Dehydration:

• According to WHO, dehydration denotes loss of water and dissolved salts from body.
• It may be due to water and electrolyte deprivation or loss of body fluids.

Etiology:

There are 2 major causes of dehydration; inadequate water intake and excessive water loss

Inadequate water intake:

This may be due to:

• Deprivation of water
• Lack of thirst due to toxaemia
• Inability to drink water as in case of esophageal obstruction
• Depressed and comatose condition
• Paralysis of muscle of deglutition

Excessive loss of water:

It may occur due to:

• Diarrhoea
• Acute gastroenteritis
• Malabsorption
• Vomiting
• Loss of water through skin injury
• Lactic acidosis in ruminant
• Abomasal displacement
• Impactive colic in horse
• Salt wasting nephritis
• Pyometra
• Ascites
• Diffuse peritonitis
• Purgative, diuretic and corticosteroid therapy