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VetRxDirect will be closed Saturday, July 4th, 2020 in observance of Independence Day.
Our pharmacy will have abbreviated hours and shipping schedules. While VetRxDirect.com is available 24 hours a day for online order placement, please pay particular attention to our hours and shipping schedule, especially if you rely on our pharmacy for insulin or other temperature-sensitive products.
Wednesday, July 1st: Last day to ship temperature-sensitive orders until Monday.
Thursday, July 2nd: Regular hours. No temperature orders will ship.
Friday, July 3rd: Regular hours. No temperature sensitive orders will ship.
Saturday, July 4th:CLOSED.
Sunday, July 5th: CLOSED.
Monday, July 6th: Resume normal hours shipping policies.
*Prescription orders, including temperature-sensitive drugs, can only ship after approval from your veterinarian. Prescription authorization must be obtained before 3 PM CST in order to be shipped out on the same day. Visit our website for more information.
Please feel free to leave a message or send us an email at info@vetrxdirect.com anytime. We’ll return your call or send replies during our next business hours after your message.
Purina Hydra Care is a nutrient-enriched water supplement that promotes healthy hydration in cats. It contains nutritional osmolytes to help cells absorb water and combat dehydration. Hydra Care has a tempting liver flavor and helps encourage cats to consume more liquid. Hydra Care was shown to increase total liquid intake and decrease urine specific gravity when compared to cats consuming only water and dry food. This makes it ideal for cats that don’t consume enough water on their own. And, it may support cats with urinary and kidney problems. Purina Hydra Care is easy to feed, simply offer it in a third bowl, alongside your cat’s food and water.
Why is Hydration Important?
Water is vital to all living things. It affects every process in the body from organ function to circulation and digestion. There are many articles describing the health benefits of humans maintaining water consumption and the same goes for our furry friends. At the bottom line, keeping your cat hydrated is important to keeping them healthy. It also helps decrease the likelihood of urinary stones and helps the kidneys flush out toxins.
What Causes Dehydration in Cats?
As it turns out, cats may not be the most efficient drinkers. Deborah Greco, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, Purina senior research scientist, said when cats drink, they bring up the water from the bowl with their tongue and they form a column of water which they bite off. They’re not getting a lot of water all at once — only about three one-hundredths of a teaspoon per lap.
Dehydration in cats can be caused by multiple things. When a cat has reduced water intake or increased fluid loss, they are prone to dehydration. Overheating in hot weather, a lack of clean drinking water or a period of vomiting or diarrhea can cause fluid loss in cats. It can also be caused by another underlying health issue.
Cats can be prone to kidney disease which can progress to kidney failure. In these cases, the kidneys no longer function properly. In order to prevent dehydration, cats may require injectable fluids. Jessica Quimby, DVM, PhD, DACVIM stated that “Hydration is particularly important because when you have chronic kidney disease you can no longer hydrate or rehydrate yourself once you become dehydrated.”
Signs of Dehydration in Cats
The signs of dehydration are not always obvious. Only a veterinarian can provide proper diagnosis and treatment. Here’s what to look for:
Dry gums or dry mouth
Lethargy or depression
Loss of appetite
A decrease in skin elasticity
Elevated heart rate
You may be able to detect dehydration at home by gently pinching and lifting the skin over your cat’s shoulder blades. Normally, the skin should quickly return back to its regular position. If the skin stays gathered when you release it, you may have a dehydrated cat on your hands. This is known as “skin tenting” and is a common sign of dehydration. However, this technique does not work as well in cats that are very overweight or very thin.
Keep a good eye on your cat’s drinking habits. If your pet has any sudden changes including a decrease or increase in drinking water, you should contact your veterinarian.
How Can I Get My Cat to Drink More Water?
The first step is: Make fresh water available at all times. Giving your cat good quality water can turn to an effort-wasted if it isn’t replenished daily. Refreshing their water daily encourages them to drink it. Many owners find their cats are finicky drinkers and prefer certain types of bowls, and even prefer to drink in certain locations. Some cats prefer to drink moving water from a pet water fountain bowl or a dripping kitchen faucet. Offering wet food in your cat’s diet can help provide a source of hydration. More Creative ways to encourage your cat to drink more water. Sometimes, despite effort and creativity, cats still don’t drink enough water on their own.
How does Hydra Care Work?
Purina reported that cats offered Hydra Care during testing consumed on average 28% more liquid each day than cats consuming water only in addition to dry feeding. And it was shown to decrease urine specific gravity and osmolality when compared to cats consuming only water alone. Watch their video below to learn more about the science behind Hydra Care.
Is Hydra Care the new answer for cats that don’t drink enough water? Leave us a comment below!