Home Remedies For Dehydrated Cats
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Unfortunately, it is quite common that cats can becomeeasily dehydrated, especially if they are not cared for properly. Like humans, a feline's body is made up of mostly water. This is why it is vital that cats have a sufficient amount of water in their bodies to allow for the proper functioning of their organs and body structure. If a cat is dehydrated they can suffer both physically and mentally, therefore, dehydration cannot be ignored.
Although veterinary attention is essential when it comes to dehydrated cats, it is also important to know some home remedies in case you need to provide some immediate attention. This is why in this AnimalWised article, we will be sharing some home remedies for dehydrated cats, with you.
How to know if a cat is dehydrated?
A mammal's organism needs to have the right amount of water in order to develop healthily. If your cat: does not ingest enough water, vomits due to illness or is excessively exposed to heat, than there will be consequences. These consequences will result in the animal's body suffering a drop in water and electrolyte levels. The cat's body will in turn struggle to distribute the essential nutrients it needs to all of its tissues. As a result, the animal will develop various physical signs that demonstrate the imbalance of its organism. The following signs can be interpreted as symptoms of dehydration in cats:
- constant tiredness
- dry gums
- decay
- panting
- loss of appetite
If this dehydration is not treated quickly and properly, a feline can suffer severe damage to its kidneys which can lead to its body's immunity collapsing.
An official medical diagnosis of dehydration requires a complete blood and urine analysis. This analysis will help distinguish the degree of severity of the dehydration. However, if you suspect that your cat is dehydrated, there are some homemade easy remedies which you can try if you suspect that your cat is dehydrated. In order to identify if your cat is dehydrated, you can gently pinch the skin on its back. If it quickly returns to its natural position, your cat is not dehydrated, if this pinched skin is however delayed in returning to its original state, it is very likely your feline is dehydrated. The exception to this rule is only found in obese cats, in which the skin can return to its normal place even if they are suffering from a dehydration. In addition, if you notice that your cat's eyes are sunken and they have a dry mouth, these are both also clear signs of dehydration.
In all these cases, you can use home remedies for dehydrated cats as a palliative measure, however, you should not rely on these home remedies, and also make a conscious effort to go to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Be careful when offering water to a dehydrated cat
A dehydrated cat needs to consume water immediately in order to recover to its health. However, it is important to make sure you offer your cat water gradually if it is dehydrated. If a cat is dehydrated and ingests a lot of water all at once, it could: vomit, lose more fluid and or result in an irritation of its digestive tract. Therefore, when offering water to a dehydrated cat, one must place a small about of water in reach of the cat, and make sure it is offered to it at a slow and gradual pace.
Ice for dehydrated cats
As mentioned, dehydrated cats should consume water in small doses to avoid vomiting and irritation of their stomach. Therefore, an excellent home remedy for dehydrated cats is giving them ice scraps. This allows for the cat to consume small amounts of refreshing water at a controllable level.
All you have to do, is take some ice and scrape it with a spoon or knife and give them the scrapings. Never offer your cat the entire ice cube.
Cat Elecrolytes
In addition to consuming fresh, clean water, to treat a dehydrated cat: it is necessary to replenish their electrolytes to restore balance in their bodies. In order to do this, you can find fluids or oral serums in some veterinary clinics or pet stores, which are rich in electrolytes for cats.
Homemade dehydration cat serum
To replenish electrolytes and offer water to your dehydrated cat, you can make an excellent homemade serum for oral consumption, using these 5 simple and inexpensive ingredients:
- 1 liter of mineral water at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon of salt (only use potassium salt if the vet has checked their potassium levels)
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
- 3 tablespoons of honey
Preparation of serum for dehydrated cats
To prepare this serum, start by boiling a liter of water. Turn off the heat, add the other ingredients and let stand until it reaches room temperature. This homemade serum is valid for 24 hours, and should be kept in the refrigerator in a bottle or container with a lid, to avoid any unwanted contamination.
Remember to offer this homemade dehydration serum in small doses. If your cat does not accept it naturally through its drinker, you can try to administer the serum through a syringe. If neither of these methods work, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.
What to feed a dehydrated cat?
A dehydrated feline usually loses its normal appetite and can develop certain digestive disorders due decrease of water left in its body. Therefore, dehydration can easily lead to malnutrition.
A dehydrated cat needs to eat a specific diet to prevent the aggravation of its case. If your cat is dehydrated, we suggest feeding it moist food which contains a lot of water. You also choose to make homemade wet food for your cat.
How to prevent dehydration in cats
Diagnosing dehydration in cats can be really complex, especially in cats which suffer from obesity. Many cats may be dehydrated and only show visible symptoms when the dehydration becomes more severe. Therefore, we reaffirm that prevention is the best home remedy to keep our pets healthy and happy.
Remember that your cat should have clean, fresh water at its disposal throughout the day. In addition, its drinker or bowl must be washed daily to avoid any contamination. And for the kittens, who usually tend to drink less, we recommend feeding them a wet food diet.
Remember that the remedies mentioned above do not substitute the specialized attention of a veterinarian, especially in cases of dehydration cats. Therefore, if your cat is showing any changes in its diet or behavior, do not hesitate to go consult your veterinarian quickly.
This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Home Remedies For Dehydrated Cats, we recommend you visit our Home Remedies category.
