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.