Dehydration is due to an imbalance of water and electrolytes in the cat's body and can lead to serious complications and even death if left untreated. When the fluid level is below normal, the cat becomes dehydrated.
There are some signs that will help you know if your cat is lacking fluids and that can save you a lot of trouble. If you've ever wondered how to tell if a cat is dehydrated, don't miss the guidelines below on our site. In the event of any symptoms of dehydration, you should provide your pet with fresh water and take it to the vet.
What can cause dehydration?
Dehydration is sometimes difficult to notice in a cat, as the symptoms can be subtle and may be overlooked. For this reason, it is important to know what can cause your cat to suffer from dehydration, in order to be more vigilant and take action in time.
There are some diseases that cause this condition such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever, internal bleeding, urination problems, burns or sunstroke, among others.
If our cat suffers from any of these problems, we should closely monitor the symptoms of dehydration and call the vet if necessary, as well as make sure to provide enough fresh water to drink.
Check his gums
Humidity and capillary refill time are two methods to tell if a cat is dehydrated. To check the moisture of the gum you should touch it gently with your finger Raise your upper lip and do it quickly, because if you take too long they can dry simply by air.
If the gums are sticky your cat may be in the early stage of dehydration. If they are completely dry it may mean that your furry has severe dehydration.
The capillary refill test consists of measuring the time it takes for the capillaries in the gums to refill with blood. To do this, press the gum so that it turns white and see how long it takes for it to return to normal color. In a hydrated cat this will take about two seconds. The longer it takes for the gums to turn pink, the more dehydrated your cat will be. This is because dehydration reduces blood volume, making it harder for the body to refill the capillaries.
Check skin elasticity
The cat's skin will lose elasticity and be drier if the cat is not well hydrated, so if you are wondering how to tell if a cat is dehydrated, you can check how much time it takes for the skin to snap back into place after stretching.
To do this, gently pinch the skin on your cat's back and pull it up a little, as if separating it from the body. In a well hydrated cat the skin will return to its normal state immediately, while if it is dehydrated it will return very little by little.
This test is only valid for cats with a normal weight, without dermatological problems and that are not very old, since with age, the skin loses elasticity.
Check the eyes
The eyes can give you a lot of information to know if a cat is dehydrated. Lack of fluids causes eyes to look more sunken than normal, they will also be very dry and, in cases of severe dehydration, the third eyelid may be visible.
Check your body temperature and heart rate
When a cat is dehydrated its heart will work faster, so the heart rate will be higher. In addition, this affects your body temperature, which may be lower than normal.
You can hold your cat's paw and feel its temperature. If he has the same temperature as always, you shouldn't worry, but if you notice that they are colder than normal he may be dehydrated.
