What should be monitored to assess hydration status in animals?

Monitoring skin elasticity is an effective method for assessing hydration status in animals. When an animal is well-hydrated, its skin has a certain level of turgor, which means it will quickly return to its normal position after being pulled or pinched. In dehydrated animals, the skin will have reduced elasticity and may take longer to return to its original position, indicating a loss of internal fluids.

Other parameters like heart rate, body temperature, and respiratory rate can provide useful information about an animal's overall health and condition, but they are not as direct indicators of hydration status as skin elasticity. Changes in heart rate, for example, can result from various factors including stress, pain, or underlying health issues that are independent of hydration. Similarly, while body temperature and respiratory rate can reflect the general metabolic state or illness, they do not specifically indicate the hydration status.