Estimating the degree of dehydration
The degree of dehydration can be subjectively estimated based on a patient’s mucous membrane dryness, skin turgor, the degree of sunken eyes and mentation.
Skin tenting is performed by lifting the skin on the torso into a fold and evaluating for the approximate time required for the skin to return to its normal position.
Ideally, the same individual should perform this test each time using the same location on the patient’s body to eliminate some of the subjectivity of the test. Skin tenting is affected by the amount of subcutaneous fat - very thin animals will tent more than fat ones.Nauseous animals may be salivating and this can affect the detection of dry oral mucous membranes. Nervous or affectionate cats and some breeds of dogs may also salivate.
These estimations are rarely exact, so the patient should be evaluated frequently during iv fluid therapy to ensure adequate hydration and prevent overhydration.
| Estimated degree of dehydration | Signs |
| 1-2 ml/kg/hour and the heart rate and respiratory rate should be within normal limits. The CRT should return to 1.5-2 seconds and the mucous membranes should be moist and pink (unless other conditions affect the membrane colour). Hypoproteinaemic and oliguric/anuric patients are susceptible to overhydration and pulmonary oedema during intravenous fluid therapy. All patients receiving iv fluid therapy should be monitored for signs of overhydration (anxiety, tachycardia, tachypnoea, increasing body weight, clear nasal discharge and pulmonary crackles or harsh lung sounds).
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