Fluid loss from the vomiting, or diarrhea, polyuria or decreased water intake is considered Hypovolemia, this is described as the fluid loss from intravascular space and may also be caused by hemorrhage. Signs include changes in perfusion indices: pale pink mucous membranes, prolonged capillary refill time (>3 seconds), tachycardia, decreased femoral pulse quality, depressed mentation. Patients are often hypotensive.
Certain Toxicities can cause dehydration as many toxins are excreted, either fully or partially, via the kidneys, so fluid therapy with other treatment modalities is used to hasten toxin elimination. In some cases, such as NSAID toxicity (dogs and cats) and lily ingestion (cats), IV fluid therapy is recommended for 48 to 72 hours to help perfuse the kidneys and prevent acute kidney injury. …show more content…
Patients presenting in hypovolemic shock should be treated with IV isotonic crystalloid fluids via a bolus dose calculated on the patient’s shock volume (ie, 90 mL/kg [dogs]; 50–60 mL/kg [cats]). The general shock volume is often given as a fraction (ie, one-fourth to one-third of the total shock volume, or 30 mL/kg [dogs] and 10–20 mL/kg [cats]) over 15 to 30 minutes. After the bolus, the patient should be reassessed for therapy response, including heart rate, pulse quality, mentation, and