. Unfortunately, these blood tests do not always diagnose dehydration, even in severely dehydrated animals.

Deep Treatment for Dog Dehydration

The treatment for dehydration involves replenishing fluids. Since animals cannot meet their fluid needs by consuming enough food or water, intravenous fluid administration is used. Fluids can be administered subcutaneously or intravenously. Intravenous (IV) administration is preferred because it provides faster hydration and allows for appropriate monitoring.

Once your pet is diagnosed with dehydration, it is essential to determine the required amount of fluid. The amount of fluid to be administered is based on the dehydration rate and the animal's weight. A rough calculation can be made using the following formula:

1. The required liters of fluid equal the dehydration rate multiplied by the weight (in kilograms).

2. The required milliliters of fluid equal 500 multiplied by the dehydration rate multiplied by the weight (in pounds). In addition to rehydration, if the underlying cause of dehydration has not been identified or treated, fluids must be administered to maintain hydration and meet ongoing fluid needs.

Currently, there are various types of injectable fluids available. The type of fluid used depends on the concentration of sodium, chloride, and potassium, as well as the needs of the sick pet.

PostRehydration Care for Dog Dehydration

After rehydration, it is essential to address the underlying cause of dehydration. Additional tests and examinations may be needed to discover potential causes.

Ensure your pet is eating and drinking normally. If dehydration is suspected, timely veterinary assistance is necessary to prevent further dehydration.