My cat came home dehydrated and won't drink. Is it an emergency?

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors. A young healthy cat will recover well from a short episode of dehydration. An older cat or a cat with any underlying health problems can have problems recovering from dehydration. You didn't mention the age of your cats or if they have any underlying health problems. If they are older or have any health problems, I would have them evaluated to be on the safe side. If they are young and healthy and eating and drinking well, I would expect them to recover easily, but if there are any signs of lethargy or vomiting, I would certainly have them evaluated. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that they will be fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It's impossible to know what happened to Melcho on his journey. What you are doing currently is the best you can do until a vet is open. Continue to syringe feed small frequent amounts of a/d and water. If available near you an oral electrolyte solution for kids with diarrhea such as pedialyte maybbe helpful to give him orally. Look for an unflavored version. Or water off of tuna fish cans or low sodium chicken broth can be used if he will lap it. Give him a warm area such as a heating pad on low if he wants it but don't force him to stay on a heating pad. Make sure he can move off of it if he desires. Small frequent feedings are key. Do not do a lot of food or liguid at once. Good luck to Melcho. I hope he feels better soon. But I would recommend a veterinary visit asap to evaluate him for injury even if he starts eating on his own.

Lynyrd doesn't sound like he's feeling 100%. It is certainly good new to hear that the UA came back within normal limits, but I would be curious to know if he ran some blood work too, and what the results of that showed. I would also be curious to know what medications he ended up prescribing. In terms of dehydration, a single day without some water will not result in any sort of life threatening dehydration by itself unless there is another serious underling health condition. If this type of behavior and low activity level continues however in spite of the therapy provided by your veterinarian, reassessment may be required as well as further diagnostics to determine the root of the problem. If you are truly worried about dehydration, you can certainly try and force feed water at home through a syringe but kitties are usually not very happy and cooperative when it comes to this. I would personally reserve that sort of thing when it is the last option available. Let me know if there is any other way I can offer assistance to you and Lynyrd.

Poor Trouble sounds very sick. I think it may be best that he is hospitalized at the vet where they can monitor him day and night, and put him on IV fluids to keep him hydrated. The problem with shooting water down his throat is that he could accidentally aspirate it, leading to aspiration pneumonia. Please take him back into his vet now.

Hello, sorry to hear about Candy. She may have gone several days without food and water, and it sounds like she is mentally unaware. She may be severely dehydrated or she could have been attacked by another animal or even hit by a car. Candy needs to be seen immediately by a veterinarian and she will likely need to be hospitalized for emergency care. If Candy continues to not eat or drink, appear listless then she may indeed be in shock and needs emergency care. Please have her evaluated soon. Hope this helps and best of luck.

If Biscuit is not drinking enough and is very dehydrated, she will need to be seen by an emergency veterinarian. There is no way that you can make her drink. You can try spooning some water into her, however, considering she is dehydrated, you cannot put enough fluid into her that way. Also being dehydrated is usually a sign of being ill, and that needs to be investigated as well. The vet will either give fluids under the skin to rehydrate or she may need intravenous fluids, if her condition is severe.

As your cat has not been eating for a few days now as well as not drinking, this is an emergency. Cats can get liver disease from not eating for more than 2 days and not drinking will make them dehydrated and feel even worse and less inclined to drink and eat. Vomiting bile can be a sign of chronic or acute pancreatitis. There are some diseases that will have to be ruled out (can be done easily with a blood test), such as kidney disease and hyperthyroidism and dental problems. I think taking her to an emergency clinic is definitely warranted.