Dehydration: First Aid

Dehydration is excessive loss of water from the body (typically through vomiting and/or diarrhea) or inappropriate intake of water into the body (decreased thirst).  The most common mistake with a vomiting pet is to encourage food and water intake while the pet is still vomiting. This actually makes matters worse by not allowing the stomach and intestinal tract time to rest and can cause additional vomiting and water loss. Removing access to food and water for a short period of time may seem like it would make dehydration worse, but it can help your pet avoid further dehydration. Dehydration makes your pet feel lethargic, and can potentially cause severe problems with the kidneys and other internal organs if untreated.What to Do

• If moderate or severe dehydration, seek veterinary attention.  (See below for how to assess if dehydration is potentially severe in your pet.) 
• If dehydration is mild and the pet is not vomiting, give frequent, small amounts of water by mouth; that means in the range of 1 tsp for a cat or small dog to 1 tbsp to 1/4 cup for a medium to large dog every few hours.
• If your pet is lethargic, in pain, or has not eaten for 24 hours, seek veterinary attention.

Some cases of dehydration may require medical treatment potentially including IV fluids.What NOT to Do

• Do not allow your pet to have immediate free access to large amounts of water or other liquid.  
• Do not feed your pet any dry food until directed to do so by a veterinary professional.

Dehydration often accompanies symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, hypothermia (low body temperature), fever, no access to water, and other conditions. It can be detected by several tests:
Mouth: Are the tongue and gums moist or dry? If they are dry, there is a chance your pet may be dehydrated. Is the saliva thick or ropey? Normally, saliva is quite watery and hardly noticeable.
Eyes: Are they normal, or do they sink into the sockets? Sunken or dry eyes may indicate dehydration, and warrant veterinary attention.
Skin: Do the skin turgor test outlined in the Physical Exam Checklist. If the skin is slow to return to position, the pet may be moderately to severely dehydrated. If the skin does not return fully to its position, your pet may be severely dehydrated and may be in critical condition. Seek veterinary attention immediately. The skin turgor test is not always accurate and several factors such as age, weight loss, and condition of the skin can give misleading results. A veterinary professional can help you determine how dehydrated your pet is, what the cause may be, and the best course of treatment.

Credit: VIN
​Roger Gfeller, DVM, DACVECC;  Michael Thomas, DVM;  Isaac Mayo; The VIN Emergency Medicine Consultants
Revised: June 19, 2023
Published: December 31, 1994