Water Deficiency

Causes

• Decreased intake.
  • The animal is disinclined or unabled to drink.
  • May be due to general debility or because of obstruction to the mouth/throuat by disease lesions.
• Deprivation of water.
  • Animal loses access to its water supply.
• Increased uncontrolled physiological loss
  • For example, due to hyperventilation, excessive sweating, or polyuria due to renal disease.

Effects

• Electrolytes are not depleted, although water is.
  • There is therefore an increase in osmolality of the extracellular fluid.
    • Intracellular water is transferred to ECF, resulting in cellular dehydration results.
      • Causes cell death.
• Cellular dehydration particularly affects the CNS and heart.