Electrolytes are vital to your pets’ health. Abnormal levels can be life threatening. We need to monitor during vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and cardiac symptoms.
What does it mean?
Sodium (Na) – role is water distribution, body fluid osmotic pressure and pH balance.
Increase = dehydration, heat stroke
Decrease = congestive heart failure, gastrointestinal losses, chronic renal failure
Potassium (K) – role is muscle function, respiration, and cardiac function
Increase = diabetes, tissue trauma, acute renal failure
Decrease = congestive heart failure, constipation, diabetes, peritonitis, renal failure
Chloride (Cl) – role is acid-base balance and osmotic pressure in blood
Increase = metabolic acidosis
Decrease = severe vomiting, constipation
